My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Mifflin Wister Gibbs, a resident of Little Rock, and the first colored judge in the United States, was born in the City of Philadelphia in April, 1828. His father was a Methodist minister, but died when the subject of this sketch was but eight years old His widowed mother was an industrious and frugal woman with remarkable force of character, and did the best to encourage his pursuit of knowledge. At the age of seventeen, having to make his own way in the world, he left school and entered upon the battle of life, or, to use a familiar epigram of the Judge, ''to face a frowning world." He was apprenticed to a carpenter and builder, and at the end of his apprenticeship he became a contractor and builder on his own account. Mr. Gibbs lost no opportunity to cultivate his tastes for literature and literary pursuits, and at the age of twenty-one he was a conspicuous member of the Philomathean Institute of Philadelphia, a literary association of which Purvis, Douglass, Whipper, Weir and other noted colored men of that era were shining lights. He was a member of the Anti-slavery Society, and a shrewd and active agent and worker of the now historic Underground Railway. Among the many fugitives in whose rescue he was instrumental, and whom he assisted to reach shelter and security under the British flag, were William and Ellen Craft (a prominent character in "Uncle Tom's Cabin"), William Box Brown, and several other celebrities of the anti-slavery times. About 1849 Frederick Douglass and the late Charles Lenox Remond visited Philadelphia to take part in the anti-slavery convention of that year. They were much impressed with the advanced ideas and earnest manner of young "Miff" Gibbs, as his elderly contemporaries called him, and they persuaded him to embark upon a lecturing tour in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. While so engaged the California gold fever broke out and soon became epidemic. Meeting in his travels several successful gold seekers, who had just returned, and who gave him dazzling accounts of the new Eldorado, he resolved at the close of his lecturing tour to try his fortunes in what was then considered a terra incognita. A voyage to San Francisco in those days by way of the Isthmus of Panama was a serious and expensive undertaking; but nothing daunted he stepped jauntily across the gang plank of a steamer in New York bound for the Pacific, with ''youth in the helm and hope in the prow," and arrived in San Francisco in the latter part of 1850 without (as he himself said) ''a dollar betwixt him and the high Heaven," but filled with hope and expectations. Ordinary mechanics were getting $10 per day, and common laborers quite as much. At first he worked at his trade, but after one or two difficulties with white mechanics who refused to work with him, he abandoned the occupation and formed a partnership with Nathan Pointer in the clothing business, in which they were very successful. In 1852 Mr. Gibbs entered into a large enterprise with Peter Lester as his partner. Under the firm name of Lester & Gibbs they established a first-class business as importers of fine boots and shoes, for which gilt-edge prices were then paid in San Francisco, Judge Gibbs was one of the proprietors and publishers as well as contributors of the first colored paper published in California, the "Mirror of the Times." In 1858 the gold discoveries of the Frazier River, in British Columbia, offered tempting commercial and other opportunities, and Mr. Gibbs again embarked on board a Pacific steamer and arrived at Victoria, the quasi-city and chief emporium of the Hudson Bay Company. Seeing that Victoria possessed unsurpassed natural advantages in location, a salubrious climate, and commodious harbor, he wisely concluded that it was bound to become a commercial capital and immediately engaged in business, investing largely in real estate and building the second mercantile house outside the Hudson Bay Company's fort. His operations in real estate were extensive and invariably successful, and he built several of the largest business houses; and one of the most beautiful villas in Victoria he occupied as his family residence for many years, and afterward sold it to Judge Crease, attorney-general of the colony, who has since occupied it. Having amassed considerable wealth, and owning, as he did, property enough to bring him in a large rental, he concluded to withdraw from active business operations. In 1866 he was elected to represent the most aristocratic ward in the common council of the city of Victoria. On the discovery of anthracite coal on Queen Charlotte Island, being the first discovery of the kind on the Pacific coast, Mr. Gibbs became a large share-holder in an English company, and was elected one of the directors. When the company advertised for proposals for building a railroad, wharves, etc., Mr. Gibbs resigned his position as director and put in a bid, which, although not the lowest, was accepted on account of his known responsibility and integrity. He left Victoria in January, 1867, on the steamer Otto, taking with him fifty men, surveyors, mechanics and laborers. He finished his contract within the stipulated time, twelve months, in spite of hostile Indian demonstrations, and sent the first cargo of anthracite coal ever unearthed on the Pacific coast, to the directors and to a market. Previous to entering on this enterprise he had determined to return to the United States, and had been reading law under a celebrated English barrister. After completing his contract and returning to Victoria, he settled up his business affairs and returned to the United States, going to Oberlin, Ohio, where he settled with his wife and children, and entered the law department of the college, from which he graduated in 1870. He then started south, determined to settle at some desirable point. He finally settled at Little Rock, and entered the law firm of Benjamin & Barnes, a leading law firm of Little Rock, where he completed his studies and was admitted to the bar. One year afterward he was appointed county attorney of Pulaski County, which position he resigned in 1873, when the citizens of Little Rock elected him city judge, he being the first colored man elected to that position in the United States. In June, 1876, Judge Gibbs was appointed by President Hayes, registrar of the land office at Little Rock, to which office he was re-appointed in 1881. He is a partner in the Electric Light Company, and a large share-holder in several other companies, and lives in a handsome suburban residence, which he lately built. Judge Gibbs was married to Mariah A. Alexander, of Kentucky, and they are now the parents of four children: Donald (who lives at Victoria), Harase (a printer), Idah (a graduate of Oberlin College) and Hattie (a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at Oberlin). Judge Gibbs has been endorsed by the Republican State Central Committee of Arkansas, for receiver of public moneys of the Little Rock Land Office, and as he is without opposition it is expected that President Harrison will appoint him.