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Note: 25th Anniversary - Gilbert / Hardnock Reunion Aug 17, 1947
(Daniel and Elizabeth (Hardnock) Gilbert) **Written by Loretta Gilbert Diehl for the Family Reunion**
GREAT GRANDFATHER JOHN GILBERT was born in Pennsylvania about 1809. His mother died while he was quite young. His father remarried, but Great Grandfather Gilbert was taken by his UNCLE CHRIST GILBERT to work for his board and clothes until he was 18 years old. There were no free schools and he never was able to go to school.
Great Grandfather John Gilbert married, SUSAN TOMS, who was the daughter of WILLIAM TOMS (Actually it was Abraham Toms). She was born September 11, 1798, in Maryland. She was one of a family of 14 children, and being one of the older ones, she learned very early to spin wool and flax for their clothes which were all homemade.
To this union, two sons were- born, DANIEL (Grandfather Gilbert) April 6, 1836, and ABRAHAM, November 6, 1840. They were born in Washington County Maryland, where they grew to manhood.
Great Grandfather John Gilbert worked out for other folks. In the fall people hired him to thrash their grain; this he did with a flail. The grain was harvested with a cradle, raked up by an old man or woman, another man coming along tying the pile into a bundle.
Great Grandfather John Gilbert lived in Washington County, Md., until about the close of the Rebellion War. Their home was in the vicinity of the Antetiam Battle. The ravage of the War made them want move to Illinois, which they did in December 1864. Their two boys were married and living in Illinois. They sold their home and moved to Illinois, making their home with Daniel, 6 miles southwest of Polo.
Great Grandfather John Gilbert bought 40 acres, where Uncle Ben Gilbert's house now stands. He lived in a small house on the south side of the road Just opposite Uncle Ben's house. They lived here until 188O, at which time their son, Abraham, who had moved to Kansas, came here and influenced Great Grandfather to go back and make his home with him. Grandfather Daniel Gilbert gave his father the price of the one-half of the 40 acres and kept the other one-half. Great Grandmother stayed here with Daniel. She lived until January 31, 1885, and Great Grandfather lived until 1887. (Actually John Gilbert died 7-22-1885 in Emporia, Kansas)
Abraham Gilbert married KIZIAH WOLF, in Maryland. They came to Illinois and lived there 3 years, Then they went to Kansas in about 1864. He made several visits to Illinois. About 1880, his parents being old, he influenced his father (Great Grandfather John) to go with him to Kansas, and his mother to stay in Illinois; as they were not able to keep house any more,
Daniel Gilbert (Grandfather) was married to ELIZABETH HARDNOCK January 25, 1855, in Pennsylvania, about 12 miles from Hagerstown, Md. Neither of them was of age and could not get a license in Maryland and did not have to have a license in Pennsylvania at that time.
Daniel and Abraham lived with their parents until they were married, working out for other folks, Daniel learned the cooper-trade.
Soon after Grandmother and Grandfather were married, they went to Shannon, Ill., where Grandfather hired out to work on a farm by the month, and Grandmother hired to do housework by the week. Wages were very low. Grandfather Daniel bought 40 acres of prairie in West Grove The land was misrepresented to him and proved to be nearly one-half pond land.
Grandmother was not well - she got chills and fever (called ague), so they decided to return to Maryland. She had her last shake while waiting for the train. When whey reached Maryland, she was much better. They remained there a year, living with his folks - he getting work where he could. UNCLE JOHN H. GILBERT was born March 19, 1856, in Washington Co., Maryland, the same year they came to Polo, Ill., and lived in that vicinity. When they arrived in Polo, Grandfather had an axe and $1. Grandfather worked for other folks, and they made their home in a house in the field along the railroad on the farm that Orville West now occupies. They lived with Mrs. Thorp, and it was there they started to farm with one horse and an ox. Mrs. Thorp owned the place. DAVID M. was born here May 2, 1858. Then they moved into a little house along the south side of the golf grounds at Polo, and Grandfather worked in the brick yards, ,which were near where the sewer now empties. ALBERT was born in this house on July 4, 1860. From here they moved to a little house, 16 by 18, one and a half stories high, about 60 rods north of the Unity School house - north of the house that is now there, At this place KATIE was born on January 31, 1862. This 180 acres Grandfather farmed.
In 1863, Grandfather bought 80 acres for $16.00 an acre. He built a little house, 15 � by 17 ft., one and a half stories high, on the same spot as the one now stands. This we know as the Gilbert home place. The house only had one room downstairs and one room upstairs. Grandfather also had a well drilled. Here SAMUEL was born, November 27, 1863. Both Grandfather and Grandmother had united with the Brethren Church at Pine Creek before Samuel was born. In a couple years they built a piece to their house, 28 � ft. long, and they bought 40 acres east of their 80 acres. In 1864 grandfather bought the 80 acres on the east side of the road, 80 rods north of the Unity School house. His first wheat crop paid for the 80 acres on this land. The first machine he used to cut small grain was a reaper with a dropper. About 1870 the harvester was a machine that cut the grain, but it had to be bound by two men stand1ng on a platform on the machine. No twine was used. Th1s mach1ne was used a number of years before the self binder came along. Grandfather was one of the first to get one of these machines.
When Grandmother started housekeeping she had one pail, which was her water pail and milk pail, a bread pan and dishpan, and cooking utensi1s were just as scarce. She had two dresses - her wedding dress and her every day dress. They never wanted to buy anything without the money to pay for it.
The rest of the boys were born at this home.
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