l560 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



Sunday scliool. He was always actively interested in whatever per- 

 tained to the civic welfare of his town, county or state. 



For the past twelve years he has been connected with the 

 Farmers' Institute work of the state as lecturer and conductor. 

 For three years — nntil the districts were done away with on the 

 writer's appointment as Director — he had entire charoe of the 

 work in the twelve counties bordering on the Great Lakes and in 

 western and central New York. As the writer has visited these 

 counties, he has been gratified to find the growing esteem in which 

 Mr, Gott was held by the people in this district. 



He was a student of the fundamental principles of agriculture 

 and exemplified the practical workings of them on his own farm. 

 He had the ability to so present both principles and practice that 

 they were easily grasped by his hearers, and the strong personality 

 of the man readily inclined them to follow his advice. 



A coworker of wide experience from another state last winter 

 remarked, that he had learned more from j\Ir. Gott than from any 

 man with whom he had ever been associated. A state worker said 

 recently to the writer, " Mr. Gott was one of the very few men who 

 never exaggerated," Though so strong jihysically and mentally, 

 he was as modest and sensitive as a child. Only his keen sense of 

 duty induced him to undertake service which made him con- 

 spicuous. After a serious sickness in the spring of 1912, he came 

 to Albany with the intention of retiring from the work, but on 

 finding that another was compelled to do so, he remained in the 

 harness against the advice of his physician and nearest friends. 

 In spite of failing strength through loyalty to the work and the 

 writer he took charge of a force the entire past winter with cheer- 

 fulness and zeal. As a fitting tribute to such loyal and effectivie 

 service, he was selected with one accord by his associates to pre- 

 side at the closing banquet of the institute workers at Ithaca, and 

 most graciously did he do it. 



Ketiring to his loved fann and home in the spring, he seemed 

 to regain his old-time vigor and did not a little outside service 

 in the way of personal advice, particularly in nuitters pertaining 

 to orchard and drainage. Not a few trees and many fields will, 



