My Genealogy Hound

George R. Gibbs, one of Tipton County’s most enterprising business men and practical farmers, is a son of P. H. and M. E. (Cotton) Gibbs; was born in Brownsville in 1843, and is one of eight children, two sons and three daughters living, The father was of English descent; he was born in Wilmington, N. C., in 1802; was educated in New York, but at the age of fourteen he was called to Augusta, Ga., to fill a clerkship, and two years later he moved to Brownsville, being one of the pioneers of the place, and acted as book-keeper for Ferguson & Co., one of the first establishments of the place. He was married in 1827, and was for some time clerk on a steamer that ran between Memphis and Bolivar, and he established the Brownsville landing, where he was extensively engaged for years trading in cotton; was then in the mercantile business at Brownsville until 1854, when ill health caused him to give up the business; then moved to Tipton County and bought a farm, where he remained until 1860, when he commenced merchandising at Covington, which he continued until his death in 1874, which occurred while on a visit to his native State. Ho was held in the highest esteem by his community. His wife and himself were Methodists. The mother was born in Edgecombe County, N. C. Her parents were Henry and Sophia (Munford) Cotton, and were among the early settlers of the county. Our subject was educated at Brownsville and in Tipton County, under Prof. P. A. Fisher. When only sixteen he enlisted in Company B, Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, and participated in the battles of Belmont, Lackage’s Mill, the capture of Holly Springs, Corinth, Greenwood, Miss., Briton’s Lane, Prairie Mount, Tishamingo Creek and Harrisburg, and was one of the 625 men who captured Union City, Athens, Ga., Sulphur Trussle and Pulaski. He remained until the surrender at Gainesville, Ala., then returned and assumed charge of his father’s business and engaged in farming. February 22, 1874, he married Martha B., daughter of Rev. Thomas R. and Mary Owen, of North Carolina. They have had five children, two living: Mary Owen and Thomas Owen. Mrs. Gibbs was born in Washington, D. C., in 1842. Her father was educated at the military school at Middleton, Conn., under Capt. Alden Partridge. He first graduated at Chapel Hill, N. C., then took a theological course at Prince Edward, Va.; entered the ministry, and made preaching his life work. He was a son of Gen. James Owen, and a nephew of ex-Gov. Owen, both prominent citizens of North Carolina. He was one of the distinguished ministers of the Baptist Church, and died in Tipton County in 1882. He was formerly a Presbyterian, and pastor of that church at Washington, N. C., and also at Washington, D. C., but afterward united with the Baptist Church. Our subject has lived at his present home since his marriage. He owns 320 acres of productive land, well improved, six miles southeast of Covington, and besides farming is extensively engaged in milling and ginning. Mr. Gibbs is a man of fine business capacity and general information. He is a Democrat, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. They are both exceedingly popular in their community.