Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-10-14
WILLIAM G. GIBBONS DEAD
THE GRE4r LOss sUsTAKNED BIZ
gJE iMMUHITR.
The ESiE Eb'ish 1ient - htch We tRuiIt
a aqtabiF Ef.ye oE n,,Mib Animals
-Iin9s'cHg.,ti"us I., EJiAl;ianorostty

| -tin0s'estg.,tieus 3. EJiAt;sanerosity
-
As stated in The las! issue OF the GAZETTE
AM IoUESAL Mm, q. iii5bpns died very
sui,l,niy yys'rdpy week while on his way
f,om hiq .iolne to his office, at Second and
Poplar streets, Ut a few minntes before
o'clock. Isaac Il. Burrowes, q clerk at
the Pussy Il Jones Company's Office,
reached him in time to receive look of
recognition and by supporting him in q
reclining position 10 alleviate as much as
possible the evidently intense pain of the
lest few minutes. The news of his death
spread very rapidly, and, as Mr.. Gibbons
had recently been in unusually good
health and spirits, was great shock to
the community, bringing feeling of per-
sonal bereavement to many. >.
Villain q. Gibbons, the son of Abfam
Gibbons, WAS born February 18th, 1882,
in Lancaster county, Pa, and removed,
county. where he lived on farm near
West Chester until he became of age. In
1853 he cnnIa to Wilmington and entered
saa eiAploy of Belts, Pusey, Jones n Seal,
ths prob cessors of the Pusey q 10
Cohpany, al bouk -kasper, " sre he re-
NAMED until 1858. Mr.. Gibbons WIS
natntal mechanic and had earnestly de-
sired to learn the machinists' trade, but
no opportunity to do this was afforded
him until he came to Wilmington.
Where there is will there is q way,
and, iu his new sphere he made spare
time to carry ont his object by posting
his books at night and working in the
machine shop in the daytime until he
acquired thorough familiarity with the
practical part Of the machinista' art.
In 1865 MIR. Gibbons went into partner
ship with his brother, Richard p. Glib
bons, in the rolling mill business since
conducted by Seidel & Hastings. With
drawing from this venture, in 1860 he
bought out the interest of Mr.. Alfred
Botts in the Pusey g. Jones works and
almost at once became the wheel horse of
the firm which has grown under his di-
rection into the front rank among the
iron ship building establishments of
America. At the incorporation of the
Pusey & Jones Company, in 1879, Mr..
Gibbons became its president.
The past year witnessed the successful
accomplishment, under Mr.. Gibbons
direct supervision and at the instance Of
the United States government, of an im-
portant enterprise in the consuinmRtion
andperfectiono of which hewas the moving
spirit; the construction and setting up at
Ottawa, Kan, of new machinery for the
production of sugar from sorghum cane,
in which Inaceration supersedes the old
| crushing or squeezing processes and which
has been demonstrated to be effective to
q degree that is simply astounding. Some
experiments with new machinery were re-
gently published with the showing that it
| was possible to extract by its use 9S per
| al aaa isak
In politics Mr.. Gibbons was Demo
crat, largely because that party was in
favor of tariff reform. He was one Of the
frst, perhaps the very first, among the
large manufacturers, with brain broad
| enough to see that that so-ealIed ''pro-
| tectiven tariff did not benefit the manu-
featuring interests of the United States.
Some of the ablest articles that have ap-
peared in print, in opposition to our tariff
| system, were the product of his pen, and
he was untiringly Jealous in endeayors,
both with tongue and pen, to bring his
countrymen 10 right perception of the
imperative need Of radical change in
| their political economy, if they would
reap the advantages within their reach,
develop the resources of their territory
and their skill and regain their lost posi-
ton among the commercial nations of tho
| world
Though Mr.. Gibbons eannot be said to
have been in politics, he took great in
terest in the welfare Of this city and, as
shown by his tariff reform work, in the
| whole country. He was Democrat and
| was often president or vice president of
Important public meetings. He was one
of the first three members of the Water
Commission, member of the Board of
Trade and at the time of his death and
for several years previous yice-consul to
Brazil.
He was notably kind to dumb animals,
MI of those in his employ being individ-
uali2od by him and sometimes most
humoropsiy. When their days of useful
ness were over, these animals were sent
TO a farm in Chester county where they
Wore cared for as long as they lived.
Mr.. Gibbons was large-hearted, gen
erous and exceptionally pure-minded
| man, but disliked TO hear any verbal re-
cognition of his generosity. His charities
were so unostentatiously conferred TINT
hut few Of them were generally known,
but many there are who will now come
forward and tell of the aid he has been
TO them and their friends.
MIR. Gibbons left wife and grown
| itluSAtSCt WIZ III now hO Miss tOfbeF u
school at Pennington, Conn. His largo
estate is mainly invested in the business
to which he devoted tho last days of his
life.
An autopsy of the body was made
Thursday with the view Of ascertaining
the cause of his death.
Drs. Bullock, Maull, Stubbs and Draper
were in attendance and theyunited in the
opinion that death had resulted from
| paralysis of the heart.
The ienains were inferred IN the Will
nlipgton & Brandywine cemetery Saturday
| afternoon, Thesfuneral took place from tl. Q
| late rfaideGoo OF the deceased No. 500 West
1 street,
| A large concourse Of friends of tho de-
ctasnd, Including the prominent business
| men and heads OF Wilmington leading in
iusrfial establishments were In attendance.
| The shops of tho Pus0y & Jones Company
| were closed for the day, and the employees
| attended the cbseque5 In a body, accom-
pan5tng the remains OF their lalnented em-
| ;ioNcr to ths grave.
A lrst ulnlDar Of people viewed the re.
! nGins, which rGpnsGd III a walnut cnsket
! md were encased In black burial rohe.
Tie cil1ibt LID contained plate upon
s. ltt II wese Msoribad the pane and aga of
tic isCaasad. A simple festoon OF laural
| 9iil snsp. ntird from tho head OF the c;Isket
and ale creeping vine desorlhel delicate
lines Of green uvar tGe white satln pillow.
| The fu,.tnres were very life-lik anI latu ;vhl.
After the htiot services at the house the
body was removed 10 the heaTse by eight
| carriare, employees Of tho Pusoy q Jones
Company. and was followed by six pail
| bearers, Intimate personal friends OF the
u - Ns.G