Hon. George Lovell Gilbert

GILBERT, KILLEN, KING, VEACH

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/20/2020 at 11:36:50

Mr. Speaker - Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of George L. Gilbert, beg leave to submit the following report:

Whereas, The Honorable George L. Gilbert, who was heretofore a member of the House of Representatives from Clayton county, Iowa, during the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth General Assemblies, departed this life on May 13, 1919; and,

Whereas, His record as a man, a legislator, a public official and a citizen, has been of the highest character; and,

Whereas, It is fitting that we should recognize in some fitting manner, the passing of this distinguished citizen;

Therefore, Be It Resolved By the House of Representatives of the State of Iowa, that in the death of George L. Gilbert, the State of Iowa has suffered a distinct loss.

George Lovell Gilbert was born Jan. 19, 1856, at Clinton, Wisconsin, where he resided for four years, and moved with his parents to Clayton Center. There he lived until ten years of age and then removed to Monona, where he resided until his death.

On Thanksgiving day, November 25, 1880, at Monona, he married Mary Letitia Killen. A daughter, Mrs. T.A. King of West Union, and son Donald, with his mother, now residents of Mason City, survive him. A brother Frank of Chicago, and a sister, Mrs. Amelia Veach of Verdon, Nebraska, are the only surviving members of his father's family.

He was a shrewd and capable business man, and for a number of years owned and operated the drug store at Monona, in which he was eminently successful. In the early nineties he was elected to the legislature from Clayton County for two terms, and was one of the most active and prominent members in the lower house in those memorable sessions. He affiliated then with the democratic party, but left the party with the sound money democrats in 1896, and was prominent in politics in his section of the state for many years. He was so resourceful in campaigns and so original in his expression, and so enthusiastic in his support of friends and favorite measures, that he was a constant source of enjoyment to his friends, and, as an opponent, was always respected by the opposition.

Besides his public service in the legislature, he was for a number of years also deputy internal revenue collector for the Northern Iowa district, and enjoyed a wide acquaintance and a wide circle of friends.

He was generous, big-hearted, and optimistic always, a hater of shams, a lover of integrity and right, and a very lovable comrade. At the age of sixty-two he had lived out his allotted three score years, but the years were crowded with more than the usual activity of men and his life work was finished.

He was a member of Clayton Lodge No. 70, A. F. & A. M., Monona, McGregor Commandry, El Kahir Temple of the Shrine, at Cedar Rapids, and De Molay Consistory, Clinton, Iowa.

Be It Resolved, That the life of George L. Gilbert as a citizen, as a legislator, and in every other walk of life, has been such as to commend his example as an inspiration to those who follow after. His unswerving fidelity to duty, his faithfulness in every public and private trust, and his character as a citizen should inspire all with whom he came in contact to a higher ideal of life and living, and be it further

Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this House of Representatives, and that an engrossed copy thereof be sent to the widow of the deceased.
Wm. Becker
J.H. McGhee
I.E. Beeman

Adopted March 23, 1921

~Iowa. General Assembly, 1921. Memorials, thirty-ninth General assembly, Senate and House. Tributes to the memory of departed members. [Des Moines, State of Iowa, 1921]; pages 55 & 56
https://www.loc.gov/item/21013639/