The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-21

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hand.
Mr.. Gilbert mad a remarkable career
of success in this city. He was born ir
Hamden about t1fty-four years ago,ano
was the son of the late Griswold /. Gil
bert, who owned farm which he after
wards sold to New Haveners who made
a race track upon it and called IL
Hamilton park. 1t Is now known as the
Elm CITY park. Griswold I. Gilbert was
one of New Ravens most useful and
respected men and was for years first
| selectman and town agent of New Ha-
ven Frederick was educated in the
| common schools Of Westville, and was
later sent to an academy famed at that
time in West Haven. But an eye trouble
| compelled him to give up his studies
when he was a mere youth. He secur-
| ed employment in the meat and grocery
store kept by Horace Bowman at the
corner OF York and Chapel streets,
where now stands Calvary Baptist
church. But weighing sugar and flour
and measuring out potatoes was too
slow for his quick mind.
When he was seventeen years old he
became clerk for Franklin Andrews, the
we'll known painter and paperhanger,
whose store was where Shows confec-
! tionery store was until recently. Mr..
Andrews had been building up his bus
! mess for thirty years. Young Gilbert
| learned its details, and was within two
years made a partner. When Mr.. An
drews became i'll and was compelled to
| leave all his affairs to his boy partner,
the latter offered to buy him out. Be
fore he was twenty-one years old he
owned the business entirely, and began
to make money
For the next sixteen or seventeen
years Frederick Gilbert did a prosperous
business. He bought the Austin block,
into which he moved his business, and
was laying up money.
In the meantime he married Miss Au-
gusta Todd, sister OF Mrs. Joel F. Gill
bert. They were sisters Of the late Ma
jor Theron A. Todd.
Mr. Gilbert with James E. English
and others organized the New Haven
Electric Light company. They and some
other New Haven men became interest
ed in the Boston Electric Light com
pany. In fact there was $170, 900 of New
Haven capital invested there, and when
the company did not do very we'll the
New Haveners hit upon the plan of
sending Nh Gilbert I'D there to repre-
sent them, and to manage their inter-
ests. He sold out his paper and paint
business, which had become the leading
house Of it's kind here, and went to Bos-
ton. His success was quick and certain.
He reorganized the company on pay
ing basis and absorbed rivals, secured
valuable franchises and made possible
good dividends.
Besides his Boston Electric Light in
terests Mr.. Gilbert was interested in
number Of other enterprises, being a
stakeholder in a copper mine. director
of several banks and trust companies.
In this city he owned consdera BILE
real estate. especially the Austin block
street, several lots in Norton street, and
in Elm street, and the Savin Rock cot
tage, where he spent last summer.
Besides his wife he leaves three chill
dren-Mrs Charles B. Sears of Buffalo
whose husband is a lawyer in that city;
Lester, aged sixteen years, and Freda,
aged ten years. m
He leaves three brothers, Joel f. John
and Serene I. Gilbert, and one sister,
Mrs, M. w. Flley, all residents of this
city.
The funeral services of Mr.. Gilbert I
will be held in St Paul's Episcopal
church this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. +
The Rev Mr.. Storrs of Brookline, Mass.
will offlciate, and Rev. Dr. Lines, rector
IF st. Pauls church will assist at the /
service The honorary bearers have /
been selected as follows: w. A. Paine, |
Edward b. Malthy e. W. Burdett, w. !
e. Hosmer all of Boston; e. Henry .
Barnes, c. S. Mersick, General S. E.
MerWin, and c. Berry Poets, of this
,ity. The interment will be in Ever
green cemetery.
The remains OF the deceased arrived
here Saturday afternoon, and were
aiken to the residence of Joel f. Gill
bert, 413 Whalley avenue The remains
we're accompanied to this city by the
widow, The son and younger daughter
tlso arrived Saturday afternoon, and
he elder daughter. Mrs. Sears, will also
De present at the funeral services. A
delegation of twenty-five prominent
Boston business men, who were among
he intimate friends and associates of
he deceased, will attend the obsequies.
Yesterdays Boston Herald says:
Counsel Burdette of the Boston Elec-
ric Light company says that the death
f President Gilbert will in no wise
hange the policy or attitude of the
ompany, Mr. Gilbert owned about t.
90 Of the 10000 shares. 1t is not known
ct whether these will go on the mark
or not. The Morgan proposition, Mr. |
'urdette says, had already practically
losed, having been allowed to drop
trough before President Gilbert's
cath A meeting of the directors win
e held to-day as soon as they can be
rought together. Temporarily the ac-
I've management of the company will
evolve on Sidney Hosmer. assistant
eneral manager. The official duties of
resident will devolve on Vice President
Iotley'