GibsonLife.org

Growing Memories

Sadie (Brown) Gibson

William Gibson

By Leave a Comment

William Gibson is one of the well-known citizens of Cherry county, and a prosperous and well-to-do farmer. His residence is on section 34, township 26, range 33, and he is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land, all of which is well improved. He is a gentleman of integrity and good judgment and well merits the success which has come to him and the enviable reputation which he enjoys as an old settler and worthy resident of his locality.

Mr. Gibson was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1867. His father, Alex. Gibson, was born in Ireland, as was also his mother. The former followed farming all his life, and the family settled in Iowa when William was a child one year old, and after that lived on several different farms in that state, remaining there for sixteen years in all. He attended the common schools, and worked at farming through his boyhood, coming to Nebraska with his parents about 1883, and when he was twenty-three left home and started for himself, taking a farm in Fillmore county, Nebraska, which he operated for several years. In 1893 he went with his family to McPherson county, settling on barren prairie land, filing on a homestead and proved up on it. There he put up sod buildings and built up a good ranch. That place was located thirty-five miles from a town, and they lived on it for about nine years, then moved to Mullen and made that their home for two years, coming to his present ranch from there. He now has a good ranch and home, having put up good buildings, fences and every improvement. He lately erected a fine barn fifty-six by thirty- two feet, and has plenty of sheds, with wells, windmills, etc.

Mr. Gibson was married in 1891, to Miss Sadie Brown, daughter of John Brown, a farmer and native of Scotland, who settled in this locality many years ago, her mother’s maiden name was Agnes Brown. To Mr. Gibson and his good wife have been born the following children: John, Frank, Irene and Pearl, who form a most charming family group.

Source:
Compendium of History Reminiscence & Biography of Western Nebraska
Chicago: Alden Publishing Company, 1909
Page 205

Note:
William Gibson and Sadie Brown were actually married in January of 1892 (see Certificate of Marriage).

Gibson Family Bible

By Leave a Comment

These pages came from the Gibson Family Bible. This bible first belonged to William & Sadie Gibson and has been passed down to the eldest son of each generation. When Eddie Gibson passed away the bible was given to my father, Dan Gibson. When Dan moved from his home in Beaver Lake it was given to me, Wade Gibson.

In July of 2013 I sent the bible in to a company in Indiana to be professionally restored. The bible had become very worn over the years and the covers were falling off. Many pages were loose and the bible couldn’t be enjoyed in that condition. Shortly thereafter I received the bible back and was very pleased with the results.

Download (PDF, 1.21MB)

Pioneer Honored at 88

By Leave a Comment

By Mrs. Joe Bader

William Gibson, who was 88 Jan. 29, was honored guest at a birthday party given by Mr. and Mrs. Bud Gibson Sunday evening. There were 30 guests who came to help him celebrate. The luncheon table was centered with a decorated birthday cake made by Mrs. Betty Gibson. Grandad Gibson, as he’s known to his friends, was born in Rock Island, Ill., and was the oldest son of Elik and Evelyn Gibson, who came from Ireland. He came to Nebraska when a young man.

He recalls clearly the first time he came to Broken Bow, as he was working south of the Bow and drove into town for a load of lumber with his wagon and four horses. Just as he arrived, the blizzard of 1888 struck and he had difficulty finding the livery stable as it was just an old sod building at that time. After the weather cleared he managed to get home by riding one of the horses.

A short time later he took a claim near Tryon and there he met Miss Sadie Brown at a dance when the first court house was built at Tryon. They were married in 1892 in McPherson county though Sadie Brown was a Merna girl. They lived on this claim for several years then sold it and moved to Custer county until a drouth hit. Then they moved to a ranch north of Mullen where they remained until after his wife’s death.

They had four children, his oldest son, John, still lives in Mullen, and has been the postmaster for the past 30 years. Grandad Gibson makes his home with his oldest grandson, Bud, who is proprietor of the Mullen cafe. Bud’s oldest child is also a boy so these four persons have been honored several times by being a four generation male group and all living in Mullen.

Grandad Gibson had six sisters, all living, the youngest one being 71. He is still active and says hard work has kept him young.

Note:
Article incorrectly identifies Elik’s wife as “Evelyn”, when her name is “Ellen”.

Mrs. William Gibson Died at Her Home Tuesday Morning

By Leave a Comment

Again the dark cloud has been spread over this community.  At noon Tuesday when news of the death of Mrs. William Gibson at her home northwest of town reached here the bustle of business life was hushed and a curtain of sorrow enfolded the sorrowing hearts that felt the deep anguish brought by the sad news.  That dread disease, flu, entered the home and after several days confinement the anxious wife and mother felt she was sufficiently recovered to take the responsibility of caring for other members of the family.  The venture was too great for her and, suffering a relapse, pneumonia set in and she passed away after a short sickness.

The funeral service was held at the home at one o’clock p.m. Thursday on account of the bereft husband and the oldest daughter, Irene, being confined to their beds and under the care of a physician, suffering from the same ailment that marked the first sickness of the devoted wife and mother.

The family is among the oldest settlers in this part of the county, moving here from Custer county, and for a number of years have been engaged in farming and stock raising on one of the best ranches in south Cherry county.  The more important details and names of relatives who are expected to be here from distant points to attend the last rites are not obtainable at this time but will be given in the obituary notice published next week.