The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-01-07
MO0RApHrcAI.
William n. hilbert. Esq, Atsorus0
and O0unsel1Wr Rt Law

ttfSsn tne | nited States Biographical Diction.
ary and Portrait Gallery Of Eminent and self
Made Men.l
William Baker Gilbert. native of Kas-
kaskia, Illinois. was born on the 9th of
September, 1887, is the son OF Miles A.
Gilbert and Ann Eliza NJ. Baker. His
father, native of Connecticut, settled in
kaskaskia at an early day; subsequently
Inc became one of the original projectors
and proprietors of Cairo and in lsi9 re-
moved to Missouri, where he laid out the
town OF st. Mary. and ha. Tor many
years been presiding Judge of the county
court OF Ste. Genevicve county, and one
of the most prominent and energetic cit!.
zens. His mother was the eldest daugh-
ter OF Hon. David j. Baker.
William b. pursued a regular course of.
classical study, till near the close Of his sem
lor year at Shurtleh college, Upper Alton,
Illinois but before graduating began the
study of law In The office Of his grand
father Baker, at the same time. continu-
ing his college studies in private. In the
fall of 1867. being then twenty years OF
age he entered the Office Of krum and
Hard ng, Of st. Louis, and there pursued
his studies for one year. After six
months further reading at his fathers
in st. Mary's Missouri. he was. In May
1859, admitted to the bar OF that state.
Afterwards entering the senior class in
the law department of Harvard Cnivcr-
sity, he graduated with the degree Of
IL. h. in July 1850. In the summer of
the following year, at the instance OF
Rev. S. Y. McMasters, IL. D., for.
merly president al shurtlet college, the
degree A. VI. was conferred upon him
by the board of trustees at st. Paul's
college, Palmyra, Missouri. Forming
partnership with the Hon. John scott
one OF the oldest aud sbles, lawyer. of
the state, he began the practice Of his
profession nj Gencyieve, Missouri. and
remained there TIL the spring Of 1862. AT
this time, owing to the suspension of the
courts In Southern Missouri, consequent
upon the breaking out OF the rebellion,
he removed to Alton, Illinois. and form.
ing n partnership with his uncle, II. s.
Baker. continued his practice under the
firm name of Baker 4 Gilbert Tor three
ycnrs. Ii. March, 1850, he removed 70
Cairo. and became partner with Gen,
isham y. Haynie and B. T. Marshall IN
the law firm of Haynie, Marshall & Gil.
bert. BY reason Of Gen. Haynie's APP.
pointment to the adjGtant -generalship OF
Illinois, MIR. Gilbert at once became the
active and leading member OF the firm,
and thence forward continued to have
the chiet management Of its business
and almost exclusive control Of all the
important litigation in which it was en-
gagged. until may LIST, 1867. At this time,
by the formal withdrawal OF Messrs.
Haynie and Marshall. he was left ia the
enjoyment of practice second to none
in Southern Illinois, being the retained
attorney Of Cairo for the trustees OF the
Cairo city property company, Illinois
Central Railrald Co. and other wealthy
corporation. whose business was part OF
the assets Of the firm. In June, 1867
he formed q cO-partnership with Hon.
VIM. Ii. Green, upon that gentleman
retirement from the circuit judgeship, and
has since been steadily engaged as an ac-
tive member of the firm of Green IL Gil |
bert, now composed Of Hon. VIM. ii. |
Grees. our subject and his younger
brother, Miles F. Gilbert. In addition to
tho corporations above mentioned, they
have charge of the business OF the New
Chicago and st. Louis railroad
company, the Cairo and st. Louis rail. |
road company, the City National bank
Of Cairo, and other corporations. Mr.. |.
Gilbert was admitted TO the Federal |
courts In 1865, aud In connection with /
other branches of The law has |
been engaged in many npor-
ant admiralty cases. lie was adj
nltted TO the suprem" court of the
United States in October, 1873, and in
hat court represented his firm as coun-
sci for Phillips and st. John in the i'm
portant suit of the Grand Tower NJ, NJ.
and T. Co., VS.. Phillips and St. John, in
golving the sum of 100000. the amount
II the judgment recovered by the latter
On coal contract in the court below.
Mr. Gilbert was raised in the Protes-
.ant Episcopal faith, confirmed at Cairo
1867, and has for many years been yes-
tryman and junior warden Of the church
Of the Redeemer (EpiscopaD, of Cairo.
Conservative in his political senti-
ments, he has generally voted with the
Democratic party; but deyoting himself
to his profession, he has stu
iiiousiy avoided taking any active part |
IN politics. and uniformly refused to !!
allow his name Ia be used for auv political |
office.
He was married on the 18TH OF Octo- I
Der. 1855. to Miss kate Barry, eldest
daughter Of Anassa y. Barry, mentioned
elsewhere in this volume. and by her has
two sons now iiyin--Miles 5. snd VIII |,
liam G. Gilbert.
The genealogy Of the Gilbert family !
can be traced back To some Of the most |
characters in English his !
tory, who.u names were conspicuous
in literature. science and art. Ii was first |
IN America by five brothers, /
who eraigrated from Norfolk county,
England. At an early date. snd settled In
' irg!Dia, Massachusetts, and three OF