The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-07-08
NORTH CAROLINA TRIPLETS.


Oldest In the WorId-Gibbs Brothers
Seventy.Six Years Old, Vigorous
and Hearty, Lay Wisconsln's Claim
to Oldest Living Triplets In the
Shade by More than Thirteen Years
Interesting Facts Brought Out In
Connection With These Remarkable
Sets of TripIets.
Thomas j. Penee's Washington Cores
pondence to the News and Observer.
Recently the State of Wisconsin
claimed the distinction OF having the
Oldest living triplets in the world.
There are three brothers, the Win
decker triplets, who live in Byron,
Wisconsin, and who recently celebra-
ted their sixty-first birthday. But
the Windecker triplets are mere
youngsters in comparison with the
three Gibbs brothers, of North Caro-.
lima, two of whom are living in Wilkes
boro, N. c., and one in Atlanta, Ga.
These three brothers, who were born
May 2, 1888, are Veterans of the
Confederate army, and are vigorous
and hale for their age.
RepresentativeCowles, of the Eighth
North Carolina district, accepted the
challenge of Wisconsin,, and immedi-
atelv procured the facts, which I'M
9uesJionably give the palm to the
North Carolina triplets who are
products of his district. Speaking of
the Gibbs triplets, Mr.. Cowles said:
each has a large family and sew
eral grandchildren. Our people do
not practice race suicide, have never
practiced it and the result is strong,
healthy population, morally and
physically. 1t is not unusual to see
families in which there are ten and
twelve children, and I have heard of
as many as twenty-one children in
one family.
"The Gibbs triplets who were born
in Wilkes county are unquestionably
the Oldest triplets in the world. They
are thirteen years, one month and
seven days older than the Windecker
triplets. They are in their seventy
seventh year. Their names are Will
liam Washington Gibbs, now living
at lib Rawson street, Atlanta Ca;
Robert Jackson Gibbs and Thomas
Lafayette Gibbs, who reside at
Boomer, Wilkes county, North Caro-
lima, within a few miles of the town in
which they were born. They are all
hale and hearty and enjoy unusual
good health for men OF their age,
considering, too, that they fought
through greater part OF the Civil
war. All three of them volunteered
early and, shoulder to shoulder as
members of the same company
fought throughout the entire conflict
Though one of them is separated
from the other two, they keep in close
touch and constant communication
and are very much devoted to one
| another.
'They are all married and each has
several children, grandchildren anc
great-grand-children. Their immedi
ate ancestors on both their fathers
and mothers side are long lived
their mother dying just a few years
ago at the age of about ninety
Aunt Caroline Grinton, colored
now living at Wilkesboro, N. c., who
is probably about ninety years O
age, claims to have nursed the trip
let's when they we're babies.
For several years the Gibbses have
made the claim that they are thu
Oldest living triplets, and have not
only successfully maintained this
claim, but SO far as is known, they
are the Oldest triplets that have evel
lived. Wilkes county feels a peculiar
pride in being the birthplace OF TIT
Gibbs triplets, and give this infor
nation in order to keep history
straight