Dr. Samuel H. Gilbert (1828-1890) came to Texas about 1850, settled first in Cass County, married Julia Ann Ritchie in 1852, purchased 275 acres at this site about 1855, and by 1857 had this native limestone house constructed. Along with his medical practice, he operated a farm here, growing vegetable crops and raising livestock. A respected community leader, he helped outfit a local militia unit during the Civil War and later held a number of local public offices. In 1874 he helped bring rail service to the Farmers Branch community by selling part of his property to the Dallas & Wichita Railroad for a right-of-way through the area. He and Julia Ann, parents of two daughters, lived in the house for the rest of their lives, and it remained in the Gilbert family until 1937. A rare surviving example of an early Texas home, it has a vernacular center-passage plan with modest Greek Revival influences, including a double-door entry with transom, a full-width front porch with box columns and classical detailing, twin chimneys, and a large hipped roof.