EDWARD LEIGH GILBERT. The call of the business life is today widely
irresistible, and we frequently find brainy and aggressive young men who by
inheritance and native gifts might be thought to belong naturally to the
"learned professions" departing from their family traditions and entering
the, perhaps, broader fields of "business." Thi; lure of these various
enterprises draws alike the talented sons of physicians, clergymen and
lawyers. Mr. Edward Leigh Gilbert conspicuously illustrates this condition
in this city. He is a scion of one of the early families of Cairo, is the
only son of the Hon. Miles Frederick Gilbert and grandson of Judge Miles A.
Gilbert. His father is mentioned at length elsewhere in this work. Edward
Leigh Gilbert was born in Cairo and in a special and honorable sense belongs
to this his native city. The date of his birth was December 23, 1877, and he
is therefore in the very prime of his active and successful life. He is not
only a product of one of the eminent professional families of this city but
also of the splendid system of public schools of which the city is justly
proud, he having been graduated from the high school here in 1896. Upon his
graduation his inclination diverged him at once from the ancestral
profession of the law and he embarked upon a business career. He started
upon his training in this direction by accepting a clerkship in the office
of H. H. Candee, one of the large writers of tire insurance in Cairo, and
remained with this employer until January, 1905. Having mastered the
principles and details of this important and complex business, Mr. Gilbert
launched forth for himself by purchasing the insurance agency of Thomas J.
Kerth. Having found the field to which he is well suited by ability, he has
since devoted his active mind and excellent capacities to the general
insurance business, in which he has made a great success. The prominence he
has achieved is indicated by the fact that in 1907 he was elected secretary
of the Central Building and Loan Association, the largest one in Cairo. His
interest in education and his efficiency in that field is shown by the fact
that in 1897 he was elected secretary of the board of education and still
occupies that position.
Mr. Gilbert is associated prominently with
several of the leading fraternal organizations, being an active member of
Cairo lodge. No. 237, A. P. and A. M., Cairo Chapter, No. 71, and Cairo
Commandery, No. 13, and he is past exalted ruler of the Benevolent and
Progressive Order of Elks. He is a member of the Alexander Club and of the
Country Club. He aligns himself with Democracy upon straight politics, but
has done his whole duty with casting his ballot.
Mr. Gilbert is
happily married and his home is blessed with two children. His marriage took
place in a distant city, but the bride was a native of Cairo. He was married
at Coronado Beach, California, September 8, 1904, to Miss Emma Halliday, a
daughter of Major Edwin W. Halliday, reference to whom is made in this work.
Mrs. Gilbert was born in Cairo and received her education in the city
schools. Their children are Esther and Edward L., Jr.
Extracted 15 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 History of Southern Illinois, Volume 2, pages 795-796.
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