A. J. Gilbert
A. J. Gilbert, Proprietor of City Mills, Celebrates Birthday Anniversary -- One of the few Mansfield men who are veterans of the civil war, who were present at the surrender of the confederate armies under Gen. Lee at Richmond, Va., is Andrus J. Gilbert, who is today celebrating his sixty-seventh birthday anniversary. Although not a son of Erin, Mr. Gilbert's anniversary falls upon the date which is celebrated everywhere by the native of Ireland. He was born at Siloam, Madison county, New York, but when he was eight years old his family moved to Ohio, locating at New London. The Lake Shore railroad had not been built at that time, so the journey was made to Buffalo and thence via boat to Cleveland. The Big Four railroad had been built the previous year, and they journeyed by rail to Ohio. Mr. Gilbert heard the call of his country during the civil war, and served three years with the armies in the eastern part of the country. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Winchester, and was carried along to Richmond, Va., when Gen. Lee's army retreated from Gettysburg. He remained a prisoner for two months, and was present at the final surrender at Richmond. Following the war, he came to Mansfield and has been a resident of this city since that time. A few years after his locating here, Mr. Gilbert and his brother, Frank Gilbert, started the old City Mills in the frame building south of the present location. Over forty years' experience in the grain and flour business has given Mr. Gilbert a wide acquaintance in this section, and he is still actively engaged in the industry, which has proved most successful since its establishment.
From The Mansfield News, Page 3: Thursday, March 17, 1910