Biographical Sketch (1883):3076 "Gilbert Bitler, farmer, Section 24, Salem Township, P. O. Eureka, whose name is familiar to the readers of this, is a native of Ohio, but for the past six years has resided in this State, where he has recently taken for a wife the daughter of one of the oldest residents of this township- O. E. Ladd. Mr. B. is engaged in the cattle business, and has but recently removed here from Lyon County. Although but a young man he has proven himself one of the most successful cattle men of the West."

1860 Birth:1666 Birth year of 1860 estimated based on age (10 years) in 1870 census enumeration; birth place assumed to be Auglaize County, as his parents Samuel Bitler and Vastia Ann Baily were enumerated there in 1860.

1870 U.S. Census:1666 Gilbert enumerated in the household of his father Samuel Bitler in Wapakoneta Village, Auglaize County, Ohio as a male, age 10, white, at home, born in Ohio. Brothers Grant, 4 years, and Frank, 9 months, also in the household.
Ohio, Auglaize County, Wapakoneta Village.

1871 Death of Mother:638, p. 16 (Vashta Bitler, Probate Court Death Records, v. 1, p. 26) Vastia Anna Bailey Bitler, mother of Gilbert, died on 27 April 1871, at age 34.

1871 Remarriage of Father:1778 Father Samuel Bitler married Augusta Mayer on 2 November 1871. This was Samuel's third marriage.

1880 U.S. Census:2135 Gilbert enumerated in the household of his first cousin Sylvester VanTress Bitler in Madison Township, Greenwood County, Kansas as a white, male, age 20, cousin, single, herder, broken collar bone, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Virginia. Gilbert's brother Grant, age 18, also enumerated in the Sylvester VanTress Bitler household. (Sylvester's father Daniel Bitler Jr. and Gilbert's father Samuel Bitler were brothers.)

1882 Marriage:2298 Gilbert Bitler and Carrie C. Ladd married on 20 December 1882 in Greenwood County, Kansas.