My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hempstead County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Maj. Samuel Gibson is the present circuit court clerk of Hempstead County, Ark., and was born in Meriwether County, Ga., in 1838. His father, who also bore the name of Samuel, was born in Newton County, and was married to Miss Winnie Gray, of Meriwether County. In 1849 they removed to Drew County, Ark., but Mrs. Gibson died while on a return trip to Georgia, Mr. Gibson, however, continuing to make his home in this State, marrying twice thereafter. He was a farmer and mechanic, a member of the Baptist Church, and was a son of William Gibson, a Virginian, who died in Newton County, Ga., where he had followed the calling of a mechanic. Samuel Gray, the maternal grandfather, was a North Carolinian, but died in Georgia, his wife passing also from life in the State of Georgia aged nearly one hundred years. Maj. Samuel Gibson is the only one now living by his father’s first marriage, but was the youngest of three children born to his parents. John A. Gibson, born of a second marriage, now lives in Drew County, Ark. His early educational advantages were very limited, and since attaining his eleventh year he has been a resident of Arkansas. In 1860 and 1861 he was the circuit clerk of Drew County, but in June of the latter year, he joined a company in the Third Arkansas Infantry, and served with the Army of Virginia until October, when official duties necessitated his discharge. Not being contented to remain inactive at such a time, he again joined the army in the spring of 1862, this time becoming a member of the Third Arkansas Infantry, of the Trans-Mississippi Department, and thereafter operated in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, participating in the engagements at Prairie Grove, Ark., Mansfield, La., and many others, besides numerous skirmishes. He was wounded in the last-named engagement, and at the time of the final surrender he was in Marshall, Tex. While a member of the Army of Virginia he was quartermaster sergeant, and his first service in the Trans-Mississippi Department was in the capacity of captain and afterward major. While in Washington, Ark., in August. 1864, he was married to Frances B., a daughter of Richard and Nancy Finn, the former born in Baltimore, Md., but removed to Hempstead County, Ark., when a young man, where he married and spent the rest of his life. He became well known as a successful steamboat man, but later turned his attention to farming, which calling was receiving his attention at the time of his death, he being killed in Washington in 1854. Mrs. Gibson is a native of the county, and has borne her husband seven children, two sons and one daughter now living. Mr. Gibson has a fine farm of 300 acres on Red River in Miller County, and a pleasant and comfortable home in Hope. From 1880 to 1884 he was circuit clerk of the county and was again elected to the position in 1886, and was re-elected in 1888 and is now serving his fourth term. He was reared a Whig, Breckenridge receiving his first presidential vote in 1860, but he is now an independent Republican. He has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. since he attained his majority, taking his first degree at Monticello, and has since taken all the degrees in Masonry, and is one of the highest in the county. He also belongs to the K. of H., the American Legion of Honor, the K. of P. and the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Gibson and her daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church.

 

* * * *

This family biography is one of 131 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hempstead County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Hempstead County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Hempstead County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.