8A.  John Henry Gilbert was born in Portage County, Ohio, on Saturday, July 22, 1854, and died in Michigan on November 12, 1936. Idaette Persons was born in Wyoming Township, Kent County, Michigan, on Tuesday, August 31, 1858, and died in Wyoming Township on June 20, 1923. Her name was often spelled Idaett. They were both buried in Winchester Cemetery, Kent County, Michigan. They were married in _____ on Sunday, September 27, 1874. She took the name Idaette Gilbert. He is the son of Truman and Henrietta P. (Robbins) Gilbert. She is the daughter of _____ Persons and _____. They had five children:

i. Charles B. Gilbert [#8AA]: He was born in _____, Michigan, on November 1, 1875, and died in Dowling, Michigan, on December 13, 1944.
ii. Bert L. Gilbert was born in Kent County, Michigan, on July 11, 1881, and died in Dorr, Allegan County, Michigan, on July 11, 1891. He died on his tenth birthday of black diphtheria. His name is given as
iii. Alma E. Gilbert was born in Kent County on August 31, 1884, and died in Dorr on July 25, 1891. She probably also died of black diphtheria. She is buried in Winchester Cemetery, Kent County, Michigan
iv. Edna H. Gilbert [#8AD]: She was born in _____ on June 24, 1888, and died in Dorr on November 2, 1963.
v. Truman E. Gilbert [#8AE]: He was born in Dorr on May 12, 1890, and died in Dorr on July 18, 1967.

John Gilbert
Idaette (Persons) Gilbert
John Gilbert was a farmer by vocation but had many other interests. He enjoyed hunting small game and anxiously awaited the opening of hunting season each year. He was also an avid fisherman. In his later years, when he was living with his son, Truman, he would frequently go fishing several times a day at the lake across the street from the farm. He would occasionally recount tales of encountering Indians camped on the Grand River during his hunting expeditions.

He played the violin by ear. A favorite family recollection is John in his rocking chair, often behind the pot-bellied stove in the livingroom, playing familiar tunes. His daughter, Edna Clack, would often accompany him on the pump organ. One of the grandchildren could be depended on to request Pop Goes the Weasel of Grandpa.

John had quite a temper. Donald Winchester tells the story of one time when John went fishing with his nephew, Walter Winchester (Donald's father), and his young grandson, Carl Gilbert (Truman's son). They had only been out a little while when Carl accidentally knocked the can of worms into the lake, losing all of their bait. John flew into a rage and threatened to whip Carl but Walter, who was a butcher and was very strong, reminded John that it was an accident and that no harm would come to Carl as long as he was around. From that time, Carl and Walter had a close relationship.

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