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Annie Hargrave Gess Gilbert

"The Caldwell Tribune, Friday, Nov. 29, 1912" ... Death of Mrs. Frank Gilbert ... On last Friday night at about nine o'clock Mrs. Frank Gilbert passed away at her home in this city after a lingering illness. The deceased was born in North Carolina in 1840. When a small child she removed with her parents from her native state to Missouri, where she grew to womanhood. In 1863 she was married to John Guess with whom she came to Idaho in 1865. The children of this union are Wm. Gess of Portland, Lee Gess of Montana and Mrs. Allie Lansing of Emmett. Shortly after coming to Idaho Mrs. Gess was left a widow by death, and in 1870 she was married to Frank Gilbert, who survives her. Of this marriage the children living are Edward Gilbert of and Frank Gilbert of this city. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were well known and highly respected citizens of Lower Boise, where they had a large farm and a beautiful home. They removed to Caldwell about 4 years ago. The funeral occurred at Lower Boise Sunday under the direction of W.C. Dyer. Dr. Boone conducted the religious ceremonies.

Ella Rosetta Shawver Gess

"Ella Rosetta Gess, 93, died Sunday evening in a local hospital following a lengthy illness. She was born on August 19, 1866 in Kansas and came to the West Coast as a small child via a covered wagon. She had resided in this area for many years. She is survived by a son, Orville C. Gess of Eureka; grandsons, Gerald F. Gess and Orville C. Gess, Jr., both of Eureka; seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., at Ocean View Cemetery with the Rev. Paul Mangum officiating. Cooper Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Bryan Gess

"The Klamath News", April 03, 1930, Klamath Falls, Oregon
"R.B. Gess Crushed by logs at Camp. Death was instantaneous for Gess about 4:15 yesterday afternoon, when several logs rolled from a jammer when a deck broke and struck him, crushing his head and body. Gess, who had been employed as a hooker at the camp the past two years, was hooking logs on the jammer when the accident occurred. It was witnessed by E. Forness, Clyde Ellis and H. McKinney who were working nearby. Mother, Brother Survive: Gess is survived by his mother Ella, and his brother, Clayton. The body was brought to this city late last night and is in charge of the Earl Whitlock Funeral Home."

Sgt. Harold Gess

"Sgt. Harold Gess Dies In Holland"..., original newspaper clipping belonging to my great grandmother, Ella Rosetta Shawver Gess of Dairy, Oregon. The name of the newspaper and the date have been cut off. It reads: Sgt. Harold W. Gess, United States army, grandson of Mrs. Ella R. Gess of Dairy, has been killed in action in Holland, according to word received from the war department. His death occurred November 7, the message stated. Sgt. Gess had a twin brother, Gerald, now stationed at Camp Roberts, and another brother, Orville C. Gess, Jr., now somewhere in the Pacific."

Catherine Cladora Greason Gess

WOMAN WHO LIVED IN FOURTH CABIN IN BOISE, PASSES AWAY, "Catherine C. Gess, one of the earliest of the heroic pioneers of Boise, died Saturday, January 3, and was buried beside her husband, G.W. Gess, in Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. Mrs. Gess was nearly eighty-seven years of age, having been born, Catherine Clardora Greason, March 6, 1838, in North Carolina. She is survived by her son Frank Gess of Long Beach, Calif., a sister of Holt, Mo., 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. When a child she moved with her parents from North Carolina to Missouri, where she grew to womanhood, and on September 16, 1855 was married to George W. Gess, who died December 26, 1912. To this union were born four children, two of whom died in infancy. Lora, the eldest child, who married Robert McGuire in 1885 and who died March 13, 1911, survived by one son and five daughters, and Frank Gess, now residing in Long Beach, California. START WEST BY WAGON..., In April, 1863, Mr. and Mrs. Gess with their young daughter left Missouri and started by wagon train on a long and perilous trail to the great northwest, taking with them provision, tools and medicines as well as cattle and horses. The medicine provided of the greatest value for the little daughter of the Gess family and one other child were the only children who lived through the hardship and privations of that long trip. The couple reached what was later known as Boise in the month of August, 1863, and immediately set about building a home. Mr. Gess possessed one of the few good axes and another man the only grindstone in the group. Cottonwood trees which grew in great abundance along the river bank were felled and made into a substantial log house, built on the spot where the Overland building now stands. This was the fourth cabin erected in Boise and was the center of many pleasant social gatherings of early days. INTERESTED IN FARMING..., Mr. and Mrs. Gess were not attracted by the gold mining rush and excitement of those days but became at once interested in farming, stock raising and dairying; which they prophesied would be among the basic industries of Idaho. They reclaimed from a wilderness of sage brush farms in Dixie and Lower Boise Valley and were among the first to demonstrate by cultivation and irrigation the value of bench land. A section of land near the present site of the Cloverdale school was reclaimed and made into one of the most productive farms of this valley. Mr. and Mrs. Gess lived on this farm for twenty-five years and in 1907 retired from active business, bought a new home at 1013 North Fifteenth Street, which was maintained until the death of Mrs. Gess. Mr. Gess was one of the original promoters and stockholders of the Boise Butcher Company. Mrs. Gess was a semi-invalid during the latter part of her life and though unable to take an active part in business and social life, with keen interest and cheerful courage she was ever ready to meet changing conditions and opporturnity. Coming to Idaho the same year that Idaho came into existence to them was given the great vision of the wonderful deveopment of this "Chosen Valley" which they lived to see fulfilled.

Frank G. Gilbert

Obituary notice posted in the "Idaho Statesman", Jan. 11th, 1920: Pioneer Who Came to Idaho in 1863 Closes Long and Active Career. Frank G. Gilbert, who made his home on what was later known as the "Old Gilbert Place," two miles west of Notus, settling there in 1863, passed away last week at the home of his son in Notus. He was born March 27, 1838, at Saratoga, N.Y., and moved with his parents when a young boy to Illinois. When he was 18 years of age he started west with an ox team, going through to The Dalles. He later freighted and mined at Idaho City. It was in 1863 that he located on a ranch on Lower Boise, near what is now Notus. In 1870 he married Mrs. Anna Gess, of which union there are two children living, Edgar P. Gilbert of Notus and Frank H. Gilbert of Caldwell. In 1910 he disposed of his ranch and moved to Caldwell, where he lived until his last illness, when he was removed to the home of his son Edgar at Notus, where he died. Mr. Gilbert was among the first of the pioneers who settled in Lower Boise Valley and developed his barren land into a beautiful home, the hospitality of the Gilbert place being proverbial in that section of the country. The funeral services were held in the Lower Boise Presbyterian church, of which he had been a member since it was started, 23 years ago. The Rev. J.W. Boone, an oldtime friend, officiated. Interment was in the Lower Boise cemetery, beside his wife and daughter.