Alexander Gibson (1825-1905)

GIBSON, GARDNER

Posted By: Gail and Dennis Bell
Date: 6/5/2005 at 09:56:26

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, January 12, 1905, page 1. "Sketch of Alexander Gibson. - The Washington Gazette of Washington, Iowa, gives the following account of the life and death of Alexander Gibson, of that city, father of J. C. and R. C. Gibson, of Maxwell. It says: The late Alexander Gibson was of a Scotch descent and was born in Ryegate, Caledonia county, Vermont, April 6, 1825. He grew to manhood in that community and received his education in the public schools and in the seminary at Newbury. In the fall of 1854, he came to Iowa and bought a farm six miles north of this city, on which there was a good log cabin and about ten acres broken out and fenced. He then went back to Vermont and on the 19th of December of the same year was married to Miss Mary Gardner and they immediately started for Iowa, arriving on Christmas day. They at once settled on their farm and began the work of developing it. Ten children were born to them, three sons and seven daughters, but only the sons survive. Two of the daughters died in young womanhood, one at the age of eight, one at the age of four, the others in infancy. His youngest brother, Pringle Gibson of Vermont, and his sister, Miss Sarah, also survive him. The latter has made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Gibson for the past few years. On the farm, which they had carved out of virgin prairie, , they prospered and the log cabin was soon replaced with a substantial frame house which was swept away in the cyclone of 1873. At the same time all their outbuildings and much of their stock was destroyed, Mrs. Gibson's sister crippled for life and other members of the family injured. With characteristic pluck, they took up the work of rebuilding their wrecked home and in a few years no trace of the destructive work of the storm remained. About eight years ago, on the account of the infirmities of advancing years, they moved into the city and five years ago built the residence of West Jefferson St., where they have since resided. For over forty years, Mr. Gibson has been a faithful member of the United Presbyterian church and during the greater part of that period has been connected with the First church of this city. He was a Godfearing man, a splendid neighbor, a good citizen and a man of the strictest integrity, who comes to his grave like a shock of corn fully ripe."
From the Gibson Data Files accumulated by Harry Gibson Reid 06Apr06

Copied from the Washington Evening Journal, dated 1 January1905
by the Wahington Co. Genealogy Society

DEATH OF MR. GIBSON
Passed away Last Night at His Home on Jefferson Street Was 79 Years Old
FUNERAL TOMORROW
Will Be Held in the First United Presbyterian Church Tomorrow Afternoon at One o' clock
Interment in Pleasant Plains or (Gibson) Cemetery

Last night shortly before midnight Mr. Gibson died at his home on West Jefferson street. For the past two months Mr. Gibson had been a great sufferer from heart disease, and although he became better at tines and was able to be about the home even so late as last week, death finally triumphed and he was called to his long-home.

Mr. Gibson was a native of Vermont. He was born in Caledonia county of that state April 6, 1825. He grew o manhood there and was there united in marriage to Mary H. Gardner on Dec. 19, 1854, and this year just past saw the fiftieth anniversary of heir marriage. Immediately after their wedding they came west arriving in Washington on Christmas day of the year 1854. They settled on a farm north of the city, and that has always been their home up to eight years ago when they moved to this city building a fine residence on West Jefferson street. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson were the parents of ten children, three of whom are living, John and Rollie, of Maxwell, Iowa, and Will who resides north of the city. These three with the wife and mother, and one brother, Pringle, in Vermont, and one sister, Miss Sarah, who made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Gibson survive him. For forty years or more Mr. Gibson has been connected with the First United Presbyterian church of this city, living a life of faithfulness to his church and to his god.

The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at one o'clock at the First United Presbyterian church, conducted by his pastor Rev. F. O. Rose. Interment in Pleasant Plains or (Gibson) Cemetery.

From another paper: Tuesday's Daily.

The late Alexander Gibson, whose death was noted in yesterdays morning GAZETTE, was of Scotch descent, and was born in Ryegate, Caledonia county, Vermont, April 6, 1825. he grew to manhood in that community and received in public schools and in the seminary at Newbury.

In the fall of 1854 he came to Iowa and bought a farm 6 miles six miles north of this city, on which there was a good log cabin and about ten acres broken out and fenced. He then went back to Vermont and on the 19th. of December of the same year was married to Miss. Mary Gardner and they immediately started for Iowa, arriving on Christmas day. They at once settled on their farm and began the work of developing it. Ten children were born to them, three sons and seven daughters, but only the sons survive. Two of the daughters died in young womanhood, one at age of eight, one at age of four, the others in infancy. His youngest brother, Pringle Gibson of Vermont, and his sister, Miss Sarah, also survived him. The latter has made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Gibson for the past few years.

On the farm, which they had carved out of virgin prairie, they prospered and the log cabin was soon replaced with a substantial frame house which was swept away in the cyclone of 1873. At the same time all there outbuildings and much of their stock was destroyed. Mrs. Gibson's sister crippled for life and other members of the family injured. With characteristic pluck, they took up the work of rebuilding their wrecked home and in a few years no trace of the destructive work of the storm remained.

About eight years ago, on the account of the infirmities of advancing years, they moved into the city and five years ago built the residence on West Jefferson St. where they have since resided.

For over forty years, Mr. Gibson has been a faithful member of the United Presbyterian church and during that part of hat period has been connected with the First Church of this city. He was a God-Fearing man, a good citizen and a man of the strictest integrity, who comes to his grave like a shock of corn fully ripe.

The funeral service will be held in the United Presbyterian church this afternoon at 1:00 o'clock: interment in the Planes or (Gibson cemetery on a corner of the Gibson homestead north of the city.

Another clip was found attached to above clip, no other reference to it's source.
Alexander Gibson one of the most upright and well known men in the county died January 1, 1905. He was 80 years old and came here in 1854. His wife was formerly Mary Gardner of Vermont.

BURIAL: Gibson or Pleasant Plain Cemetery, Washington, Washington County, Iowa. The cemetery is located on approximately 1 acre of land, at the North West corner of what was the Alexander and his son William A. Gibson farm till about 1908. The legal description is: Section 19, T.76N.-R.7W. GIBSON, Alexander 06 Apr 1825 01 Jan 1905; wife Mary Henderson GARDNER 07 Oct 1835 10 July 1912 (both on West side; GIBSON, Minnie E. died June 10, 1891 aged 23 years, Myra N. died Dec 26 1887 age 17, Mary . died Dec 14 1878 aged 6 years, Alice M. died Nov 11 1878 aged 3 years, children of A & M H GIBSON, (all these names on South Side).