The subject of our sketch had two brothers and two sisters - William A., Cullen C., Martha M. and Rebecca M. William married Delila Fanning, of Morgan County; he is a minister of the Dunkard Church; their children are: Charleton, Merriman, Ellen, Hannah, James T., Mary, Lydia and Martin. Cullen C. was married to Nancy J. Dougherty, of Kentucky; he is a minister of the Dunkard Church and has twelve children, as follows: Cirildee, James, John, Charles, Hannah, Sarah, George, Derinda, Isaac, Cullen, Henry and Lizzie. Martha M. married Hezekiah Cain, of Scotland County, Mo.; he is a Baptist minister; they have six children - Sarah, James, William, David, May and Julia. The subject of this sketch married Mary Davidson, who was born in Alabama, Feb. 19, 1829. Her parents Joshua and Elizabeth (Sharp) Davidson, came to Morgan County in April, 1831. Mr. Davidson died in 1844, while Mrs. Davidson lived until July 6, 1876. Mrs. Gibson's ancestry dates back to Germany, Scotland and England. She had seventeen brothers and sisters, seven of whom are living, as follows: David, James, Thomas, Albert, William, Martha, Felitha. David married Rebecca Gibson, sister of the subject of this sketch, who died, leaving one child, Mary, who married Phillip Cox, of Macoupin County; the last named couple had three children - Charles, Ernest and Wilbur. David's second wife was Caroline Gouse, nee Montgomery, by whom he had four children - Belle, Emma, Harvey and Clara. James married Louisa Norville, to whom three children were born - Elmer, Lavina and Melissa. Thomas, who is an orange culturist in Florida, married May Phillips, and has three children - Amy, Annie and James. Albert is a widower, and is living in Missouri. William, who is a school-teacher, married Mary Seymour, of Morgan County, to whom were born four children - Hattie, Allie, Martin and Marvin (twins). Martha married Gideon Jennings, and they are living in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory; they have eight children - Henry, Granville, Irene, Anamenda, Alice, Susan, Hannah and Charles. Felitha married William McCurley, of Morgan County; they have seven children - John H., Amanda, Alice, Louella, Ezekiel H., Mary and Zeruah.
The subject of our sketch is the father of nine children - John M., Elizabeth, George C., Hannah, James W., Albert D., Mary E., Richard y. and Julia. Of these, John M. married Phoebe Carlyle, of Morgan County; they are now living in Douglas, Kan., on a farm, and have three children - Samuel, John and Mary Ann. Elizabeth married John H. Van Winkle, of Morgan County; he is postmaster at Franklin; they have five children - George, Charles, Albert, Helen and Chester. Hannah married Samuel Carlisle, who is dead; they had three children - Ethel, Earl and Eula. James married Mary Lyons, of Morgan County. Albert married Miss Seymour, of Morgan County. Mary E. married William Duncan, of Franklin, who is a school-teacher; they have four children - Gladys, Glenn, Bruce and Welcome. Richard is single and at home with his father. Julia married Eli O. Mansfield, a miller of Franklin.
John M. Gibson is owner of a splendid farm of 175 acres, with good buildings; he does a general farming business, raising cattle, horses, hogs and grain. He was ordained as minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Oct. 3, 1875, and is a local preacher.
Mr. Gibson, politically, is a Prohibitionist, and is President of the Franklin Prohibition Club. He is a conscientious man, a good neighbor, and the world is better for containing such men.