Gilbertson, John H.

Jack Gilbertson, born near the historic Drake oil well in Pennsylvania in 1877, followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by mastering the trade of blacksmithing. After gaining extensive experience fabricating oil-well machinery and tools across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Oklahoma, he migrated to California in 1906. Settling in Coalinga, he worked as a blacksmith for California Oilfields Limited and later served as the head blacksmith for the Bunting Iron Works.

In 1915, Gilbertson resigned from his position to establish his own highly prosperous general blacksmithing and auto repair business on Front Street. His lifelong expertise in creating specialized oil-well equipment included assisting in the fabrication of fishing tools exhibited at the Saint Louis Exposition. Personally, he is married to Iowa native Gladys M. Levey, with whom he shares three children, and he maintains an active fraternal membership with the Eagles.