Dr. Rufus Henry Gilbert^[1]

1832 - 1885  (53 years)

• Name	Rufus Henry Gilbert
  Prefix	Dr.
  Birth	26 Jan 1832	Guilford, Chenango, New York   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Death	10 Jul 1885	Manhattan, New York, New York
  Burial	Manhattan, New York, New York   [3]
  Person ID	I4256	Scudder
  Last Modified	29 Nov 2016

  
  

  Family	Alice Scudder Price,   b. 5 Nov 1859, Brooklyn, Kings, New York d. 1941, Plainfield, Union, New Jersey (Age 81 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1878	New Jersey   [4]
  Children	1. William D. Gilbert   d. Bef 1900   2. Bertha Gilbert,   b. 14 Jul 1878, Plainfield, Union, New Jersey d. Yes, date unknown   3. Alice Gilbert,   b. 24 Jul 1881, Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F1535	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2024

  
  

• Notes

  Rufus, a former medical practitioner, became interested in transportation matters, invented and patented a compressed air method of propulsion through elevated tubes. He had envisioned a rapid transit system based upon this method. The Gilbert Company ran into financial troubles and legal complications. The company was renamed to the Metropolitan Elevated Railway Company and would be franchised to construct a steam operated railway above 6th Avenue. He had served as a surgeon during the Civil War, with the 5th New York Volunteers, Duryee Zoaves. After the war, because of his health, he became the Assistant Superintendent of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. He married Alice after his first wife died. They were separated at the time of his death; having separate residences.

  
  

• Sources

  [S15] Genealogy of Early Settlers of Trenton and Ewing, "Old Hunterdon County," New Jersey, p. 222. [S915] U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925. [S1329] Find a Grave Index, 1600s to Current. [S610] Thomas Scudder Family, Vol. 9, p. 620.