Individual Details

Beckwith's History of Vigo & Parke County, p. 10
The first circuit court in Vigo was held at the home of Truman Blackman, near Ft. Harrison, on the 4th Monday of April 1818. Among the orders of busines: John Britton was one of the sureties for Alexander Barnes, coroner; Curtis Gilbert qualified as clerk of the circuit court - a position he held for some years.
p.24 In 1816, the town of Terre Haute was laid out.... very early settlers of the country prior to 1818 included Curtis Gilbert, the first county Clerk and recorder, Peter Allen. "Peter Allen had been a general in the war which had just closed." John Britton listed among those that came within the next five years.
p.26 "Earlier than any yet mentioned who came to Terre Haute was Curtis Gilbert. He emigrated to Indiana when nineteen years old, landing at the present site of the town on December 24, 1814, two years before the town was laid. Mr. Gilbert built the first frame house erected in Terre Haute. ...He was a resident of Terre Haute for sixty-three years. He died October 30, 1877 ...served in this office (court clerk) for twenty-one years. ...long and active life is without a stain. He was prominent in the organization of the branch of the state bank of Indiana, established in this city in 1832 and was for many years its president."
p.65 John F. King built the two-story frame house now standing [book was written, 1880] on the northwest corener of Chestnut and Sixth-and-a-half streets. It is one of the old houses of Terre Haute. Mr. King married a sister of Curtis Gilbert.

History of Vigo Co IN with Biographical Selections; H. C. Bradsby, 1969
p.136f Sketch of Curtis Gilbert. Arrived in Vigo 20 20 Dec 1815, at age nineteen. He brought a keel boat with goods for his employers to Ft. Harrison to trade with the Indians. He stayed sixty years. Gilbert and Demas Demming were cousins. Curtis was born Middletown, CT, 8 Jun 1795 and died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. W. S. Warner, at Palma Sola on the Manatee River in Florida, Sunday, Oct 28, 1877.
He taught school for one term in his native place, but left his home to seek his fortune in the far west. He traveled by boat to Amboy, NJ, then by land to Bordentown and on to Philadelphia. There was a stage line from Philadelphia to Pittsburg but the fare Was $30 and he walked, forwarding his trunk. He arrived ten days before his baggage. He had to remain at Pittsburgh until the river rose enough that season for boat passage. He eventually took a keel boat to Marietta, walked on foot to Zanesville and then to Springfield, Ohio, where he again taught school for a short time. He obtained a place in a store in Zanesville with Mr. Walpole. He left Zanesville for Marietta and took a job riding a horse to Cincinnati for a man named Robinson. He was offered transportation to New Orleans and accepted - an uncle lived there and he remained about two months.
Because of the British threat his uncle advised him to return and he arrived back in Cincinnati, 4 Dec 1914. He clerked for Bailey, Green & Bailey and when they sent a stock of goods to Vincennes, Mr. Gilbert accompanied Mr. Bailey. Young Gilbert was taken ill and was left at Harmony, later joining Mr. Bailey at Vincennes. In the Fall the Vincennes business decided to send a stock of goods to Ft. Harriosn. The keel boat of goods landed there 20 Dec 1815. They formed the company of Bailey & Gilbert with Gilbert to manage and sell to the Indians. In the summer of 1816, he made a trading post at the mouth of the Vermillion - three log cabins, one a store, one Indian quarters, and one to smoke venison. Gilbert was taken sick and had to return to the fort. In July of 1816, Gov. Posey issued Bailey & Gilbert a license to trade with the Indians at or near Raccoon creek. When the partnership with Bailey expired, Gilbert formed a new partnership with Andrew Brooks and continued in business with him until elected clerk of Vigo Co.
Dec 4, 1817, he was commissioned postmaster at the fort and acted in that position until 26 Oct 1818. The post office at the fort was discontinued and opened at Terre Haute in October of 1818. The post office was in a two-story frame building built by Mr. Gilbert on the corner of Ohio & Water Streets and was still his property at the time of his death. It was the first frame building in Terr Haute. The upper part was used as the courthouse.
Mr. Gilbert was elected the first county clerk and recorder - a position he held for 21 years.
In 1821, a sickly year, he lost his wife and only child. Sept 6, 1824, he was elected to the board of trustees of the public library of Vigo county, and in 1834 took an active part in organizing the Branch Bank. He figured prominent in the movement to change the drainage of Lost Creek which was one of the most important improvements for the health of the people.
Mr. Gilbert was a member of the first two town councils. In 1843, he gave up his town residence and removed to his farm; his lived to see his cornfield become town lots and the farm become part of the city.
Gilbert was a charter member of Masonic Lodge No. 19 and survived all his his fellow charter members. He was president of the Terre Haute branch of the State Bank, two different times.
Gilbert married his first wife in Terre Haute, Catharine, daughter of Gen. Peter B. Allen, Sept 15, 1819. She died Feb 6, 1821. He married Mary C. King, Nov. 26 1834. She died Oct 20, 1858, in her 47th year. She was born in Connecticut and came to Terre Haute in 1831. There were ten children, seven of whom survived him - three sons, four daughter. During the last six years of his life, he spent the winter months in Florida with his daughter.
The children of Curtis Gilbert are: Harriet, wife of John S. Beach; Joseph; Mary C. Blake, wife of Joseph H. Blake; Helen C. Warner, wife of Warburton S. Warner; Edward Gilbert; Henry C. Gilbert; and Martha Gilbert.

