My Genealogy Hound

William A. Gibbs was born in Bedford County, Va., in 1817, and is the eldest child of Mathew and Keziah (Tracy) Gibbs, also natives of Bedford County, Va., and born, respectively, in 1790 and 1788. The parents were married in their native State, where their five children were born, and whence they moved to Kentucky. They afterward moved to Georgia, from there to Chattanooga, Tenn., and in 1839 settled on the American Bottom in Illinois, where the mother died the following year. Mathew Gibbs died in Crawford County, Mo., in 1871. He was a cripple all his life, and was a shoemaker by trade, also carried on farming. William A. acquired his education in six months, and remained with his parents until twenty-four years of age. He then began as a hireling, working for $8 per month. In 1849 he settled on the place where he now lives, and owns 335 acres. The same year he married Mary A. Dobkins, who was born near Boonville, Mo., in 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs have two children: Hilery I. and Mary L. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically Mr. Gibbs is a Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Van Buren. Mr. Gibbs and son are stockholders in the Farmers' Joint Stock Company, in which the former has held the position of director, and is now vice-president.