( Below article submitted by: BobHartman )
Biographical sketch (shown below) was originally published in the History of Rochester and Monroe County New York From the Earliest Historic Times to the Beginning of 1907 by William F. PECK, The Pioneer Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1908. page 878
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There is no better criterion concerning the life and work of any individual than his position in the regard of his fellow townsmen. The community that knows him in his every day life becomes cognizant of his real worth and judges him by his character rather than by any special success he may have attained in business or any single line of activity. Throughout the community in which he made his home Gilbert CURTIS was held in warmest regard, winning not only the respect but also the closer ties of friendship from the great majority of those with whom he came in contact.
A native of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, he was born January 8, 1818, his parents being Barnabus and Asenath CURTIS, who were likewise natives of the old Bay state.
Their family numbered seven children, of whom Gilbert CURTIS was the eldest. For a short time he attended school in his native town and in 1825 accompanied his parents on their removal to Monroe county, New York, his father purchasing a farm in the town of Brighton from Daniel PENFIELD, one of the early and prominent settlers, for whom the town of Penfield was named. This farm afterward became the property of Gilbert CURTIS and upon it his last days were passed.
Following his arrival in Monroe county, Mr. CURTIS continued his studies in the common schools of the town of Brighton and afterward in the high school at Rochester. Putting aside his text-books, he left home and for three years was on a whaling vessel, which made voyages to many parts of the world. It was an interesting experience, bringing into his life many incidents unknown to the landsman, and his reminiscences in later years concerning his life on a whaler were always a source of entertainment to his friends. Upon his return he took ship at Boston and went to New Orleans, where he enlisted for service in the Mexican war, his commanding officer being Colonel DENT, afterward a brother-in-law of General U. S. GRANT. He served for about three years in the army, the regiment being discharged in California soon after the discovery of gold in that state.
His military life having ended in 1849, Mr. CURTIS continued a resident of California until 1855 but met with only a fair degree of success in his mining operations. He became, however, familiar with that life that constitutes the romantic, unique and interesting chapter in the history of American development. When six years had been passed on the Pacific coast. he returned to Monroe county and settled upon the old homestead farm in the town of Brighton, his remaining days being devoted to general agricultural and horticultural pursuits, in which he was quite successful. He brought his place under a high state of cultivation. With its rich harvests and large fruit crops it presented a most attractive appearance, proving one of the pleasing features in the landscape.
In his political affiliation Mr. CURTIS was in early life a stanch whig and later he became an earnest retpublican [sic]. The only office he ever held, however, was that of school trustee. He was especially interested in the cause of education and in a quiet way did everything he could to promote good schools and advance the intellectual development of the community. He was himself a well informed man on all topics of general interest, reading broadly and thinking deeply. He was charitable and of kindly spirit, giving generously of his means to those in need, yet in his beneficence was entirely unostentatious, and throughout his life was at all times unassuming. To see him in his later years, quietly pursuing the work of the farm, amid scenes of great peacefulness and activity, one would hardly dream that there were in his life history chapters of intense interest connecting him with the varied experiences of a whaling vessel on the deep, with military service in the lands of the Montezumas and with the mining excitement of early days in the golden west. Reminiscences of those times, however, enriched his conversation and added an intensely interesting element to it. To know Mr. CURTIS was to respect him, and his genuine worth was recognized by all who knew him in Monroe county. He died upon the old homestead farm, June 1, 1885, and was laid to rest in Brighton cemetery.
Biographical sketch (shown below) was originally published in the History of Rochester and Monroe County New York From the Earliest Historic Times to the Beginning of 1907 by William F. PECK, The Pioneer Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1908. page 878
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is no better criterion concerning the life and work of any individual than his position in the regard of his fellow townsmen. The community that knows him in his every day life becomes cognizant of his real worth and judges him by his character rather than by any special success he may have attained in business or any single line of activity. Throughout the community in which he made his home Gilbert CURTIS was held in warmest regard, winning not only the respect but also the closer ties of friendship from the great majority of those with whom he came in contact.
A native of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, he was born January 8, 1818, his parents being Barnabus and Asenath CURTIS, who were likewise natives of the old Bay state.
Their family numbered seven children, of whom Gilbert CURTIS was the eldest. For a short time he attended school in his native town and in 1825 accompanied his parents on their removal to Monroe county, New York, his father purchasing a farm in the town of Brighton from Daniel PENFIELD, one of the early and prominent settlers, for whom the town of Penfield was named. This farm afterward became the property of Gilbert CURTIS and upon it his last days were passed.