Vigo County, Indiana Deed Records: Book 1, 1816-1821; Immogne B. Hannan Brown, 197?
[deeds are from assorted deed books, arranged by date of deed, not recording date]
12 Jun 1819. Bk 1, p. 124 From Eli Lenderman & wife Fanny to Curtis Gilbert. Military land in Missouri; Sec 11, Twp 54, Range 18.
19 Jul 1819. Bk 1, p. 332 From John Britton, Collector of Tax, to Curtis Gilbert, lot in Terre Huate.

1820 Census. Vigo Co IN
Curtis Gilbert. 1m under 5; 1m 5-10, 3m 16-26, 1m 26-45. 1f 16-26 [Catherine]
It appears that Curtis had perhaps been married before her married Catherine Allen, although the boys could belong to one of the other young adult males. Curtis would have been about 26 that year.

Signed as Court Clerk in Probate Order Book, Vol. 1, 1818-1832, for the majority of the records.

Historically Speaking, Dorothy J. Clark; Whipporwill Publications; Evansville, Indiana, 1981
p.185. In 1831, two lots were bought at the northwest corner of 5th and Walnut Streets for the Terre Haute School House. A four-room brick school was built. Shares in the venture were $5 each - Curtis Gilbert purchased two shares.

List of persons who voted at an election in Harrison Township, held at the Vigo County Court House, Terre Haute, 1 Feb 1832, includes: Silas Hoskins, Curtiss Gilbert, Peter Allen (probably Sr because Peter Jr was not quite 21), Myron Allen, Henry Allen, Ira Allen.

Circuit Court Order Books, Civil and Criminal, Vigo County, Indiana. WPA transcriptions.
Vol. 3, 1832-1837, Part E
Note: As Clerk C. Gilbert signed the majority of entries - I have included only a sampling.
May Term 1837.
p. 531 Curtis Gilbert vs. William Harlow in his own right and as aministrator of the Estate of John Trimble, dec'd. William Harlow has died, proceedings stayed until heirs notified.
p.536 State vs. Curtis Gilbert. Indictment of neglect of duty as a supervisor.

Commissioner's Records, Vol. 3 1837-1844, Part B. Series copied by WPA; not indexed.
6th Jun 1842 p.291 Curtis Glbert pd $6.25 for services as Grand Juror, May term 1842.
June Session 1843 Statement of condition of funds. Sums recived different persons at different times. p.370 Paid C. Gilbert as clerk 4 per cent $24.39

1850 Census. Harrison Twp, Vigo, IN, Hh 823
Curtis Gilbert, 56. Mary C. 37.
Harriet, 13. Joseph 11. Mary 7. Hellen, 2, Edward 2 months.

1860 Census. Terre Haute, Harrison Twp, Vigo Co, Indiana, Hh 840
listed as Carter Gilbert, age 65, Farmer, Value of Real Estate: $96,000. Value of Personal Property: $17,500. Born Connecticut.
Apparently his 2nd wife has died.
Children born in Indiana. Joseph age 21, Mary 16, Ellen 13, Edward 10, Henry 7.
Domestics: Ann Lee, age 40, b. Ireland. Hannah Lee, 16, b. NY. Adam Lisle, 25, b. NY.

1870 Census. Terre Haute, Ward 1, Vigo Co, IN, Hh 186
Curtis Gilbert, age 75, Farmer, Real Estate: $125,000, Pers. Prop: $50,000. Born Connecticut
Born in Indiana: Hellen, age 21, Edward 20, and Henry 17.
Housekeeper: Susan Vanlandingham, age 30. She had a daughter, Dora, age 1.
Farm Hand: Martin Thomas, age 19.

