William Gibson
(1845-1932)
Dublin Core
Person Item Type Metadata
District
12th District Representative
Political Party
Democrat
Latter-day Saint
Yes
Age at Election
50
Birth Date
April 25, 1845
Birthplace
Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Death Date
December 13, 1932
Spouse(s)
Mary Adelia Lambert (1851-1935) Married May 6, 1872
Occupation
Stockman, Rancher, Sheriff
Biographical Text
William Gibson immigrated with his family in 1852. They landed in New Orleans, Louisiana, and then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where the family lived for five years. As a twelve-year-old, Gibson worked in a glass factory where melted glass injured his foot. He then worked at a bakery, making and packing 700 barrels of pilot bread for Johnston’s army during the Utah War. Shortly thereafter, he, his mother, sister, and brother began the journey to Salt Lake City, arriving in August 1860. Gibson served as a captain in the Black Hawk War and aided in constructing many forts during the period. Later he acted as the constable and a school trustee in Kamas, serving six years in both positions. Gibson became the first sheriff of Uintah County after it was organized. He was also a stockman and rancher. “Uncle Billie” Gibson was a well-loved community member. Upon his death from complications of a stroke, many gathered on the coldest day ever recorded to attend his funeral.
As a representative, Gibson was “easily the character of the whole membership of the first State legislature…he rarely, if ever, secured the floor during the session, that he did not say something which the newspapers considered worth printing. A rugged honesty and determined stand for the right were his ruling characteristics, and a ready resource to native wit made his short, pointed speeches a feature of all debates” (Drumm 1896, 66). Gibson also served in the second legislative session.
As a representative, Gibson was “easily the character of the whole membership of the first State legislature…he rarely, if ever, secured the floor during the session, that he did not say something which the newspapers considered worth printing. A rugged honesty and determined stand for the right were his ruling characteristics, and a ready resource to native wit made his short, pointed speeches a feature of all debates” (Drumm 1896, 66). Gibson also served in the second legislative session.
Bibliography
Drumm, Mark. "The Bee Hive State." Drumm's Manual of Utah, and Souvenir of the First State Legislature, 1896. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Salt Lake City, Utah: M. Drumm, 1896. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hx4jb7.
“Uintah's First Representative Dies Sunday.” Vernal Express, December 15, 1932. https://www.newspapers.com/image/304505822/.
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KWJ4-LNF
Image of William Gibson by courtesy of HathiTrust Cropped from page 81 of Drumm, Mark. "The Bee Hive State." Drumm's Manual of Utah, and Souvenir of the First State Legislature, 1896. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Salt Lake City, Utah: M. Drumm, 1896. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hx4jb7?urlappend=%3Bseq=87
“Uintah's First Representative Dies Sunday.” Vernal Express, December 15, 1932. https://www.newspapers.com/image/304505822/.
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KWJ4-LNF
Image of William Gibson by courtesy of HathiTrust Cropped from page 81 of Drumm, Mark. "The Bee Hive State." Drumm's Manual of Utah, and Souvenir of the First State Legislature, 1896. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Salt Lake City, Utah: M. Drumm, 1896. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hx4jb7?urlappend=%3Bseq=87
Collection
Citation
“William Gibson
(1845-1932),” Utah State History Digital Exhibits, accessed May 4, 2024, https://utahstatehistory.omeka.net/items/show/243.
(1845-1932),” Utah State History Digital Exhibits, accessed May 4, 2024, https://utahstatehistory.omeka.net/items/show/243.