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Curtis Gilbert collection

 Collection
Identifier: S0512

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of various bills of receipts from Curtis Gilbert and the account book for the county clerk and the postmaster, ranging from 1818 to 1839.

Dates

  • 1818-1839

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Biographical Note

Gilbert Curtis was born in Middletown, Connecticut on June 8, 1795. At the age of seventeen, he became a teacher and taught in Middletown for one term. In October of 1813, Curtis headed west to seek his fortune. He ended his journey in Springfield, Ohio, where he taught school for a while as well as worked in a store. Curtis then traveled to Cincinnati, where he found a job with a store, Bailey, Green, and Bailey. The store soon expanded, and opened a branch in Fort Harrison, and Gilbert traveled there to work in 1815. He formed a “copartnership” with Mr. Bailey and Gilbert took control of the Fort Harrison store. In 1817, Gilbert became postmaster of Fort Harrison and in 1818; the post office was moved to Terre Haute. Gilberts became the first clerk and recorder of Vigo County. He married Catherine Allen in Vigo County, Indiana on September 15, 1819. In 1821, his wife and only child died. He was reelected for clerk in 1824, and again in 1832. He remarried in November 26, 1834 to Mary C. King, and the couple had seven children. In 1839, Gilbert became the first mayor of Terre Haute, although, he resigned shortly after taking the position due to ill health. Gilbert died in Florida on October 28, 1877.

Sources:

"Gilbert, Curtis." In A Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men of the State of Indiana, Vol. 2, 15-17. .Cincinnati, OH: Western Biographical, 1880.

Ancestry.com. "Curtis Gilbert." Indiana, Marriage Collection, 1800-1941. Accessed April 8, 2013. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.

Extent

0.02 Cubic Feet (2 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Mary Beach on 1922/06/05.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2013/04 by Erica Sgroi. EAD finding aid created 2013/04 by Erica Sgroi.
Title
Curtis Gilbert collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671