Gipson, Alfred D.

GIPSON, DAVEY, JONES, SHELLADY, HAMPTON, JOHNSON, THOMAS, MCCREARY, SCOTT, VANSICE, DONALDSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/29/2009 at 07:23:12

Gipson, Alfred D.

Tireless energy and honesty of purpose seem to be the chief characteristics of A. D. Gipson, one of the leading farmers of Independence Township, Jasper County, where he has been content to spend his entire life. He is a member of one of the oldest and most highly honored pioneer families of this locality, he and other members of which have played well their parts in the general development of the northern part of this County from the early pioneer days to the present.

Mr. Gipson's birth occurred here on November 22, 1876. He is the son of George and Emma (Davey) Gipson, the father born in Lincolnshire, England, May 2, 1831, and died July 17, 1903; the mother was born in Cambridgeshire, England, on July 21, 1839, and is still living, making her home with her son, the subject. These parents grew to maturity, were educated in the common schools of England and their marriage took place in New York state on May 25, 1856. There they lived one year and a half, then came West, locating near Joliet, Illinois, then to Missouri and back to Illinois and later moving to Jasper County, Iowa, being pioneers here and they purchased eighty acres of land here, for which they paid six dollars per acre. They later added to their holdings and became well established and influential in this community. They became the parents of eleven children, all living but one, namely: Elizabeth Ann, born June 14, 1857, was thrice married, first, to Thomas Alexander Jones on December 24, 1878; his death occurred on December 16, 1879, and she married Samuel A. Shellady on October 12, 1881; his death occurred August 16, 1901, and she married J. B. Hampton in 1911; she lives at Lincoln, Nebraska. Emogene Izora Gipson was born April 26, 1859, married B. F. Johnson on May 2, 1883, and her home is at Boone, Iowa; Adeline Louise, born December 2, 1861, married Richard Thomas on August 12, 1884, and her death occurred on May 17, 1887; Mary Jennett, born April 25, 1864, married C. A. McCreary on November 12, 1884, and they live in Toledo, Iowa; Susan Amelia, born June 10, 1866, lives in Los Angeles, California; Lillian Samantha, born February 11, 1869, married Frank W. Hampton on January 20, 1897, and they live in Lincoln, Nebraska; George Henry, born January 15, 1871, lives in Independence, Iowa; Dora Musetta, born September 9, 1874, married John Scott on October 28, 1896, and they live in Monroe, Iowa; Albert Adalbert and Alfred Delford, twins, the latter the subject of this sketch, were born, as before stated, on November 22, 1876; the former married Ella Vansice on April 30, 1901; both these sons live in Independence Township, Jasper County, Iowa; Myrtle Edna, born January 27, 1882, married Archibald Donaldson on December 24, 1891. All these children were born in Independence Township, this County, with the exception of the three oldest, who were born in Illinois.

Alfred D. Gipson, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm and educated in the common schools. When but a boy he assisted with the general work about the home place, which he helped develop and on which he still lives, successfully operating the same, cultivating two hundred and seventy-five acres in a manner that stamps him as fully abreast of the times as a general farmer and stock raiser, having kept the place well improved in every respect and rotated his crops so as to retain the original fertility of the soil, and there is today no more desirable place in Independence Township.

Mr. Gipson is a public-spirited man and has always supported all worthy measures. He has been constable of Independence Township for four years and has given eminent satisfaction in this office. Politically, he is a Republican. He belongs to Unity Lodge No. 520, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Baxter, also Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, and Baxter Camp No. 5642, Modern Woodmen of America, at Baxter.

Personally, Mr. Gipson is a man of fine sentiments, good-natured and whole souled and it is safe to say that all who know him are his friend. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1244.