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John Gibbs is a
landowner of Delaware county, owning one of the fine farms of
North Fork township. He was born in Wedmore, Somersetshire,
England, on the 8th of March, 1837, and in 1852 accompanied his
parents to the United States. The family made their way inland
and settled upon government land in this county. The father
devoted his life to farming and passed away in January, 1893, at
the age of seventy eight. The mother died when eighty four years
old. Of the thirteen children born of their union five died in
childhood, the others being: Ruth, who married William Parker and
resided in Idaho until her death, which occurred in 1913; Sarah,
the wife of Henry Pilgrim, living near Greeley, this state;
Elizabeth, who married James Hunt and is a resident of Earlville;
Phoebe, now Mrs. John Cook and also living in Earlville; Eliza,
the wife of Henry Van Fleet, who resides at Earlville; Mary, the
wife of Edward Bisgrove, of Earlville; John, of this review; and
George, living in North Fork township.
John Gibbs was a youth of fifteen years when he left
his native land and his education was almost entirely acquired
there. After coming to this county the greater part of his time
was devoted to agricultural work and since starting out in life
for himself he has proved an unusually successful farmer. He owns
five hundred and twenty acres of fine land on section 6, North
Fork township, and twenty acres located on section 6, Delhi
township. He raises graded stock and ships many head annually. He
not only looks carefully after the feeding and shelter of his
stock, factors which largely determine the condition of the
animals raised, but also watches the market so that he is able to
sell at a good advantage and thus increase his profit.
Mr. Gibbs was married on the 22d of December, 1890, to
Miss Theresa Windling, a daughter of Rudolph and Otelia (Bojanhanger)
Windling, both natives of Germany. Her father was born on the 7th
of September, 1843, a son of Otto Windling, and received his
education in the fatherland. He learned the carpenter's trade in
his youth and followed the same for about three decades.
On the 5th of April, 1867, he was married to Miss
Bojanhanger and to their union have been born four children:
Rudolph, a resident of North Fork township; Mrs. Gibbs; Augusta,
now the wife of George Benning; and Charles, who lives in
Minnesota. In 1883 the family emigrated to America and settled in
this county, where Mr. Windling purchased twenty five acres of
land. He is a democrat in his political belief.
Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs have a family of seven children as
follows: Cecelious, at home; Vera Gladys, the wife of Frank Cole,
a farmer of North Fork township; and Elizabeth Otelia, Amelia,
Lester, Cornelius and Guilford. The father is a republican and
exercises his right of suffrage by voting for the candidates and
policies of that party. Although his boyhood was spent in
England, he has completely identified himself with the interests
of his adopted country and has proved an exemplary citizen, and
has also become one of the substantial agriculturists of his
county. |
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