164. Sylvestor Scott⁵ Gorby (Thomas⁴, Job³, Thomas², Samuel¹) was born in Noble Co, OH. February 5, 1848. Sylvestor died October 7, 1930 in Cave City, KY., at 82 years of age.

He married twice. He married Mary Young Renfro. Mary was born ABT. 1867. Mary died August 14, 1951 in Barren Co, KY.. Ref: KY Online Death Certificates Index-8.21.99 - Listed as 'Mollie Y Gorby', age 84 at time of death.

He married Lousiana Boston in Orleans, IN., October 28, 1869. Lousiana was born in Bellmont Co, OH. April 19, 1852. Lousiana died January 26, 1896 in Franklin, IN., at 43 years of age. (1936) Lousiana (Boston) Gorby was born in Bellmont Co, OH, April 19, 1852 and died in Franklin, IN, January 26, 1896. As a young girl she was an active worker in her father's church - Baptist - and continued a very active worker all her life. She was married to Sylvester Scott Gorby on October 28, 1869, at Orleans, IN, by her father - Rev W L Boston. She was a devoted wife and mother, kind to everyone, genial, companionable and hospitable. Her death notice was headed - "Death of a Noble, Christian Woman." She is buried at Franklin, IN. (1936) Sylvestor Scott Gorby was born in Noble Co, OH, living there until 1851 when his father moved to Shellsburg, IA, and in 1858 to Knox Co, MO.

He enlisted in the Confederate army from Knox Co at only 15 years of age, serving as scout and spy under Col. Potter. He served only in Missouri in engagements at Palmyra, Memphis and his last battle at Kirksville.

Growing up at a time when his country was engaged in such a terrible conflict, Sylvester's educational advantages were very poor, but being of a very studious nature, he began very early in life a habit which lasted throughout a long lifetime - the habit of deep, concentrated reading, and remembering nearly everything he ever learned, his mind being a marvelous store-house of important material.

He was a great lover of Nature, and the work of his early manhood - that of a government surveyor - aided him in his favorite study - geology. He did much surveying in the great middle west and it was there that he began gathering fossils for his geological collection which grew to be the largest privately owned collection in the Unites States. Later he presented this collection to Franklin College in Indiana, giving the college the distinction of owning the largest collection of any college or university in the country.

For a few years he taught school, continuing his study of geology. Later he served as assistant State Geologist under Maurice Thompson - the writer, then for many years as State Geologist of Indiana, and while in this position he moved, classified, and arranged the large state-owned collection, moving it from the old to the new state house.

It was here that an amusing incident occurred. Maurice Thompson and Sylvester Gorby had long been friends. Both were candidates for the position of State Geologist, the governor appointing Mr Thompson, who immediately appointed Mr Gorby as his assistant, realizing that Mr Gorby's knowledge of geology was much greater than his own.

Two of Mr Gorby's political opponents called on Mr Thompson, arguing against the appointment. Not meeting with much encouragement, one of them played their last card, by saying Mr Gorby had no right to the position because he was a Rebel. Mr Thompson said "Are you sure of that? I have known him for years and he has never mentioned it." They assured him they could prove it. Mr Thompson replied: "I am very glad you have told me this, gentlemen, for I never knew it before. You see, I had the honor of being a Major in the Rebel army, myself." Lights out for the two opponents!

After retiring from the office of State Geologist, he concentrated on mining engineering - locating gas and oil wells and examining other mineral deposits for corporations. Mt Rufus Dawes, for whom he did much work in the western states, counted him the greatest geologist in the country, as did a very prominent State Geologist of New York.

S.S. Gorby, as he was known to all his friends and acquaintances, went to Indiana in his early twenties. At Orleans, Orange Co, IN, he met and married Louisiana Boston, daughter of Rev. Wilson Lee and Sarah (Cordell) Boston, Mr Boston being the pastor of the Baptist church there. He lived in Indiana until the death of his wife at Franklin, IN. Later he went to Cave City, KY where he had mining interests. There he married Mary Young Renfro and lived there until his death, October 7, 1930. He is buried at Franklin, IN.

His love of reading never left him, and at almost 83 he still read two Louisville, KY, dailies, and such magazines as The World's Work, the National Geographic, Literary Digest, and Review of Reviews. A loved avocation was the writing of poems, having one volume of very worth-while poems.

He was a Baptist, a Mason, and a Democrat - most loyal to all. His was a gentle, lovable and loving disposition and he was loved by all who knew him.

His brilliant mind and memory stayed with him to the last. Since the renewal of interest in the old McGuffey books, and the craze for spelling contests, he once spelled from those old-time books, with their four and five syllabled words for two hours without missing a word, then 82 years old.

Ref: CEN1860-8.21.99 - Age 12, born OH.

Sylvestor Scott Gorby and Lousiana Boston had the following children:

747 i. Alva⁶ Gorby. Alva Gorby is the author of the 1936 edition, The Gorby family, History and Genealogy.

(1936) So interested in writing up the family she forgot herself entirely. Anyway it is a bore to write of one's self. Educated at Moore's Hill and Franklin Colleges in Indiana, graduate of Stout Institute, Wisconsin in Home Economics, teacher of methods and director of Practice teaching in Mechanics Institute, Rochester, NY, supervisor of Home Economics in Hazelton and other Pennsylvania towns, food administrator in Pennhurst State School, PA, School for the Blind in Philadelphia, dietician at Slippery Rock State Normal, PA, member of Pi Beta Phi fraternity, - the "short and simple annals of the poor". But her last job is the one worth while - editing the Gorby Genealogy, the one she has enjoyed the most.

748 ii. Mary Forest Gorby was born in Orleans, IN. August 7, 1870. Mary died August 21, 1870 in Orleans, IN., at less than one year of age.

749 iii. Clara Cordell Gorby was born in Orleans, IN. March 7, 1873. Clara died August 16, 1875 in Wrights Corner, IN., at 2 years of age. Her body was interred. Buried at Ebenezer, Dearborn Co, IN.

+ 750 iv. Thomas Leonard Gorby was born March 13, 1875.

+ 751 v. Annie May Gorby was born January 20, 1877.

752 vi. Inez Lucille Gorby was born in Manchester, IN. May 2, 1879. Inez died November 20, 1899 in Franklin, IN., at 20 years of age. (1936) Inez Lucille Gorby died while she was a Junior at Franklin College in Franklin, IN. All her school life was spent in Franklin. She was a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity and of the Baptist Church. A devoted Christian, gentle, lovable, and child-like, She was loved devotedly by all who knew her and her sweet, gentle influence is still felt by those who knew her best and loved her most. She is buried in Franklin.

+ 753 vii. Orrin Lee Gorby was born September 20, 1881.

+ 754 viii. Edgar Scott Gorby was born November 5, 1883.

+ 755 ix. Bernice Eleanor Gorby was born March 25, 1886.

+ 756 x. Sylvester LeRoy Gorby was born November 22, 1890.

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