Gilbert came to Arizona in 1915, when he bought a ranch northwest of Phoenix, where he lived the remainder of his life.

[2] In 1920, he ran for one of the two Arizona State Senate seats from Maricopa County.

Along with O. S. Stapley, he won the Democrat nomination, but they both lost in the November general election to Republicans C. M. Stoddard and H. B.

[3][4] In 1921, he led the group which organized the Salt River Valley National Farm Loan Association, part of the Federal Land Bank, which loaned millions of dollars to farmers in the Salt River Valley.

[6][7] While his Democrat running mate, Gene S. Cunningham, lost in the general election, Gilbert was victorious, along with Republican J. C.