The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-03-27
MIS- IL A n z o u S =.
Frsr, the United States Lag Magazine for
March 1854.
Memoir Of John B. Gibson, l. |. D.


Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, was born
:, Carlisle. Cumberland County, Penn
,vlvanis. district Of that Commonwealth
fertile in the name of IFS distinguished
sons His IA ther was Col. George Glib
son. 2 well known officer of our revolu-
tionary war,who having commanded with
success 2 regiment of the Virginia line
during the contest with Great Britain, fell
silh honor at the memorable defeat Of ST.
Clair, by the Indians in 1871. Having
received his primary education in his na-
i've towu. Mr. Gibson entered Dickinson
College. then in the zenith of literary fame,
and was matriculated with honor IN 1900.
He was fortunate IN having had al this
venerable seat of learning. the instructions
of the well known DR.. Charles Nesblt, of
Inc Church Of Scotland, for whose virtues,
me pupil recorded in 1924, his duliful re-
nembrance by design, from his own
pencil, of monument 20 ms memory, and
IN printed eulogy on ms life and charac-
.sr. The domestic relations of Mr.. Glib
son pointed 10 the law as his profession,
and having passed the usual term IN the
office of his kinsman, the Hon. Thomas
Duncan, al that time the leader of the bar
IN central Pennsylvania, and afterwards a
Judge of iis highest court-he was admit
Ied 10 practice in 1903. The Western
Country" was then beginning 10 attract
that notice which has since made one of
the most populous regions OF Pennsylva-
Ma: and like many other young men Of
the day, Mr.. Gibson attempted 10 push
his fortune in the ''back woods" He
opened his FIRST Office al Beaver. upon the
river Ohio. After soJourn there of
about two years, he removed TO Hagers-
Gown, Marylan whence he soon returned
again 10 his native town, Carlisle. His
advancement here was such as TO CRAFTY
mas friends He found, IN their full course
of practice, such men as Duncan and
Waits, and when he had proved. as he
very shortly did prove. his ability 10 cope
with them both, he had established rep
uiaiion as wide as The Commonwealth.
The political associations of Mr.. Glib
son had been with the old Democratic
party; and The critical condition of Its aft
airs in 1910, calling for the service Of It's
ablest men, ne was returned from his ma
i've county 10 two successive State Assem-
5lies IN lSl0 and 1911. where ne suppor-
ted WIN vigor and ability the administra>
tlOn of Mr.. Madison and Governor Sny-
der. He was here among the early advo-
cafes of that large svslem Of internal I'M
proFement which the Legislature OF Penn
syivania has since been completing, and
by which alone that Stale can take the
name IN the Union which her endow ments
make not more eminent than natural
Returning 10 his constituents in March,
1912, after ~ years of public service in
critical and trying times. during which he
left no proper expectation unanswered
he legislative career Of the Chief Justice
would probably have added 10 ms profess
sional advancement, had he chosen to re-
main al the bar. H. seems, however, TO
have early entertained the opinion, which
ne mas since expressed, thai his qualities
fitted him better for the bench; and having
sshor, Time before united himself in mar
rage with Miss Sarah Galbraith. The
daughter of a revolutionary officer, then
living in retirement upon his farm in Cum
oerland, he accepted in 1919, the Presi-
dency of the llth Judicial District, Just
then created IN Northern Pennsy lvania.
The death Of Judge Breckenridge having
made vacancy in 1916. of seal in the
Supreme Court, Mr.. President Gibson
was transferred on the 9Th June of that
year, 10 the bench upon which he has
since continued. As an associate justice,
II was the happiness of justice Gibson,
through his whole career 10 have beside
him for presiding officer, The late Chief
Justice Tilghman; and the eleven years IN
which these eminent persons assisted each
other IN discharge of their high duties,
seems 10 have been not less an unbroken
circle or Judicial harmony, than II was of
cordial personal intercourse.
The death of Chief Justice Tilghman,
on the 30th of April, 1927, left without an
occupant the seat IN which ne had presided
foi more than 20 years with dignity and
usefulness; and made II maIter of no
small difficulty for the Executive 10 sup
ply The vacancy with satisfaction TO the
public expectations. Names eminent In
the profession, and in the State, were
strongly pressed upon Governor Shulz
iof tins honorable office; and the appoint
meni 10 il on the 17lh Of May, 1929. gave
conclusive proof Of The high confidence
entertained by the Chief Magistrate of
Pennsylvania, and the old fashioned Dem
oSTatlc party of which he was the repre-
tentative, IN the ability and merits of Mr..