The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1021 

H. M. GILBERT.

H. M. Gilbert is a fruit grower of Yakima, whose wise investments and carefully
directed business interests have brought to him a most substantial measure of
success. He does not claim the possession of any unusual qualities, but by keen
business discernment and unwearied industry he has reached the enviable position
which he now occupies. He was born in Geneseo, Illinois, October 22, 1862, a son
of Nathaniel C. and Francelia A. (Amsden) Gilbert, the former a native of New
York, while the latter was born in Vermont. They were among the pioneer
residents of Henry county, Illinois, where the father devoted his life to the
occupation of farming. He has passed away and the mother still lives in that
state.

H. M. Gilbert completed his education in Knox College of Galesburg, Illinois,
with the class of 1885 and three years later his alma mater conferred upon him
the Master of Arts degree. He was reared to the occupation of farming, early
became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the
stock and took up agricultural life when his school days were ended. He was one
of the prominent stock farmers of Illinois until 1897, when he sought the
opportunities of the northwest and came to Yakima, at which time he purchased a
twenty-acre tract of land on Yakima Heights, a district that is now a suburb of
the city. He and his wife are owners of more than three hundred acres of fine
land all over the valley and planted to apples. Mr. Gilbert has recognized the
conditions and the opportunities of this section of the country, seeking to
improve the former and utilize the latter to the benefit of public as well as
private interests. He was one of the organizers of the Tieton Water Users'
Association, of which he has been the president for the past three years. Into
banking circles he has extended his efforts and is now the president of the
Central Bank of Toppenish, which position he has occupied since its
organization. He is also the president of the Richey & Gilbert Company, which
was organized in 1900 for the conduct of farming interests and which was
incorporated in 1904. They are now extensively engaged in the wholesale fruit
trade as dealers, packers and shippers. Their main office is in Toppenish and
they also have warehouses at Zillah, Buena, Wapato, Donald, Yakima and Selah.
Something of the vast volume of their trade is indicated in the fact that they
ship over one thousand cars of fruit annually.

In 1892 Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Miss Marion H. Richey, a daughter
of James and Anna (Hamilton) Richey and a native of Lasalle county, Illinois.
The family came to Yakima about 1899 and the father was a partner of Mr.
Gilbert, their association being continued until the death of Mr. Richey in
1911. Mrs. Richey has also passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have been born
seven children: Curtis R., who is now a captain of Company F of the Three
Hundred and Sixty-first Infantry, serving in France; Lois Marion, who is a
graduate of the University of Washington and is assistant matron at the Grand
Mound Reform School for Girls; Elon, a student of the University of Washington,
who joined the United States Naval Reserve and is in the Naval branch of the
aviation service at Seattle; Margaret, who is a freshman in the University of
Washington; Horace N., who is a senior in the high school and is president of
the associate student body; Dorothy, attending high school; and Evelyn, also in
school.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Congregational church and Mr.
Gilbert is identified with the Yakima Commercial Club. His political endorsement
is given to the republican party. He is one of the best known men in this
section of the state by reason of the extent and importance of his business
interests, which cover a wide territory, while the high regard entertained for
him is the direct result of a social, genial nature and thorough reliability in
all of his transactions. He stands for progress and improvement in every
relation affecting the welfare of the individual and of the community at large
and his business activities have ever been of a character that have contributed
to general improvement and prosperity as well as to individual success. He is a
lover of the northwest with its countless opportunities and advantages, and that
he has done much for its upbuilding is uniformly recognized.

********************************
Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.