Gibford, Daniel L.

GIBFORD, RITTER, JONES, OSBORN, WATKINS, WOLFORD, BATES, LAMBERT, SMITH, FOSTER, DEBOLT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/23/2009 at 15:42:55

Gibford, Daniel L.

It is at all times very interesting to compile and preserve the experiences of the old soldiers who went out to fight the country's battles during the slave holders' rebellion fifty years ago. These gallant old fellows are fast passing away, and we should get all their experiences first hand before it is too late, for it is not only interesting but important that we preserve these personal experiences, for, after all, those are the events that make history. What would history be worth were it not for the vivid actions of the individuals? That is all there is to the splendid histories of ancient and modern times. The story as told by one who has passed through the bloody experiences of a half century ago of several years of stubborn struggle and was in numerous battles, marches and campaigns, and perhaps, prisons and hospitals, is far more interesting than if narrated long hence by some writer who may distort events out of their true historic significance. One of the honored veterans of that great conflict whose military career would, if properly set forth, make a volume of interesting narrative is Daniel L. Gibford, of Newton, Jasper County.

Mr. Gibford was born in Allen County, Indiana, February 3, 1841, the son of William and Sarah (Ritter) Gibford, both natives of Ohio. His grandparents on both sides came from Germany, the subject having been named after his grandfather, Daniel Ritter, a tavern keeper in Stark County, Ohio, in the early days, by reason of which fact he became widely known. The subject's father was the third child in the family of Abraham Gibford and wife, whose family consisted of seven children. In 1840 the parents of Daniel L. Gibford came from Ohio and settled in Allen County, Indiana, but soon after the birth of the subject of this sketch they returned to Stark County, Ohio, and a few years later they removed to Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin, where the father, William Gibford, engaged in manufacturing and continued his trade of cabinet making. In 1854 he came to Newton, Iowa, having been induced to come here by W. B. Ritter, brother of Mrs. Gibford, who had come to this County a short time previously. After living in Newton three or four years, they moved to a farm in Palo Alto Township, and in 1867 Mr. Gibford sold his farm and again moved to Newton and there spent the rest of his life, dying in 1891 at the age of eighty-two years, his wife having preceding him to the grave in 1884, dying at the age of seventy-six years. Their family consisted of eight children, of whom Daniel L., of this sketch, was the eldest; the others are, Jonathan, a veteran of the Civil War who lives at the Soldiers' Home; Catherine, now deceased, was the wife of L. D. Jones, formerly of Reasnor, this County; Frank, who was killed by a train in California; William, a stone-mason, lives in Denver, Colorado; Emily, wife of Frank Osborn, lives in Seattle, Washington; Charles owns a plumbing establishment in Newton; Alexander is in the dairy business at San Bernardino, California.

Daniel L. Gibford, when twenty-one years of age, enlisted in August 1862, in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, at Newton, under Capt. John Meyer, later made colonel; M. W. Atwood, first lieutenant, and M. C. Dean, second lieutenant. This regiment gathered at Iowa City and when they were ordered south many of the boys carried a bottle of whisky with them, the subject being among the number; but he knew his mother would not have approved of this had she known of it, so he gave his bottle to a comrade and eased his conscience, and he has never bought a drop of whisky since. He served faithfully until the close of the war and was honorably discharged in August 1865, at Savannah, Georgia. He was in thirteen battles, some of which were among the most hotly contested of the war, among them being Port Gibson, Jackson, Champion's Hill and the Siege of Vicksburg. He participated in the Red River Expedition and went with Sheridan into the Shenandoah Valley and was in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek, being wounded in the former, and he was one of the boys who tossed his hat when Sheridan dashed up from Winchester from his famous ride, arriving in time to rally his fleeing troops and turn defeat into victory. For meritorious service Mr. Gibford was made fifth corporal and color guard.

After returning from the war Mr. Gibford engaged in farming near Newton, this County. He had sent the money received from his services in the army home for his father to take care of, but it appears that the latter was a poor financial manager and when the young soldier returned from the front he found that he was practically penniless; however, he did not regret his services to his country. He bargained for fifty acres in 1867, in section 15, Palo Alto Township, agreeing to pay one thousand dollars for the same. He did not have a dollar to pay on it at the time, in fact he was compelled to borrow two dollars from a comrade with which to pay for the revenue stamp at that time required on all such legal papers. But he was a man of determination and grit and, working hard and looking careful to details, he gradually forged ahead until he had it all paid for. He not only improved it, but added twenty-five acres more, making a very desirable farm, which he still owns. The land is under laid with coal, which may prove a profitable source of income to the family.

