My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. MORRIS J. GILBERT holds the very exacting position of Steward of Willard State Hospital, and the fact that he has continued in that position without a break since March, 1873, shows better than any words can do his capacity for the work, and his ability for administering the duties of so important a place. Captain Gilbert is a native of Middlesex, Yates County, where he was born November 16, 1831, the son of Samuel and Sarah (Brown) Gilbert. His father was a native of Seneca County, and his mother was born in New Jersey. His paternal grandfather was John Gilbert, who was born on Long Island, where his ancestors had resided for many generations, Sir Humphrey Gilbert probably being the most conspicuous ancestor of our subject.

John Gilbert came to Seneca County among the very first of the hardy company that came to convert a wilderness into a garden of the Lord. He located near Seneca Lake, in the town of Fayette, but after a time removed to Yates County. From there he went to Allegany County, and finally to Springwater, Livingston County, where he died at the advanced age of nearly one hundred years. It is somewhat remarkable and unusual that his wife should have lived to almost the same age. Perhaps their great longevity may in part be accounted for from the fact that they were farmers all their days and lived very simply and abstemiously.

John Gilbert and wife had a large family, of whom Samuel Gilbert, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the eldest son. He was born in 1800, and was also a farmer. For some years he was a resident of Yates County, but in 1845 he became a resident of Geneva, where he died at the age of sixty-five. His wife lived to be eighty-two, and spent the last years of her life in Geneva. Both were associated with the Baptist Church, and lived earnest and consistent Christian lives. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom lived to attain their majority.

Captain Gilbert was the sixth of this goodly family. He was reared on the farm and was sent to the common schools to receive a practical and working education. In 1861 he found employment in the mercantile establishment of his brother at Geneva, and later became a partner. In 1864, however, he was appointed steward of the steamer “D. S. Magee,” later became captain, and subsequently held the same position on the steamer “Onondaga.” There he was found every season until 1873, when he was nominated Steward of the hospital by John B. Chapin. This nomination was approved by the Board of Management, and his commission was signed by the Governor. In this position he has served continuously from that day to this, with the approval of all parties interested in the management of the institution. He acts as purchasing agent, and the financial affairs of the hospital are principally under his control.

Captain Gilbert was married, in 1858, to Miss Eliza Simonds, daughter of William Simonds. She was a native of New Hampshire, but at the time of her marriage was living in Yates County. She died in 1868, leaving two children. William Morris, a minister of the Episcopal Church, is First Assistant Pastor at Grace Church in Baltimore. His wife, Fannie, is the daughter of Dr. John B. Chapin, Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane, located at West Philadelphia. They have one son, Morris. Our subject’s daughter, Bessie, married Edwin R. Bishop, and died in Willard, in 1894, after bearing her husband two children, Edwin and Morris. Captain Gilbert was a second time married, Miss Martha, daughter of Jonathan Baley, of Yates County, becoming his wife. She is the mother of two children, Marian and John Park.

In politics Captain Gilbert is a Republican and has held several local offices, but he has no inclination for party manipulations. The position that he fills demands and receives all of his energies. In religion he is a member of the Episcopal Church, and socially is interested in the Masonic fraternity. He is a member of the various organizations of that society and has taken the Knight-Templar degree.