He whose name appears at the head of this article was born in Essex county, Massachusetts, January 27, 1827. The Gilbert family are of English ancestry, and are an old one in their native state, as the history of Gloucester makes mention of John Gilbert, who was a settler of that place as early as 1710. Jonathan Gilbert, the father of S. S., was in early life a seafaring man.

In 1835, he abandoned the sea, and removed with his family to Illinois, and settled in Madison county, where he engaged in farming. He remained there but two years, when he removed to the town of Griggsville, in Pike county, Illinois, there remained until 1847, when he returned to Massachusetts, and lived there until 1853, then came to Carlinville, where he lived until his death, which occurred in February, 1869. He married Mary Sayward, a native of the same state. She died in April, 1869. Six children were born to them, three of whom are yet living. The subject of our sketch is the eldest of the family. His boyhood days were spent upon the farm and going to school, until he reached his fifteenth year, when he entered Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, where he remained for nearly five years. After he left college he taught school in Upper Alton, and in the spring of the following year, came to Carlinville, and entered the law office of John H. Chesnut, and read law, and in 1850 was admitted to the bar. After his admission he commenced the practice in connection with Mr. Chesnut, his preceptor. This partnership continued until Mr. Chesnut retired from the practice. he afterwards formed a partnership with Thomas Jayne, which continued a short time. In 1857 he formed a partnership with John I. Rinaker, which continued until October, 1862. From that time he continued the practice alone until 1876, when he formed a partnership with his son, E. A. Gilbert, which still continues.

In 1852 he was elected county judge under the old county court organization of the county. He then filled out an unexpired term, and in 1853 was elected for a full term. In 1857 he was appointed Master in Chancery by Judge Rice, and held the office until 1861, and in 1870 he was appointed by Judge Vandever to the same position, and held the office until 1874. In 1874 he was elected a member of the 29th General Assembly of Illinois. In all these offices Judge Gilbert discharged his trusts with intelligence and fidelity which merited the respect and approbation of his constituents. In politics he is a democrat. He cast his first presidential vote for Lewis Cass in 1848. He remained a democrat until the breaking out of the war, when he joined the republican party, and remained with it until 1872, when he became identified with the Liberal movement, and since that time has been a democrat. In 1851 he was united in marriage to Frances McClure, who was born in Kentucky, but was a resident of Macoupin county at the time of her marriage. Six children have been born to them. The eldest, Edward A., is married, the rest are still at home.

In the practice of the law, Judge Gilbert has no specialties, but prefers the Chancery practice. He is regarded as a sound lawyer, and a good pleader. As a man and a citizen he is universally respected.