"CAPTAIN GARRET GIBSON, of Leon, has been a resident of Decatur County since 1860.  His father, Lewis F. Gibson, settled in Mercer County, Missouri, in 1840.  Captain Gibson was at that time fourteen years of age, having been born at Greencastle, Putnam County, in 1826.  His father died in Mercer County, Missouri, in 1848.  In 1842 Mr. Gibson hired to James Weldon, the first settler in the forks of Grand River, after whom Weldon River was named, and accompanied him to Des Moines.  He was taking up a drove of horses to trade to the Indians, the last house they passed was on the farm known as the Powers farm, three and a half miles south of Leon, following an Indian trail to Des Moines.  In 1847 Captain Gibson enlisted for service in the Mexican war, in what was known as the Indian Battalion, Missouri Mounted Volunteers. He served as Second Sergeant in Company A, commanded by John C. Griffin.  The battalion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Gilpin, first Governor of Colorado.  The battalion was in General Price's Division, in New Mexico.  He participated in several engagements with different tribes of Indians.  In an engagement with the Comanches he was severely wounded.  At the close of his term of service he returned to Mercer County, Missouri, and was shortly afterward married to Elizabeth Akers, a native of Putnam County, Indiana.  They have three sons -- W. C., U. G. and C. S.  In 1854 he was elected county justice, and served until 1858, receiving his commission from General Sterling Price, at that time Governor of Missouri.  He came to Decatur County in 1860.  In 1861 Mr. Gibson enlisted in the service of his country, and with James H. Summers, C. B. Bridges and C. W. Beck, raised a company of volunteers to go in defense of his country, and on the organization of the company he became its Captain.  The company was Company C, Fifth Kansas Cavalry, commanded by Powell Clayton.  He remained in command of the company until July, 1863, when he resigned on account of bad health.  His company participated in the battles at Drywood, Morristown, Helena, Oakland, Pine Bluffs, and many other skirmishes.  His health is much broken by his services in the army.  After his return from the army he farmed for a few years, but for several years he has been employed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as foreman of an extra gang, and has built ever 300 miles of fence for that company."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com )

marie sellers hollinger wrote: