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William Gibson

Reunion of Gibson Family at Mary Neal Home

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Gibson Children: William, Agnes, Sarah, Mary, Anna, Ellen, Margaret. (In front row are Agnes, Mary, and Ellen)

Picture taken during “Gibson Kids” reunion Sept, 1937.

On Sunday Sept., 5th, 54 relatives gathered at the home of Mary Gibson Neal for a family reunion.  This was the first time in 35 years that the “Gibson Kids” have been together.  After a bounteous dinner the six sisters and one brother journeyed to North Platte, Neb. to the Brown Studio for a group picture.  The family consists of Wm. Gibson of Mullen, Margaret Gibson Hazelbaker of Walla Walla, Wash., Mary Neal and Sarah Haney of Tryon, Neb. Agnes Thompson of LeRoy, Iowa, Ella Bower of Proctor, Montana and Anna LeLaCheur of Hot Springs, South Dakota.

Relatives present were Margaret Hazelbaker, Mr. & Mrs. Strat Bower, Mr. & Mrs. Orin Lewis Thompson, Mr. & Mrs. W.T. Haney and Fern, Mrs. Mary Neal & Clara, William Gibson, Mrs. Anna LeLaCheur, Mr. & Mrs. Scott Wisner, Letha, Michael, Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Wilson James, Loree, John & Helen, Mr. & Mrs. Edgar Deidel Wayn, Harry Audrey and Buddy, Mr. Elmer Haney Ronald and Dale, Mrs. Robert Wilson and Warren Wesley.

Taken from Thur. Sept. 9th 1937 Graphic.

William Gibson

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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

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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

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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”.