Jasper Louis Gilbert
by Carla Hillman RatcliffJasper Louis Gilbert was born March 13, 1862, Dewitt County, Texas. He was the son of Pleasant Lee Gilbert, born 1840, Texas and Berthania/Buthena Ferguson, born 1837, Kentucky. Jasper Louis Gilbert had two brothers, Lee Haden Gilbert, born February 25,1864, Texas and Pleasant Joseph Gilbert, born 1866, Texas. Jasper's only sister was Susan Elvira Gilbert, born February 25, 1861, Cuero , Texas. Jasper Louis's grandparents were Jasper L. Gilbert, born 1809, Tennessee and Sarah Elvira Lockhart. They were married in Colorado County, Texas in 1837. Jasper L. Gilbert came into Texas in 1822 and received an unconditional certificate for land in Colorado County. He later sold this property. Sarah Elvira Lockhart was the daughter of Andrew Lockhart, an original settler in the DeWitt Colony.
Jasper L. Gilbert and Sarah Elvira lived on the many leagues of land in DeWitt County that they inherited from Sarah's father , Andrew Lockhart and her brothers, Byrd B., John , and Washington. Sarah Elvira died in 1847. Their children, Pleasant Lee and Bartley S. Gilbert were wards of many guardians including Richard Chisolm, originator of "The Chisolm Trail", and were the subjects of many court battles in DeWitt County from 1847 until February, 1853 when Jasper L., their father, was finally appointed permanent guardian.
Pleasant Lee Gilbert married Berthania T. Ferguson , April 6, 1860, DeWitt County, Texas. They remained ranching and farming until the Civil War broke out and Pleasant Lee Gilbert enlisted in 1862. The Confederate Records indicated that Pleasant Lee Gilbert served as a private in Yagers, Co, C and E, Texas Cavalry until January 1864. He did not return home. Berthania/ Buthena Gilbert remarried James W. Robinson in 1870. Susan Elvira, Lee Haden and Pleasant Joseph and J.L (Jasper Louis) Gilbert were raised in the Robinson household. Much of the Lockhart/Gilbert land holdings had been sold by this time.
Susan Elvira Gilbert married Andrew Jackson Wheeler, born August 1842, Copiah County, MS. , on June 20, 1878, DeWitt County, Texas. Children of this marriage were eight in number: Polk, Erastus Benjamin, Bertha , Maude Lee, Andrew Jackson, Jefferson, Joseph, and Ethel. All were born in DeWitt County, Texas. Susan and Andrew Wheeler lived for a number of years on the ranchland of James W. Robinson , but by 1900 census they were living in Yoakum, Texas, Lavaca County.
According to the list of original land owners for Stonewall County, Tx, Lee Haden (L.H.) Gilbert purchased four sections of land. According to the 1910 census of Kent Co., Tx, Lee H. Gilbert married to Ruby A. had four children: Willie, Luis, Berthania, and John O. They were living next door to Jasper Louis Gilbert. Lee H. Gilbert died 12-14-1930 and is buried at Spur Memorial Cemetery, Spur, Dickens Co, Tx.
The youngest brother, Pleasant Joseph Gilbert went to live with a cousin, MAry A. Gilbert. Mary was married to Robert Carson of Gonzales Co, Tx.