Timothy Gilbert, born August 27, 1834 in Wiltshire, England to John Timothy and Maryann Lancaster Gilbert, was converted to the LDS Church by missionaries in England.  He was the only one of his family to do so and was disowned by his family for this.  After coming to America, he worked a dairy farm in upper New York State where he milked 40 cow a day, by hand, to acquire the railroad fare to go to Salt Lake.  After reaching Utah, he married a widow, Anne Bradley Rogers, who was born February 26, 1802, in Dodderill, Worchester, England.  They were married for 16 years but had no children.  Anne died on March 7, 1893.

Timothy also married Johanne Margrethe Stouts, born December 27, 1852, in Hedegaard, Hyllested, Denmark.  When she joined the Church, she too was disowned by her family.

Timothy and Johanne had four children born in Riverton, Utah: John (died in infancy), Anna Johanna (Chirstensen), Mary Georgine (Jackson), and Harriet Josephine (died in infancy), Anna Johanna (Christensen), Mary Georgine (Jackson), and Harriet Josephine (died in infancy).  Timothy was called to serve a mission in England in 1884 and 1885.  While there he was unable to convert any of his family, but did convert a family named Cartwright, who followed him back  to Salt Lake.  Timothy married Ruth Elizabeth Cartwright, born March 13, 1858 in Lye, Westchester, England.  Their only child, Sarah Priscilla died in infancy.

Timothy was called with others to come to Colorado in 1888 to settle a colony to be called Sunflower, which was southwest of Romeo and close to the foothills.  Other members who came with him were the Drapers, Nells, Kidd, Crump and their families.  This group traveled by train to Romeo where they were met by Bishop Dalton and others who took them to Manassa, where they lived for a short while.  Polygamy had been practiced but there was  a lot of hiding and trouble for Timothy since he  had three wives.  He had to choose the wife with the most children which was Johanne and leave the other wives in Utah.  He believed they would be well cared for.  He later learned they were destitute and being mistreated, so he journeyed back to Utah and brought them to Colorado.  The Mountain View Branch was organized early in 1889 and Timothy was set apart as Presiding Elder and served until September, 1891.  The family then moved from Sunflower to San Rafael.

Four more children were born to Timothy and Johanne; John Timothy who was born in Manassa, and Louvina Rasmine who died at age 16, and twin boys, Henry and George who died in infancy.  Shortly after this Ann died.  Timothy raised hay, gardens with lots of produce, may ducks, geese and chickens which she peddled in Antonito and Conejos.  She was a small but industrious lady.

Bishop Dalton acquired a contract cutting railroad ties for the railroad between Antonito and Santa Fe.  These were cut up in the mountains and hauled down to Antonito by wagon.  This was too far and too slow, so the ties were cut, then floated down the Conejos River in the spring where they were taken from the river at San Rafael at the Gilbert ranch and then hauled to Antonito.  Bishop Dalton had a small commissary there in the spring of 1895.  Schooling was very poor for the children in San Rafael, so the Gilbert family moved to Manassa.

Timothy's health was failing and he was unable to farm.  Johanne continued peddling the produce, butter and poultry which helped sustain the family.  Timothy had severe varicose ulcerations on his lower leg which caused severer constant pain.   he asked the Elders to administer to him, but to anoint his leg instead of his head.  They did this and he was promised relief from pain and a complete recovery.  He recovered and he and Johanne were able to go to Salt Lake Temple where they did work for their dead relatives.  After Timothy's death on May 13, 1914, Johanne went to live for a time with her son, John and his family in Salt Lake where she did more temple work.  While there, one morning on her way to farmer's market, she was struck by a car.  She suffered many injuries, including a broken hip.  She recovered, but one for her legs was shortened and she had to walk with crutches, but with her great determination she overcame this handicap.  She then came back to Manassa where she lived with her daughter's families, the Will Jacksons and the Nephi Christensens.  She was well loved and long remembered by here family and many friends.  The strong testimony and faith of Timothy and Johanne have been a source of pride and have added to the testimonies of their numerous posterity¹.