Elbert Wiley Gilbert

On the afternoon of Saturday, the 24th day of September, 1938, Elbert
Wiley Gilbert departed this life at his farm house, one mile north of
Eddyville, Pope County, Illinois, being at the time of his death the
age of 72 years and 7 days.
Mr. Gilbert was born on the farm of his father about three miles
east of Eddyville on the 17th day of September, 1866, the same farm upon
which his father was born in 1840, and near where his mother was born in
1842.
Mr. Gilbert was the son of William H. and Margaret King Gilbert
and was one of a family of eleven children--five boys and six girls. Two
brothers and two sisters, as well as his father and mother, have
preceded him in death.
Forty-three years ago, September 29, 1895, Mr. Gilbert was
united in marriage with Cassie Barger, daughter of William Russel and
Sarilda Barger, with whom he lived happily until the death of Mrs.
Gilbert, which occurred nearly 10 months ago, on the 29th day of
November, 1937. Of this union there were born three children--Loy, of
Eddyville, and Lola, also of Eddyville, wife of Coy A. King, and Walter,
who died October 20, 1924.
In addition to his son, Loy, and his daughter, Lola, Mr. Gilbert
is survived by three sisters and two brothers, viz.: Mrs. Ella Womack,
of Johnston City, Illinois; Mrs. Ada Rose, of Brownfield, Illinois; Mrs.
Minerva Barger, of Enfield, Illinois; Henry Gilbert, of Albany, Oregon;
and Raymond Gilbert, of W. Salem, Illinois. A granddaughter, Juanita
Gilbert, also survives.
Although Mr. Gilbert never united with any church, he professed
faith in Christ about 43 years ago at a revival meeting being held at
Old Home Presbyterian Church near the home where he was born and grew to
young manhood.
Mr. Gilbert spent his entire life on the farm. He had the
respect of the entire community in which he lived. He was always kind,
considerate and thoughtful. He was not ambitious for public office or
popular acclaim, but, though public spirited and interested in the
welfare of his community, was content to live the plain, simple life, to
march with the crown, in the road and "be a friend to man,"--such were
his aims in life, and he won.
Well may it be said of him after a life of earnest labor: "Well
done, good and faithful servant."
Funeral services were conducted from New Home Church with Rev.
Herschel Martin, pastor of the Eddyville M.E. Church, and Rev. D. D.
Morse, officiating. Music was furnished by a male quartette, composed
of Glenn Schoettle, Ernest Rumsey, Jr., Don Baker and Paul Trovillion,
accompanied by Miss Marguerite Bean at the piano. Interment was made in
the cemetery nearby the church.