The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-12

uSIe, anu was dt OuS lILue Dig inquire
in the coal interests Of the Oskaloosa
field. He has always been interested
largely In real estate in this city.
A Self-Made Man.
Ernest Gibbs was successful
through his own energy. He was
born Feb. 10, 1S4S, in Blanford, Mass,
and had the advantages OF common
school and academic education. Hav-
ing finished his schooling he was sent
to the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbra-
ham, Mass, but anxious to make his
fortune in the world, virtually ran off
and continued on to Amboy, ILL.,, where
he had relatives. Here he laid the
foundations of his business life in a
small speculation in land which he
purchased at auction, but sold at sur
ficient profit to give him good start
with little or no investment. At AM
boy he entered the banking business
and remained for two years success
fully, until 1868, when with his broth
err, |. NJ Gibbs, he came to iowa and
located at Parkersburg, establishing
successful bank. Two years later
he came to Oskaloosa and with his
brother and cousin, DR., H. L. Gibbs,
established the Union Savings Bank,
his first successful venture in this
city. This was operated until 1874.
when the Doctor retred and under
the firm name of Gibbs Brothers the
business was continued. In 1877 Mr..
Gibbs organized the Farmers and
Traders Bank. retiring soon after
ward, and in 1882 with Juoge Crook
ham and others established the Ma
haska County Bank, with which no
continued as director until his death.
Aside from his banking Mr.. Gibbs
had two other pig interests mining
and real estate. In the former he
was for years prominent during the
time of Mahaska's greatest days in
coal. He was. with w. A. Sewers,
one Of the organizers Of che Oskaloosa
Coal & Mining Company, which for
years operated on an extensive scale
at Beacon, and for fifteen years had
an exceptionally valuable plant in that
vicinity. Later Mr.. Gibbs in company
with Mr.. Sewers and w. Z. Sheppard
and others developed Hooking, one OIL
the most valuable properties in this
vicinity, and sold it for more than
half million dollars.
In real estate e. H. Gibbs was per-
haps more largely interested than any
other Oskaloosan. He had been prom
inent in building up the town and
many private buildings were erected
by him both in the business and resi-
dence sections. He was owner of the
Spencer block in which the whole
sale house is located; of the Herald
office, of the Gibbs block in which his
offices and part of Hotel Downing are
located on the east side of the square.
He had other business buildings also.
and it is believed was owner of be-
tween thirty and forty residence prop
critics in this city. Since his sale OF
the Hooking properties he had devot-
ed his energies largely to real estate
holdings.
A Lover of Home.
Mr.. Gibbs was quiet; of retiring
disposition, he was devoted to his
family and lover of home. He was
married April 1, 1871, to Miss Martha
Jennie White of this city, and has but
one surviving child, Mrs. Nellie Wood
in, who with Mr.. Woodin resides with
her parents. For his family Mr.Gibbs
always entertained deep affection,
and his family associations were most
dear to him. During all his business
life he was associated with his broth
er, /. M. Gibbs, his partner in many
ventures and with whom his relations
were marked with the deepest affec.
ton. He had just returned from the
old home in Massachusetts where he
had visited his brother, Dr.Gibbs, who
is i'll at that place.
He was a man of broad mind and
of wide reading, upon which his edu-
cation was founded. Not only in bust
ness life was his mind especially act
i've, but Mr.. Gibbs was thoroughly in
formed upon current topics, and had
an acquaintance with literature that
was broad. He was democrat in pol
itics, and had been at one time promi-
nent in the affairs of his party. lie
was one of the founders and at one
time owner of the Times or this city.
AS a friend, scores of Oshaloosa's
citizens pay the highest OF tributes to
Ernest H. Gibbs.