The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-05

was III lSS VI Iu6 0ONGTuOTS OllCe
for about one year, and then gave place to
Governor Posey. All this time-that is to
say, from the day of his arrival at Vincennes
until the commencement OF Governor Posey'S
administration, and thence on until Indiana
became State-General Gibson was in charge
of the Secretary's Office. No complaint was
ever made of the way he discharged its du-
ties; nor was there of his actions as Governor.
In his double capacity of Secretary and Gov
ernor he so conducted the affairs of the Terri
tory as to escape criticism from the ambitious
and plotting men around him, something his
Chief General Harrison, good and patriotic
man, was unable to do. He kept aloof from
the cabals and intrigues of Territorial days,
combining himself to the discharge of his
public duties, He did not become involved
in the quarrels about him, and as a conse-
quence enjoyed the goodwill and friendship
of those who were hostile among themselves.
While Secretary of Indiana Territory,
Gen eral Gibson was not conspicuous in pub
lie affairs outside of his official duties He
seemed content with attending to his bust
ness, leaving to others the task of righting
neighborhood wrongs and settling private
grievances. 1t was only on extraordinary
occasions that his name appears in the
proceedings of the public gatherings of these
days. In July, 1912, public meeting was
held at Vincennes to consider the subject of
the war with England. General Gibson was
were passed approving the declaration of
war, and indOrsing the course of the Madison
administration. The Western Sun, a paper
published at Vincennes by Elihu Stout the
grandfather of Hon. Henry S. eau
thorn thorn makes frequent mention, during
valuable information furnished by General
Gibson, then the acting Governor of the
Territory, in relation to public matters gen.
orally, and particularly in regard to Indian
affairs In the Sun of September 1, 1912, is
proclamation of General Gibson, as acting
Governor, requiring all aliens in the Terri
tory to report, conformably to the law of
Congress passed July 6, 1893, to him in per-
son, in the county of Knox, and to certain
persons named by him in the other counties
of the Territory.
On the 26th of December, 1912, the Sun
contains General Gibsons proclamation, as
acting Governor of the Territory, converting
the Legislature, and naming February l,
1913, as the time for It's meeting
On the 10th of January, 1913, the Sun con-
tains the general orders of General Gibson as
commanderin-chiei of the Territorial mi
litia, promoting Daniel Sullivan to the rank
of colonel, and ordering that ION account of
the present aspect of affairs the whole of the
militia OF the Territory hold them
selves in readiness TO march at moments
warning, and, when warned, will rendezvous
according to law"
In the Sun OF Feb. 6, 1918, is the address of
General Gibson, as acting Governor, delivered
before the Legislature on the previous Tues
day. 1t is plain pointed and brief. He
says he is no speaker. The topics alluded to
by him are 1.-The devolving of the guberna-
torial duties upon him." his promise to dis
charge them fairly and justly" etc. He al
ludes ito the just war with England" and
approves of the course of President Madison.
Attention is called in the address ito the
frequent and numerous Indian massacres
and the uncertainty of life and property in
the Territory" He calls attention to the nee
essity of reform in 1.-The militia organization
of the Territory, the revenue laws and the
salaries of public officers"
On the 9Th of March the Sun contained the
reply of James Scott the Speaker of the Ter
ritorial Legislature, to General Gibson's
speech before that body, in which the Speaker
said: "Your patriotism has long drawn down
the attention of the only nation upon
earth, enjoying the liberal exercise of ma
tional liberty. We are happy sir, in con-
graduating you that Notwithstanding the
many years that the critical eve of envy has
had an opportunity of observing you in the
discharge of your duties of a national con-
cern and important trusts confded in you
by your nation, that yet, for the most cogent
reasons, national patronage is extended to
you in the evening of your life" This florid
and prolix speech does not indicate an en-
bryo jurist; nevertheless, the Speaker after
ward became very eminent judge of our
Supreme Court On the 18th of March, 1873
Governor Gibson prorogued the Legislature,
after session of forty days, and directed it
to reassemble at Corydon on the first Mon.
day of the next December. In the meantime
the records and offices of the
Territorial government were removed
to Corydon, Governor Gibson accom-
panying them. Soon after reaching Cory
do ha WA en-, AoA in In -
Off ce by General Thomas Posey, and from
that time until the admission of Indiana into
the Union, he acted as Territorial Secretary
General Gibson's knowledge of the Indian
language most probably once saved General
Harrison's life. At conference between the
latter and Tecumseh at Vincennes the In
dian, becoming angry, arose to his feet
hourished his tomahawk, and directed his
followers to be ready to obey his command
General Gibson, who was present, under
standing the Shawanee tongue called the
guard, which he had stationed near by, and
on their appearance the cowed savage re-
sumed his seat. When his threatening Ian
guage was translated for the Governor he
broke up the conference and ordered Tecum-
sch away.
After much research, I have been unable
to find the origin of General Gibson's
pseudonym of "Horsehead." l assume that it
was his Indian name; at least that it was
given him by the Indians. He was known by
il long before he came to Indiana Territory
and it chung to him while he lived. 1t may
be that it was given to him because of his
strong common sense, common sense some
times being denominated "horse sense"
Neither have 1 been able to satisfy myself as
to where General Gibson died. When he
went out of the secretary's Office he was near
ly seventy-seven years old, and must have
been very feeble, nevertheless he lived some
SIX years longer. Lanham, in his Biograph-
ical Annals says General Gibson died
near Vincennes, April 10, 1922 Drake, in
his Dictionary of American Biography, gives
the same day as the date of his demise, but
says he died at Braddock's Field, near Pits
burg. l am inclined to believe that Drake is
correct, but am not certain of it. If any
one who reads this sketch knows where the
old pioneer is laid to rest, shall be pleased