In 1866 Mr. Gibford was united in marriage with Nancy A. Watkins, who was born in Kentucky in 1848. To this union three children were born, as follows: Eddie Sheridan, born in 1867, was named for the noted general. On September 10,1890, on the anniversary of the battle of Winchester, he applied for a marriage license, intending to be married two days later. N. Townsend was the license clerk, and had fought in that battle, and in the same regiment. Twenty-eighth Iowa, in which Mr. Gibford had fought, and the clerk induced the boy to have his wedding that night. His wife is now deceased, but he has four children, all daughters; he is a contractor and lives at Kearney, Nebraska. Alice S. Gibford, the subject's second child, was born in 1868 and she married Lester Wolford. They live on a farm near Lewellen, Nebraska, and have three children. Howard T. Gibford is a dentist at Greenfield, Iowa.

On August 29, 1879, Mrs. Gibford was claimed by death, and on November 2, 1881, the subject was united in marriage with Elizabeth Bates, born October 25, 1850, in Stevenson County, Illinois. She is the daughter of J. and Hannah (Lambert) Bates, the father a native of Vermont and the mother of Massachusetts. Her parents came to Iowa at a very early date, soon after their daughter, Elizabeth, was born. Her father died in 1853 and her mother passed away in 1865. Their family consisted of three daughters and two sons, namely: Harriet married Horace Smith, a farmer of Palo Alto Township; Ellen married George Foster, who is in the employ of the United States government, having formerly been lock tender for the government on the Illinois canal; Edwin, a veteran of Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and formerly engaged in the livery business, now lives retired in Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Isaac died when eleven years of age.

Five children were born of Mr. Gibford's second marriage, namely: Alta Edna, born March 12, 1883, married Marion DeBolt; they live in Newton and have one child; he is with the Western Stock Remedy Company, being a stockholder in the same. Raymond B., born April 15, 1884, formerly cashier for three years in the Laurel Savings Bank, Laurel, Iowa, and for sometime bookkeeper in the Citizens Bank at Newton, is now with the Ehman-Gibford Chemical Company of this city as vice-president and general manager. Karl B., born May 22, 1887, who lives on the home place in Palo Alto Township, is married and has one child; Morrell, born October 1, 1892, died August 22, 1893; Virgil, born May 14, 1894 died on September 20th following.

For a period of forty-two years Mr. Gibford lived on his farm and then bought property in Newton in 1908, having accumulated a competency, and retired from active work, and here he is now living in honored retirement surrounded by plenty as a result of his former years of industry. He is a member of Garret Post No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is independent. His wife belongs to the Methodist Church. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 541.

Transcriber note: The following received from Karen Ritter:

Dear Fellow Genealogists,

I want to make a correction to the biography of Daniel Gibford, born Feb.3, 1841. His wife is stated as Sarah Ritter, daughter of Daniel Ritter, tavern owner. Daniel was NOT from Germany. Daniel was the son of John Ritter (b. 1764 in Bethlehem, PA, and Elizabeth Kramer (Born in Bethlehem, PA @ 1765) and was baptised at Luthern and Reformed Church in Arnentsville June 1793. His grandfather, Casper Ritter 1719-1792, was born in Pfaltz, Gemany and arrived with 3 brothers and 3 sisters on the PA Merchant Sept. 11, 1932. John Ritter moved to Stark Co., Ohio, in 1811, dying 3 days after he arrived leaving a wife and seven sons. HIs second son was the above named Daniel.

I have the estate papers of Daniel Ritter, son of John and grandson of Casper, and Daniel Gibford is shown collecting estate monies in the name of his wife.

As A member of the DAR, I know the history above to be true and proven. (Casper served as a clerk in the Rev. War). Although from New Orleans, I have spent
much time researching my Ritter family history in Illinois, Ohio and PA.

Thank you.

Karen Ritter

agnes sax [orleansnew@hotmail.com]