My Genealogy Hound

OB GIBSON.
In the record of Union county’s old settlers mention should be made of Ob Gibson, who for thirty-nine years has resided within her borders and as the result of his unfaltering energy and his business capacity he has become one of the prosperous farmers of Jones township, owning and cultivating a farm of two hundred and fifty acres adjoining Thayer.

He was born in Bureau county, Illinois, January 16, 1840, and was reared there upon a farm. His early advantages, educational and otherwise, were limited but since attaining his majority he has acquired broad practical knowledge, which has made him a successful business man and a factor in the life of the community. He came to Iowa in 1867, settling first in Boone county and there attended school in what was then Montana but is now the city of Boone.

On the 25th of August, 1869, he arrived in Union county. He had previously formed the acquaintance of his present wife, who was then a teacher in the schools of Boone, and in May, 1870, was united in marriage to Marietta Hoover, who was born in Iowa in the year in which the state was admitted to the Union. She was the daughter of G. W. Hoover, one of the pioneer settlers of the territory, who arrived in 1842. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Eliza Carlisle and on his arrival in Iowa took up his abode in Van Buren county, being one of its first settlers. Subsequently he removed to Boone county, Iowa, where he engaged in business. He was a miller there and built a flouring mill at Boone, one of the largest in the state. His death occurred in 1860 and he was long survived by his wife, who died in 1900 at the age of seventy-four years. Mrs. Gibson was one of five children, all of whom reached mature years. She was educated in the schools of Des Moines and for seven years engaged in teaching.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gibson began their domestic life in Union county, settling at Thayer upon a tract of raw land. Mr. Gibson engaged in merchandising and also served as postmaster of the village for several years under President U. S. Grant. He conducted his store for six years and hired others to improve his farm. His place is now a well developed property, the greater part of which has been brought under a high state of cultivation, while annually good crops are harvested and bring to him a gratifying income. For years he has superintended the improvement of the farm and is an enterprising agriculturist of good business ability, keen discernment and thorough trustworthiness.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have been born three sons: Charles T., who is now a lawyer of Oklahoma; Lew, who is a railroad engineer located in Oregon; and George H., who is with his brother in the west.

Mr. Gibson has been a life-long republican but also advocates prohibition principles, being a stanch supporter of the cause of temperance. He has served in various township offices, has been alderman of Thayer and in the discharge of his duties is ever found prompt and reliable. He has also been one of the township committeemen and has been officially identified with the schools for a long period. In fact no cause or movement that tends to benefit the community and advance its material, intellectual, social or moral progress fails to receive his endorsement and during the long years of his residence here Union county has numbered him among its valued citizens.