History of Delaware County Indiana T.B. Helm 1881 Surnames in this biography are: Gilbert, Watt, Potter,Willson,                                   JOHN ALSOP GILBERT           Mr. Gilbert was a prominent member of the pioneer community, who settled at Muncie, and, in the subsequent improvement of the town and county, he was always actively interested. His father, Othonial Gilbert, who was of English descent, settled in Ontario County, New York, where he married Miss Elizabeth Watt, a lady of Scotch antecedents, about the year 1794 or 1795. The fruits of this union were six children, named, respectively, Azuba, Betsey, John Alsop, Sewel, Polly and Othonial. John Alsop, the third child and eldest son, was born at Bristol,Ontario Co., N. Y., October 22, 1799. When but five years of age, he lost his father by death, and was taken by his uncle, Jedithan Gilbert, to his home at Hague, N. Y., with whom he continued to reside until after he attained his majority, receiving, in the meantime, a good English education. While residing at the town of Hague, his uncle was engaged in the lumber trade, transporting large quantities of lumber every year as far as Albany. He removed to Washington County, New York while the subject of this biography was yet a small boy, and it was here that the latter received the larger part of his education and grew to manhood. In October 1823, Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Miss Mahala Potter, in Washington County, New York, and subsequently removed with his wife to Erie County, in the same State. He had acquired knowledge ofthe cooper’s trade, and, after his removal to the last-named point, he carried on this trade in connection with farming. He was thus engaged until 1836, when he decided to seek a home in the West. Goldsmith C. Gilbert, his half-uncle, had settled here a number of years previously, and this fact, perhaps, had some influence upon his decision; for it was to Muncie that he directed                  his course after deciding to leave his home in the East. He arrived at Muncie in June 1886, and, in the fall of that year, rented the mill of Goldsmith C. Gilbert, which he operated successfully for about two years.  He then engaged in the cooper’s trade at Muncie, supplying barrels for Hunter & Co., who were extensively engaged in pork packing. He purchased a farm west of Muncie, which he cultivated successfully, in addition to his labors in town. Throughout his life, he his dealings, and never willfully wronged a fellowman to the value of a cent. He was regarded as one of the best citizens of the county at the time in which he lived, and was identified with its interests and improvements for a periodof thirty-two years. In 1838, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and, in the following year, was elected Associate. Judge of Delaware County. After his retirement from this office he was again elected Justice of the Peace, serving for several years. While serving in this capacity, he always endeavored to restore peace and good feeling between litigants, and often-adjusted cases thus, while quietly sitting in his house or shop, without having them come totrial at all. He lost his fees, of course, but be did not care. The satisfaction of having done a good deed was an ample reward to him. He was a man of vigorous physique, and, up to the day of his death, pursued his daily labor,uninterrupted by any premonition of his speedy demise. He died suddenly on Monday morning, June 1, 1868, leaving a wife and four children. A city paper,in an obituary article, contained the following tribute .to his memory: “He was widely known through out this community, and respected by all who knew him. Honest, upright,enterprising and frugal, he was an example worthy of imitation by all youngmen. His Integrity and fair dealing were above suspicion, and no one bore a more unsullied character. He was thoroughly identified with the interests of Muncie, which he had made his home for so many years, and quietly accomplished much in advancing her prosperity. Mr. Gilbert was twice married. His first wife died in January 1854, leaving three children, viz.: Elizabeth, now the wife of Volney Willson; Othonial, who sacrificed an arm in defense of the Union cause,and now resides at Muncie; and Thomas H. who is now engaged in farming west of Muncie.  In April 1857 he was weeded to Mrs. Phoebe Potter  who still survives. One son, John Volney, blessed this second union.  While Mr. Gilbert was not identified withany religious organization, his life was exemplary of Christian principles. He practiced the “golden rule” in his daily life, and never intentionally gave pain or offense. He was known and honored through out the county, and his remains were followed to their last repose by a sad concourse of citizens, and the pioneers with whom he was associated in other days.