West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-04-24
In Memoriam.
PeEsroSfAN

| Thursday, January o, 1914. Witnessed the
birth of James Gibson, in what is now Grant
district, Preston County. Yves, Virginia, but
was then Mouongalia county, Virginia lie
died Wednesday, April 10. 1904, aged
| eighty eight years. three months aud ten
days, at the residence of his SOL, John l..
Gibson, on the old homestead near Tunnel.
ton, which had been his abiding place for
moye than half century.
His parents were early settlers In what is
now Preston county aud their descendants
are still numerous in Grant district. The
Gibsons are of that sturdy Scotch-Irish
race whose achievements have marked all
modern progress; aud the integrity, indus
toy, sobriety and sound judgement, which
everywhere distinguish this wonderful peo
pie, found ample exemplideaiion in the
successful career of the subject of this
sketch.
lie was reared ON his fathers farm.
educated in the subscription schools of tina,
early day, and devoted his entire life TO
agricultural pursuits. in which he became
widely known as one OF the best aud most
progressive farmers and stock raisers of this
county. At the early age of lwen,y-one he
was united in marriage TO Miss Rebecca
Cramer daughter Of Pe,er Cramer, also an
early settler in this county, aud reared
family Of three sons aud FIVE daughters to
honored manhood and womanhood These
- -
Independence; Rcbecca c., who married
Jesse Spahr OF Kingwood; Miss Mary j.;
Milford c., of Tunnei,on; Elizabeth NJ, wife
of William VI. jenkins Of Kingwood; Ashbel
T., formerly OF Tunneiton but now residing
at Mofganiown; Annie A., wife of John H.
Garner of Kingwood; and John l., residing
on the home farm near Tunnelton. The
eldest son, Virdin, died in infancy.
For a number of years after his marriage
he continued To reside in the lower end Of
the county, but in iS4z he purchased from
Israel Baldwin tract Of some two hundred
acres Of woodland near what is now the
town Of Tnnneton and in the same year
erected hcwed log CABIN on the place and
following spring, April 70, 1913. just fif.
nine years ago, he moved into this house
and spent the remainder of his long and
active life on this farm which he redeemed
from the primeyaI forest and brought to
high state of cultivation. Few things
| seemed TO afford him greater satisfaction
than the clearing of land and in his later
life when the necessity for hard work was
A. tat. aIu
engaged in cIeafing new piece of ground
every year.
The ample provisions he made for The
| enjoyment Of this life were not more earnest
nor marked than his pointed preparation for
| death and for the life 10 come. When only
| seventeen years of age he was converted and
| Joined the Methodist Episcopal church. IN
| this faith he lived and reared his children,
and 10 this faith he died, after an exemplary
Christian life of more than three score aud
| ten years. Ten or twelve years ago he
ordered The coffin in which he was hurled
on Friday last aud had i, constructed Of
solid black walnut lumber. lie also
selected the mantel stone from the frs,
house he built. in I84z, az the base of his
tombstone and had the date Of his birth cut
| on ono end and The other end smooihed for
the date Of his death, saying he had spent
many happy hours sitting near il in the
early days.
| Every detail of his funeral and burial
was arranged by himself years ago and
we're strictly casoied od, by his children.
| The funeral addrcss-not sermon~-was
made by Rev. &. n. I.akin. his pastor, al
| Camp Chapel, at ago O'Clock on Friday
afternoon, April 18Th. imme dia,ely after
which the mortal remains Of James Gibson
was committed 90 mother earth, in the
Camp Ground cemetery, by the side Of the
companion Of his JOYS and sorrows, who had
| preceded him some ten years ago. The
| grave was lined with evergreen from top to
bolton and many handsome floral tributes
we're placed upon Il. The vast concourse
If relatives. friends and neighbors who met
on this occasion TO do honor to his memory
testify better than any mere words to the
positive esteem in which he was held. Uni
| b0rf fr,,rra 7grfsn W. sc.