John Rudolphuis Gilbert was born in Bibb County Georgia July 8, 1833. He was the son of Edmund Albert born in Jones County, Ga., 1812 and Ann Elizabeth Douglas, his wife, born near Morgan County Ga in 1818; he is the son of Edmund Gilbert, a native of Virginia, who moved to Georgia in an early day, whose wife was a Miss Johnson (Transcriber note: Amy Johnson Garret,) of Virginia, first cousin of Henry Clay. (Transcriber note: Not a first cousin, but a second, I have some of that lineage) The maternal grandfather was Samuel Douglas who died in Morgan County Ga. The father of your subject (JR) moved from Bibb County Ga when J.R. was quite young to Talbot County, Georgia, five miles east of Talbotton where he remained about ten years. He then moves to Tallapoosa County Alabama in January 1847 where he died in 1895 aged 83 years and ten months, his wife dying in 1885 at age of 67 years. Eleven children were born to them of whom three are living. JR being the oldest of the family. The elder Gilbert was a Whig in ante-bellum days becoming a Democrat after the war. He lived on one farm nearly fifty years; Mrs. Gilbert was a Missionary Baptist. John R. Gilbert was educated in the common schools, while working on the farm and began teaching at the age of 22. He enlisted in 1862 in the 19th Arkansas Infantry and served until he was discharged on account of ill health. He has moved to Arkansas in 1859 where he has been teaching and in the drug business prior to his enlistment. After the war he was engaged in teaching in Tallapoosa County for two years later going into the mercantile business at Fisher Pond for two more years. He then went to Pinkneyville, Clay County, Alabama where he followed mercantile business and farming for 34 years. In 1902 he moved to Goodwater and built the Gilbert warehouses, which he now owns. He owns a large amount of land in Clay County but has retired from active business.
In early days he was Whig and a "Know Nothing" but since the war he has been identified with the Democratic Party. He was made a Mason in Nixburg Lodge Coosa County in 1857 and is a member of Hillabee Chapter Royal Arch Masons and of Hillabee lodge No 197, Fine and accepted Masons. (Note: As pointed by Ray Ryan, the correct name is "Free and Accepted Masons.)
He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He was married December 20, 1866 to Martha Elizabeth Gibson, daughter of Col L.A. Gibson of Clay County. She died Aug 6, 1881; eight children were born to them; Minnie Elizabeth, Cora Love, Albert Edmund (deceased) Annie Laurie, Daisy (deceased) Georgia Bell, Lola Pearl and Maud Estelle (deceased).
Mr. Gilbert was again married on Feb 8 1885 to Ella M. Mayo of La Grange Ga. They had three children: Thalia (deceased) John Rudolph and Boyd. Mr. Gilbert is one of the well-to-do men of Goodwater and accumulated his own property.

1. Georgia Belle Gilbert