Gilbert Peterson (August 5, 1824 - November 14, 1890), was an American contractor from Lockport, New York. He was the founder and President of Peterson & Sons, which he ran with his two sons, Charles Gilbert Peterson and Jesse Peterson. The company executed contracts building the waterworks of Toledo, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; part of the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad and worked on multiple reservoirs in the Washington, DC area.