FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: "Rose was a daughter of Ada Welton. She married a Gilbert (I think the one Allen refers to as "Captain Gilbert" or his son), but left him and brought her baby son back to the Unity. Later, her sister Ann Lewis brought him up in the north."

LEE TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, INC.; May 1996: THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH WANTS TO BUY AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC SITE: " In April, the town council unanimously voted to try to acquire the "Mound House" on "Long Estate." A group of German developers has reportedly made a $1,000,000 offer for the property, but council members hope they can acquire the property before that deal closes. Fort Myers Beach is ready for historical and eco-tourism; town manager Marsha Segal-George proposed creating a water eco-trail from the Matanza Pass Wilderness Preserve to the Mound House and on to Mound Key, which is believed to have been the capital of the Calusa Indians.
This site, one of Lee County's earliest recorded archaeological mounds, is in pristine condition and qualifies for the National Register of Historic Places, but the Mound House has significance beyond its Calusa roots. The first Homestead in Estero Island was granted to ROBERT GILBERT for Mound House property and 82 acres from Gulf to Bay. Gilbert was a Koreshan and after Dr. Cyrus Teed, founder of the Koreshan Unity died in 1908 Gilbert sold the property to William H. Case.
The house on the mound encases one of the first homes built on Estero Island. It was built circa 1909 by William H. Case, who platted the first subdivision on the Island, Case's subdivision."

THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Rose M. Gilbert; Born: 17 Oct 1871 in Moravia, N.Y. Was in the Moravia colony. Arr. Estero 1896; Married Robert B. Gilbert ca. 1897; Died: 12 Sep 1953

FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: "Rose was a daughter of Ada Welton, She married a Gilbert (I think the one Allen refers to as "Captain Gilbert" or his son), but left him and brought her baby son back to the Unity. Later, her sister Ann Lewis brought him up in the north."

Court Record--Warranty Deed: 25 Apr 1924; No. 26759; Deed Book 70, Page 209, Entry Number 1. Rose Gilbert and other Koreshan members.

U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County--1910; Microfilm Roll number: Fl 1910-H T624; Koreshan Unity; Enumeration Date: 25 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, Jan 1995: Rose M. Gilbert; Sex: Female; Race: white; Age 38; Marital status: Divorced; Mother of 1 child; No. of these children living: 1; Place of birth: New York; Place of birth of mother and father: New York; Language spoken: English; Occupation: Postmaster; Employer or worker: worker; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes.

U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida,1920; Enumeration date: Jan 2, 1920; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; ED: 109; SD: 1; Fourth Precinct; Microfilm roll number: 1820221; Microfilm roll number 1820221; Enumeration date: Jan 3, 1920; The Koreshan Unity Colony; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, Dec 1994: Rose Gilbert; Relation to head of family: Boarder; Place of residence: Dining Hall; Age 48; Divorced; Place of birth: New York; Place of birth of mother and father: New York; Occupation: Postmaster/Estero.

U.S. Federal 1930 Census; Estero, Lee County, Florida; Koreshan Unity Home; Enumeration Date: May 5, 1930; ED: 36-17; SD: 6; Page: 199; Enumerator: William Howell; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 2003: Rose Gilbert; Radio set: none listed; Sex: female; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 59; Marital condition: widow; Age at last birthday: 59; Age at first marriage: 25; Attended school since Sep 1, 1929: no; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: New York; Place of birth of father: New York; Place of birth of mother: New York; Occupation: Post mistress; Industry: Post office; Whether actually at work yesterday (or the last regular working day): yes.

Burial: Koreshan Unity Cemetery--lot 50; Inscription: Rose M. Gilbert--Sept 12-53

MEMORIES, MEMORIES--DAYS OF LONG AGO chronicled by Marie McCready with participation by Lovelle McCready: Rose Gilbert, chaperon for young people--page 65.

Notes from Evelyn Horn: Rose Gilbert
Sister Rose Gilbert came to Estero with the Chicago group of Koreshans in 1894 with one son, Dean, who grew up in the Unity. Rose lived in the Planetary Court with the Sisters. Dean lived in the children's or Brother's home.

Sister Rose was Estero's postmistress all her life. In later years her sister and brother-in-law, Anna and Frank Lewis, came to Everglade City to live where Anna was postmistress and Frank worked at Western Union office. In their retiring years the Lewis' built a home on Koreshan Unity property on Highway 41. They named it El-Retiro. The Lewis' were affiliate members of the Koreshan Unity. Frank served on the Board of Directors and also was bookkeeper and treasurer. Frank died December 7, 1946. Frank was a trailblazer.

Sister Rose lived with Anna in the new home "El-Retiro" after Frank's death. Rose died September 12, 1953, and Anna became postmaster. Dean Gilbert grew up and was educated in the Unity and left the Unity for Pennsylvania where he became a very prominent banker. He married and had two children, Robert and Joan. Dean died in Lynchberg, Virginia, leaving a wife, Mamie. He was 84 years old.

ESTERO POST OFFICE; Established March 26, 1895: ....Subsequent Masters of the Post in order were: Ada Price, sisters Rosa Gilbert and Anna Lewis (whose home still remains as part of the Koreshan State Recreational Area), Marie Fisher (the last Koreshan member to be Postmaster.)

FLAMING SWORD, Community Current Events by Adah Price, January 1946: "Sister Rose commenced in the work as assistant to the late Mr. James Bubbett when he became Postmaster in 1908. She took over the postmastership in 1914 and remained in the work until her retirement in 1941 after thrifty-three years of
faithful service."

THE AMERICAN EAGLE; Vol. 79; April 1993; Page 3: "The beautiful Planetary Court residence, so named for the seven planets then known to exist, still stands proudly in the Koreshan settlement. It was built in 1904 to house the original seven Koreshan women charged by Koresh to manage the affairs of the Unity. Each had her own bedroom, and the eighth room, on the main floor, served as their council chamber or meeting room. These Stellar Women Were : Virginia Andrews, Berthaldine Boomer, Evelyn Bubbett, Eleanor Castle, Rose Gilbert, Ella Graham and Etta Silverfriend. ROSE GILBERT. This lady came to Estero with her son, Dean, among the first Koreshans to make the journey. Rose became the first Estero Postmistress and live in the Planetary Court while Dean lived in the Brothers' Home. She served as postmistress until her death in 1953. Rose's sister, Anna, and her husband, Frank Lewis, moved to Everglades City, where she became postmistress and he was a Western Union agent. The Lewises were affiliate members of the Koreshan Unity, and upon their retirement, received permission to build a house on Koreshan property and live there. It is now known as the Anna Lewis House. When Frank died in 1946, Rose moved in with her sister and lived with her until her death in 1953. Rose's son, Dean, grew up and was educated in the Unity, then he moved to Pennsylvania, where he became a prominent banker.