Gilbert's early years were described in the DeKalb County Album (671,675)
Mr. Maxfield was nine years of age when he accompanied his parents to DeKalb County, and he attained to man's estate on his father's farm, obtaining such education as he could in the pioneer schools.G. A. Maxfield, age 24, self-described as a hotel keeper, arrived at the port of New York on the Illinois from Chagres, Panama, on 18 October 1851 (NY Pass). Gilbert Maxfield married SARAH ELVIRA CROCKER at DeKalb County, Illinois, on 14 December 1852 (DeKalb Album). She was born at New York on 21 July 1832 (date from Elmwood Cem, DeKalb Album 675, state from census records).Jan 19, 1850, in company with two others, he started for California by way of New Orleans. They crossed the Isthmus on the river Chagres in a bark canoe, up the river by boat to Cruces, thence to Panama, on foot, and to San Francisco in a sail vessel called "Glenmore" (which name he afterward gave to his oldest son). He returned home in the latter part of the winter of 1852.
After marriage they settled on a portion of the homestead estate at Sycamore Township, DeKalb County, where they farmed. In 1870 they moved into the city of Sycamore, but continued to be involved in farming. DeKalb Album (675) reported in 1885,
He rents a portion of his farm which includes the original claim, and the remainder is under his own control and operated by hired assistants.That some source also reported that Gilbert and Sarah were among the first members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Sycamore, and
Mr. Maxfield, having been a Republican since the party was organized, was one of 20 who cast their votes for prohibition in the town of Sycamore in 1884, out of 900 votes cast.The Gilbert Maxfield family was reported at Sycamore in the 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses. The 1870 census record (215:608B), from ward 1 of Sycamore city follows:
| Name | Age | Sex | Race | Occupation | R.E. | P.E. | Birth | Other |
| Maxfield, Gilbert M. | 42 | M | W | farmer | $18,600 | $2000 | OH | |
| Maxfield, Sarah E. | 37 | F | W | keeping house | NY | |||
| Maxfield, Fredk G. | 14 | M | W | works on farm | IL | school | ||
| Maxfield, Anna M. | 12 | F | W | at home | IL | school | ||
| Maxfield, George G. | 8/12 | M | W | IL | b. Sep. | |||
| Hutchinson, Margaret | 16 | F | W | domestic servant |
The 1880 census reported Anna and George still at home, Anna engaged in teaching.
Gilbert Allen Maxfield died at Sycamore on 28 January 1886 (Elmwood Cem).
The 1900 census (999:29B) reported widow Sarah Maxfield living with her daughter Anna and son-in-law Charles Bunker, a minister, at Albuquerque, New Mexico:
| Name | Related | Race | Sex | Born | MS | B | FB | MB | Occupation |
| Bunker, C. A. | head | W | M | Oct 1850 | M | IL | NY | NY | minister |
| Bunker, Anna M. | wife | W | F | May 1858 | M | IL | OH | NY | |
| Bunker, Hazzel M. | daughter | W | F | Jul 1888 | S | IL | IL | IL | at school |
| Bunker, Jean P. | son | M | W | May 1890 | S | IL | IL | IL | at school |
| Maxfield, Sarah | mother-in-law | W | F | Jul 1832 | W | NY | MA | NY |
The above record also indicated that Sarah had five children, three of whom were living.
Sarah Maxfield died on 1 January 1901 (Elmwood Cem).
Gilbert Allen Maxfield and his wife Sarah Elvira Crocker had the following children:
Information on this family is found in:
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