The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-12
{. H. gibbs DIES
VERY SUDDENLY
CUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING
ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
PROMINENT osKALoosA MAN
Had Been identified With the Town
For Thirty-Five Years-capital-
ist, Coal operator and
Property Holder.

ness men anu capitalists, uleQ SUI
denly at his home just north of oska-
loosa saturday evening at about 10000
o'clock, Death was absolutely unex-
pected, and was due TO neuralgia OF
the heart.
| From the time of his coming to Os-
kaloosa in 1869, Mr.. Gibbs lad been
prominently identified win the build
ing up of the town, and had by earn
est application to his business affairs
amassed fortune generally reputed
to be at least a million dollars. The
constant worry, and the nervous strain
of the close attention which his ven
lures demanded had undermined his
health and in an affection of the heart
with which he had for years been
troubled, death was the end
Yet Mr.. Gibbs during the winter
past had been enjoying good health.
He had returned but coupe of weeks
ago from Huntington, Massachusetts,,
where he spent several weeks with
his brother, DR.. Linn Gibbs. and re-
turned benefited by mis- rest. Since
that time he had enjoyed seemingly
good health until after retiring at ten
o'clock Saturday night, when he was
seized with the awful pains of neural
gia of the heart. Death followed in
twenty minutes.
Mr.. Gibbs had been spending the
evening with bis family in the thor
ough enjoyment of his home He had
been in good spirits and in good health
and had eaten hearty supper. The
evening was spent at whist. At 1000
o'clock Mr. Gibbs retired to his room
and to bed.
He was seized with the neuralgia
pains almost Immediately after lying
down, and groaned in his suffering.
To the questions of Mrs. Gibbs he de-
clared that he had never suffered so
great pain. His daughter, Mrs. Guy
Woodin, and Mr.. Woodin came to the
bedside and DR.. R. @. Hoffman, the
family physician, was summoned. In
few minutes the sufferer became
somewhat easier and the pains left
him altogether He turned to Mrs.
Woodin and asked her not to send for
the doctor, and then passed into the
unconsciousness from which he never
rallied.
DR.. Hoffman arrived in a few min
utes. Even then me sufferer was dy-
ing and the watchers were forced to
wait helpless around MS bedside while
the life expired,
Heart Was Affected.
Mr.. Gibbs had never before suffered
from neuralgia pains, according to DR..
Hoffman, although for dozen years
he had suffered from heart trouble, or
rather a poor circulation. This COM
plicated with kidney troubles, which
were also of long duration, was the
immediate cause OF death. Both were
the result of the constant attention
to his business, the enormous amount
of brain work which his financial sue
| cesses of earlier years demanded. At
present, however, Mr.. Gibbs had re-
| Taxed somewhat from his business ac-
tivities and was taking things much
easier than before.
The first intimation of the condition
of his heart came about twelve years
ago, when, in running Tor a train in
| Chicago Mr.. Gibbs severely over-exert-
| ed himself, and upon his return home
was confined to his bed for a couple
of weeks. About four years ago, fol-
| lowing a bath he had a sudden attack
| of heart trouble in which the doctors
| worked over him for about four hours
before his recovery was complete. This
fact remained an 'unguessed secret, rs
Er Gibbs wanted nothing whatever
said of it. There had also been pain
or fainting spells Of more or less fire.
quency from which he suffered
| The condition of kidney troubles
added complication which gave
these affections more serious nature
Family Frustrated.
/ The sudden shock of hlr. Gibbs
/ death completely Frustrated his wife
who was on Sunday unable to be
about in any manner. The daughter,
Mrs. Woodin, was also Frustrated, but
was forced by the condition of her
mother to assist in caring for her
Both ladies suffered greatly from the
shock of the tragedy and Mrs. Gibbs
condition is regarded as somewhat
serious.
| Financially Prominent.
| Since coming to Oskaloosa in 1863
when his first business venture was tc
open bank, Mr.. Gibbs mas been prom
inent, and for years the foremost fig
ure among Oskaloosa's financiers. His
financial interests were Of a wide ant
varied nature and through his associa
lions in money matters he was wei
and widely known, not only over this
state, but to eastern financial men
Mr.. Gibbs was identified with three
prominent banking ventures, the OLE
Union Savings bank, the Farmers ant
Traders, and the Mahaska County
State bank, OF witch he was at thu
time of his death director. and wal
the moving spirit in the organization
of each. He has been associated witt
his brother, I. M. Gibbs, in business
in this city ever since his coming