W F Gibbs

GIBBS, KNIGHT

Posted By: Melody Aldrich (email)
Date: 4/25/2026 at 06:52:09

Death of W. F Gibbs.
In the passing of W. F. Gibbs, whose death occurred at his home in this city late Sunday afternoon, this vicinity loses another of its pioneer residents. Settling first upon a farm in Troy township in 1868 and shortly thereafter removing to Clarion, he ranks among the first of those who came to this section when it was nothing but a vast prairie and he has lived to witness such transformation as rarely falls to the lot of man-the transformation of a wilderness into the garden spot of the world.
W. F. Glbbs was a native of New York, born at Cooperstown, Jan. 11th. 1828. When seven or eight years of age his parents moved to Wisconsin and his father entered the first homestead and became the first tiller of the sull of Sheboygan county. This was in the fall of the year and the family was compelled to depend upon the friendly Indians for sustenance until the opening of spring. Deceased was reared upon this frontier farm and received a great deal of practical experlence that profited him in later years when lie, too, pushed forward to the edge of civilization and essayed to make a home for himself and family. He received his education in the subscription schools of those days, which were held in the primitive log cabins, and remained with his parents until after he reached his majority. Then he started out on his own account, first engaging in the manufacture of wagons and later returning to farm life, until the beginning of the civil war, when he organized a company and was commissioned as its captain. Company D, of which he was captain, was assigned to the Sixteenth Wisconsin veteran infantry, serving under Sherman, and accompanied that noted general on his famous march to the sea. He remained in the service until the close of hostilities and participated in the grand review at Washington, being mustered out July 10th, 1865.
He was united in marriage to Miss Emily D. Knight on Nov. 9th, 1851. Six children were born to them, two of whom survive the father-Emma A. and Henry G. William D, Caroline L., Paul S. and Mabel have been dead for many years.
In 1868 Mr. Gibbs moved to lowa, settling upon a small farm in Troy township. Two years later he was elected to the office of county recorder and moved to Clarion, where he resided until his death. He served as county recorder for four years, performing the duties of that office in a commendable manner, and after his retirement engaged in the real estate and loan business. By strict economy and attention to business he added to his original possessions, which consisted of fifty acres of land, until he became the owner of several tine farms as well as valuable city property. A few years ago his physical infirmities compelled him to give up active business pursuits, and he retired with a competence that enabled him to enjoy his later years.