The San Francisco call., 1895-11-17
Sudden End of a Successful and
Eminently Useful Ca.
reer.
WAS ONE OF THE PIONEERS
Prominent in Church Work and a
Generous Benefactor of Worthy
Charities.

George w. Gibbs, one of the most promi-
nent of San Francisco's merchants, and
well known in social and religious circles,
passed away at his beautiful new residence,
1922 Jackson street. late Friday night. Mr..
Gibbs had been unwell for nearly two
wears. He was troubled with faintlng
spells, and his physician had predicted his
sudden demise.
Last January his ailment became so
serious that he decided to lead less active
life tEan had been his custom. Accord
ingly he ceased the personal management
of his extensive importing business and
resigned the presidency of the Young
Mems Christian Association, the position
of senior warden of the Grace Episcopal
Church and director OF the Home for
Feeble Minded, at Glen Ellen.
Since that time his principal occupation
was directing the progress of the beautiful
mansion which has just been completed.
Thursday Mr. Gibbs was at the Office of
George w. Gibbs & Co., of which firm he
still retained the presidency. Friday he
remained about home, directing the pre-
paration of his grounds. He took consid-
cradle exercise, but was not apparently
suffering from the results until shortly
after 8 o'clock. Then he dropped into a
chair and complained of faintness. I'm
consciousness followed and efforts to re-
vive him proved tutlle. Dr. Hirschfeld
was summoned, but his skill did not avail
| and with his faithful wife and his two
| brothers. Charles and Cornelius Gibbs, by
| his side, he breathed his last.
| George w. Gibbs was born in Albany,
N. Y, March "a, 1924. His father, Will
| liam Charming Gibbs, was for several
| terms Governor of Rhode Island, and
| traced his descent back to the Pilgrim
| fathers. The subject of this sketch was
sent very early to school at Pittsfield,
Mass. and afterward to the famous Bart
! lett Academy in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
| Upon leaving the Bartlett Academy he
entered the great commercial shipping
| house of Barnard. Adams & Co., CONNER
cial wharf, Boston. Here he received the
! first lessons in practical business by which
he so we'll profited.
After serving one year with this estab-
lishment he became connected with the
New York house of the East India estab-
lishment of S. T. Nicholl & Co. Here he
remained for four years, at the expiration
of which he went into the tea business for
himse
After four years as an independent mer-
chant he determined to seek new fields
In January, 1913, lie tOIIutQ one OI u COIn-
pauv that set sail for California.
After a rather eventful voyage the
travellers reached San Francisco April "a
1S49 1t took just two days to cure Mr..
Gibbs of the gold fever, and then he be-
gan looking about for suitable business
enterprise. On June 1, 1849. he formed a
partnership with Charles B. Loomis, and
they opened up general merchandise
business on Washington street, between
FRI o.
mained intact for three years, during
which time their place Of business was
thrice destroyed by fire.
After dissolving the partnership Mr.. Gibbs
entered the firm of George c. johnson d
Co. as junior partner. In 1876 he bought
out the entire interest in the firm and re-
organized it as George w. Gibbs g. Co.
OF this firm he was president at the date OF
his death.
He had been married twice, but neither
union was blessed with children. He
leaves a widow, three brothers, Charles
Gibbs, Cornelius V. Gibbs and Major r.
K Gibbs, U. S. A, and sister. Mrs.
Sarah T. Thompson OF New York City.
Mr.. Gibbs was prominently identified
with many of the leading charities of the
City. to which he contributed bountifully.
He was one of the main supports of the
Y. NJ. G.. A., of which for many years he
was president.
He was an active member of the Grace
Episcopal Church, OF which he was
senior warden until recently. Although
Republican in politics he has never figured
as prominent partisan. the directorship
of the Home for Feeble Minded being the
only public office he ever held. He had
hosts of friends in every avenue of life in
which he trod, and his demise is uni
versally mourned.
The funeral will take place from the
Grace Episcopal Church, Monday, at IL A. NJ
The funeral services will be held to-mor-
row morning at II o'clock in Grace Church,
California and Stockton streets. The in
tcrment will be private.