History of Gibson and South Gibson Tennessee

Gibson, Tennessee was known before the Civil War as Pickettville.  Shortly after the close of the war and after the construction of the Memphis and Ohio Railroad (later known as the Louisville & Nashville Railroad) was completed the name was changed to Gibson.

And early citizen of Gibson was a Methodist, Oliver P. Parker who was born in Williamson County, Tennessee on May 27, 1824.  He moved to the area around Gibson about 1844. He owned most of the land where the present site of the town of Gibson is.  He donated the land for the railroad and depot.

Another early citizen, Joshua C. Tharp, born May 24, 1830 in Franklin County, North Carolina, moved from Quincy, Tennessee to Gibson in 1875 and built the first store.  Mr. Tharp also served as the Postmaster for Gibson for many years.  Besides owning a merchantile business in Gibson, it has been said that Mr. Tharp was the first to begin growing fruits and vegetables in West Tennessee.

The Methodist Church of Gibson was organized ca 1867 and the Baptist Church on May 20, 1877.

Gibson was known as an important shipping point for fruits and vegetables.

Sources:  Gibson County Past and Present by Mr. Frederick M. Culp & Mrs. Robert E. Ross

                   Families and History of Gibson County, TN by Lee-Davis Historical Society

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