The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-05-01

A Good Record In The Service of His State
A Gentleman of The Old
School.
News aud Courier.


Columbia, April 27.-Col. James
q. Gibbes, whose life is intimately
associated with the history of the
State, aud which roads like romance,
died to night after brief illness.
James Guignard Gibbes was de-
scendcd on both sides from old Colo.
nial families, his father DR.. Robt w.
Gihhes, being q defendant Of Robert
Gibbes, who was Governor ia l7lO.
and his mother, Miss Guignard, being
descended from Il former surveyor
general of the province. james G.
Gibbes. was born in Columbia, on
January =, 1929, and after prepara
tlon in the Columbia Male Academy,
graduated from the South Carolina
College il, lS47. He then took a
special course in mathematics and
engineering, at the Citadel Academy.
In 1902 he was elected chief engin-
Ger of railroad IN Lousina, the first
one stretching west Of the Mississippi.
Two years later he returned to build
tho line between Columbia and Au.
gnsta, whose completion was delayed
| until after the war.
He was soon recognized for his
ability, his indornitable energy, his
speculative disposition and his skill
IN workmanship and his executive
ability. When the war bsgan he
was sent 10 England by Mr. Mem
mlnBor, Secretary Of the Confederate
States, as II financial agent to nego-
tl"to loan for Slo,O0O,00O. He
found that he could place several
| hundred millions Of dollars worth of
bonds, and strongly urged Mr.. Mem.
mlng"r to n"g"tiato the full amount,
on tn" ground that if Great Britain
bocane creditor Of the Confederacy
for four or five hundred millions, she
would not let the United States con-
qnrr. Bnt there was no authority
Tor Snch "n l*sn". aud the opportunity
was lost Returning home Mr..
dIbh"a was put in charge of the
S"lndn Factory, and WAS powerful
"dJnnct in providing yarn and clo,h
that w"r" greatly needed. He organ
lZcd Il system of blockade rnnniny,
IhrOngh this he became enormously
wealthy, counting his pussesalons by
tn" millions in ConfoHerate money
aud spending il like water with lavish
generosity. He advanced between
one and two million dollars in Con.
feder"o money equivalent to several
thousand in gold, to United States
officers imprisoned in Columbia,
accepting notes that were repudiated
after tn" war He was one of tbe
props Of the Confederacy. When
Sherman reached Columbia Col
Gihbes, ns alderman, accompanied
DR., i. ). Goodwin, the mayor, and
surrendered tn" city. He witnessed
the shameful burning and wholesale
sacklnS of the city and saw his
f"the residence, with thousands Of
Il
dollars IN medals, curious, raro books
aud Pamphlets gutted and burned.
Owing to Dr. Goodwyn's age and
health, he turned over the admins.
tration of the city to Col. Gibbes as
mayor pro tenn. With tho greatest
onergy he set about he task of feedino
about ten or fifteen thousand home,
less, destitute people. Sherman left
a herd of five hundred old and
tough beeves in the campus of the
College,, and those we're killed and
distributed. Regular rations we're
given ont, partly supplied by Sher,
man and partly gathered from the
surrounding country.
Col Gibbes's personal expenditures
ro"ch"d SlG0,0OO so far "a he could
estimate it. When he was asked bv
the city council how he should be re-
PAID, he pointed to Il sack of coffee
bearing 'he mark "lG pounds" and
SAID: 81 will take that and sign re-
celpts.' He held the office Of collec
tor of internal revenne in 1868 and
1850. Between tho years of 1870
and 1880 he was engaged in bnild
ing railroads in Florida and accum
nl"ted another large property, which
was lost Toy failure Of the corporation
and repndiation Of bonds. In 1875
he stnmped the state for Hampton,
and was noted for his inexhuustible
rep"rtory Of campaign jokes and an.