Following his arrival in Monroe county, Mr. CURTIS continued his studies in the common schools of the town of Brighton and afterward in the high school at Rochester. Putting aside his text-books, he left home and for three years was on a whaling vessel, which made voyages to many parts of the world. It was an interesting experience, bringing into his life many incidents unknown to the landsman, and his reminiscences in later years concerning his life on a whaler were always a source of entertainment to his friends. Upon his return he took ship at Boston and went to New Orleans, where he enlisted for service in the Mexican war, his commanding officer being Colonel DENT, afterward a brother-in-law of General U. S. GRANT. He served for about three years in the army, the regiment being discharged in California soon after the discovery of gold in that state.
His military life having ended in 1849, Mr. CURTIS continued a resident of California until 1855 but met with only a fair degree of success in his mining operations. He became, however, familiar with that life that constitutes the romantic, unique and interesting chapter in the history of American development. When six years had been passed on the Pacific coast. he returned to Monroe county and settled upon the old homestead farm in the town of Brighton, his remaining days being devoted to general agricultural and horticultural pursuits, in which he was quite successful. He brought his place under a high state of cultivation. With its rich harvests and large fruit crops it presented a most attractive appearance, proving one of the pleasing features in the landscape.
In his political affiliation Mr. CURTIS was in early life a stanch whig and later he became an earnest retpublican [sic]. The only office he ever held, however, was that of school trustee. He was especially interested in the cause of education and in a quiet way did everything he could to promote good schools and advance the intellectual development of the community. He was himself a well informed man on all topics of general interest, reading broadly and thinking deeply. He was charitable and of kindly spirit, giving generously of his means to those in need, yet in his beneficence was entirely unostentatious, and throughout his life was at all times unassuming. To see him in his later years, quietly pursuing the work of the farm, amid scenes of great peacefulness and activity, one would hardly dream that there were in his life history chapters of intense interest connecting him with the varied experiences of a whaling vessel on the deep, with military service in the lands of the Montezumas and with the mining excitement of early days in the golden west. Reminiscences of those times, however, enriched his conversation and added an intensely interesting element to it. To know Mr. CURTIS was to respect him, and his genuine worth was recognized by all who knew him in Monroe county. He died upon the old homestead farm, June 1, 1885, and was laid to rest in Brighton cemetery.
( Below article submitted by: BobHartman )
Biographical sketch (shown below) was originally published in the History of Rochester and Monroe County New York From the Earliest Historic Times to the Beginning of 1907 by William F. PECK, The Pioneer Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1908. page 878
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is no better criterion concerning the life and work of any individual than his position in the regard of his fellow townsmen. The community that knows him in his every day life becomes cognizant of his real worth and judges him by his character rather than by any special success he may have attained in business or any single line of activity. Throughout the community in which he made his home Gilbert CURTIS was held in warmest regard, winning not only the respect but also the closer ties of friendship from the great majority of those with whom he came in contact.
A native of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, he was born January 8, 1818, his parents being Barnabus and Asenath CURTIS, who were likewise natives of the old Bay state.
Their family numbered seven children, of whom Gilbert CURTIS was the eldest. For a short time he attended school in his native town and in 1825 accompanied his parents on their removal to Monroe county, New York, his father purchasing a farm in the town of Brighton from Daniel PENFIELD, one of the early and prominent settlers, for whom the town of Penfield was named. This farm afterward became the property of Gilbert CURTIS and upon it his last days were passed.
Following his arrival in Monroe county, Mr. CURTIS continued his studies in the common schools of the town of Brighton and afterward in the high school at Rochester. Putting aside his text-books, he left home and for three years was on a whaling vessel, which made voyages to many parts of the world. It was an interesting experience, bringing into his life many incidents unknown to the landsman, and his reminiscences in later years concerning his life on a whaler were always a source of entertainment to his friends. Upon his return he took ship at Boston and went to New Orleans, where he enlisted for service in the Mexican war, his commanding officer being Colonel DENT, afterward a brother-in-law of General U. S. GRANT. He served for about three years in the army, the regiment being discharged in California soon after the discovery of gold in that state.
His military life having ended in 1849, Mr. CURTIS continued a resident of California until 1855 but met with only a fair degree of success in his mining operations. He became, however, familiar with that life that constitutes the romantic, unique and interesting chapter in the history of American development. When six years had been passed on the Pacific coast. he returned to Monroe county and settled upon the old homestead farm in the town of Brighton, his remaining days being devoted to general agricultural and horticultural pursuits, in which he was quite successful. He brought his place under a high state of cultivation. With its rich harvests and large fruit crops it presented a most attractive appearance, proving one of the pleasing features in the landscape.
