Julius C. Gilbertson, a well-known lawyer of Eau Claire and member of the legal firm of Larson & Gilbertson, was born in the city of Eau Claire, June 28, 1875, and is a son of Tolof and Susan (Lamb) Gilbertson, both natives of Norway. The paternal grandfather of Julius C. -- Gilbert Peterson -- came to the United States in 1867 and settled in the state of Iowa, where he resided until his death. John Lamb, maternal grandfather of Mr. Gilbertson, emigrated to the United States and was among the pioneer farmers of Dunn county, Wisconsin, having located there in 1866, where he lived and died. Tolof Gilbertson, the father, who was a machinist by trade, came to Eau Claire in 1867. He was an industrious and hard working man and worked at his trade at the time of his death in 1911 at the age of sixty-three years. He was the father of ten children, eight of whom are now (1914) living, as follows: Mary is the wife of Charles Sullivan; Julius C., Tilla, now Mrs. Vigo Neilson; Adolph, Cora, Victor, Clarence and Robert.

Julius C., whose whole life has been spent in Eau Claire, acquired his elementary education in the public schools. In 1893 he matriculated with the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, where he spent four years, graduating from the College of Letters in the class of 1897. He was admitted to the bar of Wisconsin. In 1898 he was elected judge of the municipal court for a term of four years, and in 1902 was re-elected.

Judge Gilbertson is a man of ripe scholarship, well grounded in the fundamental principles of the law, with the ability to apply them in practice, and both as an office counselor and a practitioner in court has won most gratifying success. He is a republican in politics. He was a member of the state legislature in 1911. He is highly esteemed for his manly qualities, and by none more than those intimately associated with him who know him best. He is a member of the Eau Claire Lodge, No. 242, A. F. and A. M., the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias, I. S. W. A., and the Sons of Norway.

Judge Gilbertson married in 1903 Miss Jessie McGrath, daughter of John F. and Mary (Burns) McGrath, one of the old and highly respected families of Eau Claire. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson have been born two children - Jocylyn M. and Julius C. Gilbertson Jr.

Bailey, W. F. History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, past and present: including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county. La Crosse, WI: Brookhaven Press, 2001. , page 290.

Photo - Judge Julius Gilbertson (back row, 4th from left) and President Theodore Roosevelt (front row, 4th from left)