The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-05-17
DEATH CALLS
REV. JOHN GIBSON
Was Minister of Gospel for
Over Fifty Years
Served as Pastor Of Congre-
gational Church in this
City for five Years

death summons came calling the late
Rev. John Gibson from this earth to
his heavenly home. 1t was a summons
that brought keen sorrow to people
throughout Wisconsin for it called
from this earth worthy servant of
the Master who has been engaged in
preaching the gospel for more than
half century--a man known
throughout the state for his untiring
work in the Christian field and the
oldest Congregational preacher in
the state.
Within the past month Rev. Glib
son was compelled to give up his
last charge at Solon Springs on
account of his health and he was
taken to Rochester, MINI. where he
was examined by the Mayo Brothers.
1t was then learned that Rev. Glib
son was not long for this world and
upon his return to Solon Springs he
gave up his ministerial work and
came to Washburn that he might be
near to his son and daughter during
his declining days. 1t was not
thought at that time that the end
was so near, but on Thursday of last
week Rev. Gibson began rapid y
sinking and death came OH Friday
evening
The funeral services where held
from the Congregational church in
this city yesterday afternoon, and
among the pastors present to pay
their last respects to their fellow
broth ar were H. w. Carter, District
Supt. of Madison; Rev. F. N. Dex-
ter, Dist. Supt. of Ashland; Rev. j.
w. Jordan of'Ashland: Pres. j. d.
Brownell Of Northland College, Ash
land; Rev. E. F. Lindsey of Iron
River; Rev. Robert Merritt of Mel
len; Rev. S. P. Luse of Superior;
Rev. o. w. Smith, Rev. Chr.
Christensen and Rev. H. L. Good
rich of this city.
The scripture lesson was read by
Rev. Merritt of Mellen and the
opening prayer was given by Rev.
Luse of Superior. Rev. Carter of
Madison and Rev. Dexter of Ash
land who have been workers with
the late Rev. Gibson for many years
delivered addresses in which they
eulogized the life of Rev. Gibson as
being a life that was devoted un-
sel6shly to the work of the King
dom-as life spent in the service
of God and of mankind and who had
now passed to his heavenly home to
receive his lust reward and for whc m
there had been laid up a crown of
righteousness. At the service there
was music by the quartet and solo
by Miss Alice Fenton. The four
sons of Rev. Gibson acted as pail
bearers as the request of their
father.
Interment was in Woodland ceme-
tary this city.
The following is a sketch of the
life of Rev. Gibson as read by the
Rev. Carter at the service.
John Gibson
Born December "a, 1874, at Derby,
Derbyshire, England. He was left
fatherless at the age of three. Con-
yerted at the age of seventeen, at
twenty became hired local preacher,
and at twenty-one entered the min
istry as probationer Ordained at
Hereford, England, May z, 1870. Unit
ed in Holy Matrimony to Angela M.
Donne, at Hereford, July 5, 1870.
After eighteen years of a faithful
and heroic ministry in several fields
throughout England and Wales, he
moved hs family from England to
America in June 1888 Arriving in
New York, he went direct to Chicago,
reaching there on July 9th, 1883. Be
gan work with the First Congrega-
tional church at Byron, Ill, July Is,
1883. December 1886 he entered the
Home Missionary work in southern
Illinois, building churches at Villa