I found in Leaves of Thyme, Sept 1966, Vol. XVII, No. 7, the reprint of a letter from Curtis Gilbert dated 3 Oct 1870, Terre Haute. Gilbert had been invited to the 80th anniversary celebration of the Terre Haute Lodge, No. 19 (Masonic). The lengthy letter describes the early settlement of the area around Terre Haute and offered his regrets due to ill health and declining years (he was 75). He stated that Congress had granted lands to certain Canadian Volunteers who had once been citizens of the US and had joined our forces during the War of 1812 and as a result had their property in Canada confiscated. Peter Allen was an assignee of one of these grants. Gilbert stated he arrived at Fort Harrison, 20 Dec 1815. One of the early settlers was Peter Allen who located two miles east of the fort. In the fall of 1816 when the town of Terre Haute was laid out, one of the first residents was John Britton. Gilbert remarked about the sickness from 1829 through 1837 when Lost Creek was drained. Listed among the probable first members upon organization of the Lodge were General Peter Allen and John Britton.


HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Terre Haute, pp. 30-41
Earlier than any yet mentioned who came to Terre Haute was CURTIS GILBERT. He emigrated to Indiana when nineteen years old, landing at the present site of the town on December 24, 1814, two years before the town was laid out. Mr. GILBERT built the first frame house erected in Terre Haute. This house is still standing on its original site, the northwest corner of Ohio and Water streets. He was a residence of Terre Haute for sixty-three years. He died October 30, 1877. Mr. GILBERT was the first clerk of Vigo county, and he was elected for three successive terms, thus serving in this office for twenty-one years. The duties of the office at that time included also those of auditor and recorder, and the records of the county during that time are as precise and beautiful as copper-plate; they form a very valuable part of the county archives. His long and active life is without a stain. He was prominent in the organization of the branch of the state bank of Indiana, established in this city in 1832, and was for many years its president. In 1852 the branch of the Bank of the State of Indiana was organized, of which at one time he was president. His name is associated very prominently with the early history of Vigo county.
.....The frame house built by Mr. GILBERT in 1818 was on lot 256.

Indianapolis Journal, Thursday, Nov 1, 1877
"Minor Telegrams" Wednesday, Oct 31
Curtis Gilbert, the oldest and wealthiest citizen of Terre Haute, died last night at Manatee, Florida.

Bloominton Daily Leader, Bloomington, Illinois
2 Nov 1877
Curtis Gilbert, the oldest and wealthiest citizen of Terre Haute, Ind., died in Florida a day or two since.

Part of Curtis Gilbert obit from the Saturday Evening Mail 3 Nov 1877, p. 5, Terre Haute
November 3, 1877
Curtis Gilbert Dies
Terre Haute lost one of its greatest benefactors, Curtis Gilbert, in 1877. Born in Middletown, Connecticut, on June 8, 1795, Curtis came to Terre Haute in 1814 at the age of 19 following a short stay in New Orleans with his uncle. Before the organization of Vigo County, he was the first postmaster at Fort Harrison. He was well known for his perfectionism both as county clerk and the president of the Terre Haute branch of the State Bank. He died on October 30, 1877, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. S. Warner in Mantee, Florida.

Buried Highland Lawn Cemetery, Terre Haute, Vigo Co, IN

Birth	8 Jun 1795	Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut
Marriage	15 Sep 1819	Vigo County, Indiana - Catherine Allen
Marriage	26 Nov 1834	Vigo County, Indiana - Mary Ann Caroline King
Death	30 Oct 1877	Manatee, Manatee County, Florida

Spouse	Catherine Allen (1801 - 1821)
Child	William Gilbert (1820 - 1820)

Spouse	Mary Ann Caroline King (1812 - 1858)
Child	Harriet Gilbert (1837 - 1905)
Child	Joseph Gilbert (1839 - 1913)
Child	George Gilbert (1840 - 1844)
Child	Mary Caroline Gilbert (1842 - 1921)
Child	Louisa Gilbert (1844 - 1850)
Child	Benjamin Gilbert (1847 - 1847)
Child	Helen Camp Gilbert (1848 - 1933)
Child	Edward Gilbert (1850 - 1922)
Child	Henry Curtis Gilbert (1853 - 1932)
Child	Martha Gilbert (1857 - 1910)

Father	Benjamin Gilbert (1760 - 1846)
Mother	Mary Hamlin (1760 - )