their land which could be purchased for as little as 50 cents an acre. The earliest homestead was purchased in 1893. Gilbert was named after homesteader, William (Bobbie) M. Gilbert.

Around 1910 when Gilbert was beginning to be established, there were no paved streets, no electricity, no radio, no stereo, no TV, no telephones in the homes and no indoor running water or toilets. Most people built sleeping porches onto their homes because there were no cooling devices.

Ayer's Grocery Store, the first store in Gilbert, opened in 1910 and became the location of the first Post Office in 1912. The Post Office moved many times after this before settling for many years on the east side of downtown Gilbert Road. In 1979 a new Post Office, the Main Post Office, was built on Elliot Road. At that time the Post Office began delivering mail to residents living in the town. The Val Vista Station opened in 1992.

Gilbert's railroad depot was built in 1913 just north of the railroad tracks and west of Gilbert Road. It was torn down in 1969.

In 1918 - 1919 Gilbert was known as the "alfalfa hay shipping capital of America", suppling the U.S. Army with hay for their horses during World War I. Farming was done by horse-drawn equipment until the 1920's even though cars appeared around 1910. Products shipped from Gilbert went by train. Ramps east of town next to the railroad tracks were used to transport the sheep and cattle. Gilbert also shipped watermelons.