Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 10 April 2005

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844

JESSE GIBBS, farmer; P. O. Waynesville; born in Franklin Co., Penn., June 10, 1819; is a son of Joseph and Rachel (Wood) Gibbs, he a native of New Jersey and she of Pennsylvania; they lived and died in Pennsylvania; they had five children-—William, Elizabeth, Alexander, Jesse and John. The subject of this sketch, when 12 years of age, came to Ohio with the family with whom he was living, by name of Deffendall, and they located in Montgomery County and lived three years, thence moved to Preble County and lived two years; at 17 years of age, Jesse started out into the world for himself, working here and there as he could find work; in 1839, he came to Warren County and worked for Ellis Ward, and has remained in this vicinity since. On Sept 3, 1840, he married Hannah, daughter of Ellis and Mary E. Ward, he a native of New Jersey and she of Tennessee; he came to Warren County with his parents in 1804; his father, Isaac Ward, bought a section of land where Mr. Gibbs now lives, being a pioneer, and here he lived and died, and here Ellis grew to manhood, accustomed to the hardships of those times; Mary E., with her father, Jonathan Newman, and his family, came from Tennessee and located at Waynesville about 1805, where they lived and died; Ellis Ward and Mary E. Newman were married and located on the place where Mr. Gibbs now lives, and here resided till their death; he died Aug. 25, 1875, aged 77 years; she died Nov. 7, 1880, aged 83 years; they had six children; four now survive—Hannah; Lydia, now Widow Medenhall; Asenith, now Widow Printz; and Cyrus Milton; Hannah was born on the place where they now live June 17,1824. Mr. Gibbs and wife have had nine children; six now survive—Rebecca Ann, born June 24, 1842; Caroline, Sept. 16, 1848; Elizabeth, Aug. 16, 1850; Jason, March 1, 1853; Oscar, May 14, 1856; and William S., born Sept. 9, 1866. Mr. Gibbs located on the place where his wife was born and raised, this being a part of the section of land of the original purchase of Isaac Ward, and here has con-