John P. Filbert (1844-1902) was born in Buffalo, New York, and died in Los Angeles, California. He worked as a grocer and married Lizzie L. Burhop in 1874. He was a student of Mary Baker Eddy's, completing Primary (March 1886) and Normal (February 1887) classes at the Massachusetts Metaphysical College. In 1886, he sold his business, and both Filbert and his wife became full-time Christian Science teachers and practitioners listed in the directory of The Christian Science Journal until each of their deaths. Both joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 30, 1894, and were members of the National Christian Scientist Association. Some of the places he taught classes include: St. Joseph, Missouri; Des Moines, Iowa (1887); Sacramento, California (1888); and Terre Haute, Indiana (1889). In 1892, the family moved to Los Angeles. In 1900, Filbert, traveling from Los Angeles, was one of the first to conduct services at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Burbank, California. He was involved with starting First Church of Christ, Scientist, Los Angeles, California, in October 1901 and was principal of the First Los Angeles Christian Science Institute.

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