Jewett Castello Gilson, educator, business man and author, was born in the town of Rockingham, Windham county, Vermont, May 23, 1844. He acquired his education in the public schools and colleges of New England, attending Amherst College and subsequently pursuing a course of study in the astronomical department of Harvard University. When seventeen years of age he took up the profession of teaching and was an instructor in the common schools of Vermont and New Hampshire. For two years he taught mathematics in the Green Mountain Institute of South Woodstock, Vermont, and for a similar period acted as principal of Allegany Institute at Almond, New York. He came to California in 1869 and for two years taught school at Irvington, while for seven years he was thus identified with educational interests at Pleasanton. In 1877 he was elected superintendent of the Alameda county schools and served in that capacity for three years, resigning to accept the position of superintendent of the Oakland city schools and acting thus for two terms. He then established a private normal and special training school in Hamilton Hall, which he had purchased in the meantime. This private institution was conducted by him for twelve years or until he was elected principal of the Swett school of Oakland, which position he held for nine years. On the expiration of that period he was transferred to the principalship of the Longfellow school, which institution he has ably served in that capacity for the past five years. As a side issue Mr. Gilson has for many years been interested in the electrical business. At the present time he acts as vice president of the Pacific States Electric Company, which has business houses in the five largest cities on the Pacific coast, namely: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland and Seattle. He has found time for travel as a means of recreation and has also made contributions to the public press. He is the author of "Wealth of the World's Waste Places," a work published by the Scribners in 1913. He is especially interested in scientific and nature studies, having written many articles along those lines.
In 1872, at Ogden, Utah, Mr. Gilson was united in marriage to Miss Carrie T. Greene. His three children, Dr. Ray E., Cass L. and Rosse M. Gilson, reside in Oakland, where they are engaged in business.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Pages 345-346
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 6/27/2008
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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