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...

Dec-20-2007, 12:49pm

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 year.

My best, bennyb

**Laurence Firth** · Dec-20-2007, 1:30pm

Originally Posted by (bennyb @ Dec. 20 2007, 14:21)

That grave marker seems a little on the minimalist side for the maker of the F style mando. #1918 was a major flu year.

My best, bennyb

thats the understatement of the year!

**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

Originally Posted by (JEStanek @ Dec. 20 2007, 16:14)

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&

and

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin....metery&

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.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...