Fulton County GaArchives Biographies.....Gilbert, Dr. Joshua September 17, 1815 - April 18, 1889 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Suzanne Bowen Ackert ackerte@bellsouth.net February 2, 2006, 1:23 pm Author: Suzanne Bowen Ackert Dr. Joshua Gilbert Dr. Joshua Gilbert was reared in a large family in Laurens County, South Carolina. He "read" medicine under the supervision of his older brother, William, before attending the Medical College at Augusta, Georgia. After his graduation, in 1845, Joshua departed immediately for Atlanta where he built a house at the intersection of Marietta Street and Forsyth Street. He opened his medical office on Marietta Street, between Broad and Forsyth. Known as the "Father of Atlanta Medicine," Dr. Gilbert earned much praise in his day. From all accounts, he was a highly respected citizen of great kindness and compassion. Dr. Gilbert never presented a bill for his services while working long and often arduous hours. His reputation is suggested by the following quotes from Wilbur Kurtz, and Dr. George G. Smith, a contemporary of Dr. Gilbert: "He was a man of abounding good nature, and possessed a fund of mirth-provoking quips; excellent spirits were as infectious as some of the diseases he was called upon to combat." "The leading doctor in Atlanta - certainly the most popular - was the genial, warm-hearted Josh Gilbert. He road horseback and carried a whistle with him, with which he made his presence known as he galloped his steed through the streets. He kept no books, collected no accounts." Dr. Gilbert married a daughter of Charner Humphries, Elizabeth, shortly after settling in Atlanta. He and Elizabeth had two children, Camilla and Ansel. Unfortunately, Elizabeth died on August 7, 1847, about a year after the birth of Ansel. Dr. Gilbert remained single for a good many years, and then wedded Miss Mattie Butler of Griffin. No children blessed his second union. After a time, Dr. Gilbert became associated with Dr. T. C. H. Wilson, and the firm prospered wondrously. Dr. Wilson was a thorobred figure of a man, and they made money from a large practice in Atlanta and from the surrounding County. Atlantians knew someone was seriously ill when they saw Dr. Gilbert go dashing by either on horseback at breakneck speed, or in his little sulky, flying along the rough streets regardless of danger to life and limb. As the years were going by, the town was developing into a city, and friendly Dr. Gilbert removed to his country home 8 miles from the city. He continued in active practice up to a short time before his death. Dr. Gilbert is buried in the Historic Utoy Primitive Baptist Church cemetery. Sources: "The Gilbert House," a compliation of members of the Gilbert Family, by the Department of Budget and Planning, 1978. The report is on the Gilbert Family and the Gilbert House in an effort to preserve the home of Jeremiah Silas Gilbert. Atlanta History Center, Roll 9, Frame 593: Handwritten Obit in Scrapbook of Dr. Gilbert. Historic Utoy Church State Historical Marker. Additional Comments: Joshua Gilbert was the son of Jeremiah Gilbert and Leah Westmoreland of Laurens District & Spartanburg County, South Carolina. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/fulton/bios/gilbert330bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb