Gilbert Edward Barkoski
(1893-1983)

Died aged c. 90

Gilbert Edward Barkoski was born October 22, 1893 in Loretto, Duval County. In 1916 he married, bought a home and 50 head of cattle. His herd grew to more than 2,000 head on his 75,000-acre range. He became the first cattleman in Florida to import purebred English cattle to breed with and upgrade the bloodlines of the old Spanish range cow. He served on the Indian River School Board, the County Commission, the World War II Ration Board and the Sebastian River Drainage Board. He supported the Future Farmers of America and the 4-H Club. He served several terms as president of the Indian River Cattleman’s Association and just prior to his death was named "Cattleman of This Century" by that group. Gilbert Edward Barkoski died in 1983.

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