Durham, N. N.  "Spokane and the Inland Empire; History of the City of Spokane
and Spokane County Washington."  Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1912.  

GILBERT B. IDE

	One of the most active and useful citizens of Colville is Gilbert B. Ide,
whose name introduces this sketch. This position he has earned by his untiring
interest in promoting the growth of his adopted town and his willingness at all
times to assist in advancing the welfare of his county and state. Few men in
eastern Washington have been as successful in attracting the attention to the
advantages of this portion of the state as a place of residence or business. He
was born in Marquette county, Wisconsin, January 27, 1856, a son of Frederick
and Atlanta (Glover) Ide. The parents were pioneers of Wisconsin, arriving in
that state from Massachusetts and Vermont respectively. One of their sons gave
his life in defense of the Union at the time of the Civil war, being a member of
the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry. The father died in 1898 and the mother
passed away four years later.
	Gilbert B. Ide received his early education in the public schools of his
native state and subsequently attended Durand Academy in Pepin county for two
years. He assisted his father on the home farm until twenty-three years of age
and then, in 1880, emigrated to this state. For one year he engaged in farming
in the Palouse country and then took up his residence in Spokane, where he was
identified with the livery business. In 1885 he came to Colville and built the
Columbia livery stable, which he conducted for one year. The following year he
was elected sheriff of Stevens county and was reelected two years later, serving
for two terms to the general satisfaction of the people regardless of their
political affiliations. He also was ex-officio assessor of the county form 1888
to 1890. In 1893 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Colville
and at intervals until 1899 gave his attention to farming. He opened the
Colville Hotel in 1892 but was forced to close his place in 1893, at the time of
the panic. In 1899 he entered the real-estate business with his father-in-law,
Jacob Stitzel, and has ever since been closely identified with this line,
displaying judgment and discrimination which have met with merited recompense.
	On the 30th of January, 1889, Mr. Ide was married to Mrs. Kathrine (Stitzel)
Backus, and to this union six children have been born, namely, Marjorie, Mary,
Jessie, Martha, Fred and Lilian. The father of Mrs. Ide is now deceased. He was
a prominent member of the community and at the time of his death was United
States land commissioner. This office is now filled by Mrs. Ide. Politicallv Mr.
Ide gives his support to the republican party, of which he is an earnest
advocate. He filled the office of chairman of the republican county central
committee from 1888 to 1890 and in 1889 was a delegate to the republican state
convention at Tacoma. He has also attended several county conventions in a
similar capacity and has at all times shown the interest of a patriotic citizen
in the election of competent men to office. Fraternallv he is connected with the
Masonic order. being past master of Colville lodge, and he also belongs to the
Woodmen of the World. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and is
first vice president of the Federation of Commercial Clubs of Stevens county. He
was instrumental in the establishment of the county fair grounds and was manager
of the county fairs for ten years, until 1910, when he resigned. He was also
commissioner from Stevens county for the Alaska-Yukon Exposition and was
superintendent of exhibits for the county during the period of the exposition,
accomplishing much good in securing settlers for this region. He has met with
deserved success in his business and, as he possesses a genial and companionable
nature and has been faithful in the discharge of every duty, either public or
private, it may be truly said of him that he represents the substantial
citizenship of Stevens county.

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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in October 2015 by Diane Wright.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.