In his political affiliation Mr. CURTIS was in early life a stanch whig and later he became an earnest retpublican [sic]. The only office he ever held, however, was that of school trustee. He was especially interested in the cause of education and in a quiet way did everything he could to promote good schools and advance the intellectual development of the community. He was himself a well informed man on all topics of general interest, reading broadly and thinking deeply. He was charitable and of kindly spirit, giving generously of his means to those in need, yet in his beneficence was entirely unostentatious, and throughout his life was at all times unassuming. To see him in his later years, quietly pursuing the work of the farm, amid scenes of great peacefulness and activity, one would hardly dream that there were in his life history chapters of intense interest connecting him with the varied experiences of a whaling vessel on the deep, with military service in the lands of the Montezumas and with the mining excitement of early days in the golden west. Reminiscences of those times, however, enriched his conversation and added an intensely interesting element to it. To know Mr. CURTIS was to respect him, and his genuine worth was recognized by all who knew him in Monroe county. He died upon the old homestead farm, June 1, 1885, and was laid to rest in Brighton cemetery.
Biographical sketch (shown below) was originally published in the History of Rochester and Monroe County New York From the Earliest Historic Times to the Beginning of 1907 by William F. PECK, The Pioneer Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1908. page 878
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is no better criterion concerning the life and work of any individual than his position in the regard of his fellow townsmen. The community that knows him in his every day life becomes cognizant of his real worth and judges him by his character rather than by any special success he may have attained in business or any single line of activity. Throughout the community in which he made his home Gilbert CURTIS was held in warmest regard, winning not only the respect but also the closer ties of friendship from the great majority of those with whom he came in contact.
A native of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, he was born January 8, 1818, his parents being Barnabus and Asenath CURTIS, who were likewise natives of the old Bay state.
Their family numbered seven children, of whom Gilbert CURTIS was the eldest. For a short time he attended school in his native town and in 1825 accompanied his parents on their removal to Monroe county, New York, his father purchasing a farm in the town of Brighton from Daniel PENFIELD, one of the early and prominent settlers, for whom the town of Penfield was named. This farm afterward became the property of Gilbert CURTIS and upon it his last days were passed.
Following his arrival in Monroe county, Mr. CURTIS continued his studies in the common schools of the town of Brighton and afterward in the high school at Rochester. Putting aside his text-books, he left home and for three years was on a whaling vessel, which made voyages to many parts of the world. It was an interesting experience, bringing into his life many incidents unknown to the landsman, and his reminiscences in later years concerning his life on a whaler were always a source of entertainment to his friends. Upon his return he took ship at Boston and went to New Orleans, where he enlisted for service in the Mexican war, his commanding officer being Colonel DENT, afterward a brother-in-law of General U. S. GRANT. He served for about three years in the army, the regiment being discharged in California soon after the discovery of gold in that state.
His military life having ended in 1849, Mr. CURTIS continued a resident of California until 1855 but met with only a fair degree of success in his mining operations. He became, however, familiar with that life that constitutes the romantic, unique and interesting chapter in the history of American development. When six years had been passed on the Pacific coast. he returned to Monroe county and settled upon the old homestead farm in the town of Brighton, his remaining days being devoted to general agricultural and horticultural pursuits, in which he was quite successful. He brought his place under a high state of cultivation. With its rich harvests and large fruit crops it presented a most attractive appearance, proving one of the pleasing features in the landscape.
In his political affiliation Mr. CURTIS was in early life a stanch whig and later he became an earnest retpublican [sic]. The only office he ever held, however, was that of school trustee. He was especially interested in the cause of education and in a quiet way did everything he could to promote good schools and advance the intellectual development of the community. He was himself a well informed man on all topics of general interest, reading broadly and thinking deeply. He was charitable and of kindly spirit, giving generously of his means to those in need, yet in his beneficence was entirely unostentatious, and throughout his life was at all times unassuming. To see him in his later years, quietly pursuing the work of the farm, amid scenes of great peacefulness and activity, one would hardly dream that there were in his life history chapters of intense interest connecting him with the varied experiences of a whaling vessel on the deep, with military service in the lands of the Montezumas and with the mining excitement of early days in the golden west. Reminiscences of those times, however, enriched his conversation and added an intensely interesting element to it. To know Mr. CURTIS was to respect him, and his genuine worth was recognized by all who knew him in Monroe county. He died upon the old homestead farm, June 1, 1885, and was laid to rest in Brighton cemetery.
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