View Full Version : The man who started the company
MikeEdgerton
Dec-20-2007, 8:01am
On a trip to Malone, NY a few years ago I stopped to pay my respects at Orville's final resting place.
Skip Kelley
Dec-20-2007, 8:28am
He died so young. What a shame. God rest his soul.
Steve Ostrander
Dec-20-2007, 9:49am
Actually, for being born in 1856, 62 years was a pretty long life. But Orville would probably dissagree...
It was his only chance of being able to deny any responsibility for those loud obnoxious round instruments the Gibson company started making in 1918.
bennyb
Dec-20-2007, 1:21pm
That grave marker seems a little on the minimalist side for the maker of the F style mando. 1918 was a major flu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza) year.
My best, bennyb
Laurence Firth
Dec-20-2007, 1:30pm
That grave marker seems a little on the minimalist side for the maker of the F style mando. #1918 was a major flu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza) year.
My best, bennyb
thats the understatement of the year! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
MikeEdgerton
Dec-20-2007, 1:36pm
Actually, I don't know if he succumbed to the flu, he was institutionalized at the time. A friend of mine was the administrator of the hospital that he was in when he died (years later of course).
des mando
Dec-20-2007, 2:14pm
wasnt the average lifespan in the 1800s in the 40s ? everything after is gravy
Alex of the North
Dec-20-2007, 2:22pm
That's not a very fitting tribute to a man who forever changed the sound of music...
allenhopkins
Dec-20-2007, 3:00pm
You'd think the Gibson Co. might want to make an effort to erect a more elaborate monument, assuming they could get his descendants' permission. His name is still on the firm's letterhead, though I gather he was only loosely associated with its management after the corporation was formed.
JEStanek
Dec-20-2007, 3:14pm
An ornate headstone may not have been within his (or his family's) wishes. Mike, were the rest of the family plots similarly marked?
I rather like the simplicity of his marker, myself. I'm free to contemplate the maple leaf there and think about all he left behind for us and beyond and how he only took his name with him when he left.
Jamie
allenhopkins
Dec-20-2007, 3:17pm
I'm free to contemplate the maple leaf there and think about all he left behind for us and beyond and how he only took his name with him when he left.
"What's the life of a man, any more than the leaves?
A man has his season, so why should he grieve?
Though all through this life we appear fine and gay,
Like the leaves we must wither, and soon fade away."
-- Trad. English
MikeEdgerton
Dec-20-2007, 4:00pm
All of the plots in the Gibson family were like this if I recall.
I believe that Orville's family was fairly well to do. He on the other hand hadn't done as well. At one time the Gibson Company was paying him a monthly stipend (probably to stay away). He wasn't all that involved after the start up. The stone was probably more by choice than circumstance.
billkilpatrick
Dec-20-2007, 4:39pm
just did a search for the derivation of the name "orville" - best i found suggested "golden city."
... "golden city" gibson (RIP.)
JEStanek
Dec-20-2007, 5:24pm
Thanks Mike and Thanks Allen (that was beautiful).
Jamie
J.Albert
Dec-20-2007, 6:41pm
A couple of links of interest:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin....664204& (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=gibson&GSfn=orville&GSby=1856&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1918&GSdyrel=all&GSst=36&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=10664204&)
and
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin....metery& (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GSln=gibson&GSfn=orville&GSby=1856&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1918&GSdyrel=all&GSst=36&GScntry=4&GSob=n&CRid=65305&pt=Morningside%20Cemetery&)
Hope these come through.
Once you're there, how does one find Orville's resting place?
- John
Steve Ostrander
Dec-21-2007, 9:20am
Check these websites for bios of Orville Gibson:
http://www.kpl.gov/collect....on.aspx (http://www.kpl.gov/collections/localhistory/allabout/businesses/GibsonInc/Gibson.aspx)
http://www.gibson.com/folks/history/
I am fortunate to be a historian and also to live within 1 hr. of Kalamazoo, so I have toured the Gibson (later Heritage) factory a couple of times, and also met and interviewed Julius Bellson. His personal collection was amazing; I wonder what ever happened to it...