GIBSON
WILLIAM K. GIBSONpage 198
William K. GIBSON traces his ancestry to his great-grandfather who came from Ireland to America before the Revolution, locating in North Carolina. He married in Ireland, and reared a large family of children, his son George being born December 30, 1763. He removed to Giles County, Tenn., about 1810. His son, James Gibson, the father of our subject, was born in North Carolina on the 14th of July, 1792, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. February 2, 1815, he was married to Jane DOWDEL, and in 1836 came to Missouri and located in Lawrence County (then Barry County). His wife was born in South Carolina March 11, 1795, and was granddaughter of Gov. PICKENS of that State. She and Mr. Gibson became the parents o{f} eleven children, seven of whom are living. Her death occurred January 9, 1979. The father died July 28, 1872, leaving his family in comfortable circumstances. William K. Gibson was born in Giles County, Tenn., on the 5th of March, 1830, and was reared and educated in his native State. March 10, 1853, he was married to Jane, a daughter of Matthew LOWDER, one of the early settlers of Lawrence County. She was born February 25, 1836, and became the mother of eight children: George M., Jane A. (wife of J. B. ROBERTS), Aletha L. (wife of Fillmore KIRBY), Levi M., Henrietta J. (wife of D. W. CHILDRESS), Samuel K., Dolly M. and Charley V. In 1857 Mr. Gibson moved to Texas, but returned to Lawrence County in 1859 and located on the farm with his father. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Seventy-sixth Missouri State Militia, and served faithfully until ordered out of service in the spring of 1864. He then returned home, subject to recall at any moment, and was recalled during the latter part of the same year. In 1865 he located on his present farm of 280 acres, and began farming and dealing in live stock, and has since made a specialty of the latter business. He has been an active, energetic man, and owns 640 acres of good farming land, with 560 acres under fence. He has a nice, two-story frame residence. He supports the principles of the Republican party.
W. H. GIBSONpage 198
W. H. GIBSON is a grandson of George M. GIBSON, who was born in Tennessee, and there married Ann ELLIOT, who bore him nine children: Ann, Elizabeth, David E., George N., Eli, John K., Mary A., William M. and Margaret M. In October, 1831, they came to Lawrence County, Mo., being the first white settlers in that county, and probably the first west of Springfield. George M. died in 1848 at the age of fifty-eight years. He was the first
sheriff of the county, and was justice of the peace for several terms. His son, David E., was born in Giles County, Tenn., May 29, 1814, and was reared on a farm. He came to Missouri at the age of seventeen, and in 1837 was married to Elizabeth, the daughter of John and Mary (GRIMES) HOWELL, who were early residents of Tennessee, and moved to Arkansas in 1830. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gibson: Mary C., Sarah E., Caledonia, Louisiana, William H., Natie, Lutilia, Martha Lucretia, and Rebecca T. Mr.
Gibson owned 400 acres of land, was a Democrat in politics. He and wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for thirty-eight years. February 21, 1888, he died at the age of seventy-four years. William H. GIBSON, his son, was born on the old homestead in 1850, and spent his early days in following the plow and attending the common schools. In 1874 he was married to Almira E. ALLEN, who bore him five children: Ida F., Fred E., Lake H., John K. and an infant unnamed. In 1882 Mr. Gibson located on
his present farm of 219 acres, and is one of the prosperous farmers of the county. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat and a member of the I. O. O. F.
From "A Reprint of Goodspeed's 1888 History of Lawrence County; Reprint Lawrence County Section of Goodspeed's Newton, Lawrence, Barry And McDonald Counties History; published by the Goodspeed Publishing Co., in 1888; Reprinted by Litho Printers Of Cassville, Missouri In 1973." as transcribed by JJR.
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