Bio: Gibson, Joseph (History - 1848)

Contact: Janet Schwarze.

Surnames: GIBSON BROWN HURD SPERBECK ARMSTRONG

----Source: 1891 History of Clark and Jackson Co., Wisconsin, pg. 297-298

JOSEPH GIBSON, a farmer and stock-raiser of section 16, Hixton, was born in Kingsey, Quebec, Canada, April 30, 1848, the son of Alexander and Margaret (Brown) Gibson. The former, a native of Tyrone, Ireland, came to Canada when eight years of age the latter died when our subject was ten years of age. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still living, viz: James, Elizabeth, William, Robert, Joseph, Emma and Alvira.

The subject of this sketch left home April 30, 1858, when ten years of age, and two weeks later reached La Crosse, in company with another lad, they having run away from home. He did chores for board for Phineas Hurd, who was murdered by the Indians the following summer in Minnesota, where he had gone to take up land. Mr. Gibson then lived with a Mr. Baker in La Crosse four years, and during all that time received fifty cents, the only money he had ever received in this country. He then learned the butcher's trade, but only followed it eight months, after which he worked in a sawmill. Soon after this he began working in the woods in the winter driving logs in the summer. He was a noted log-rider, for which he received many good wages. He was specially adapted to breaking jams on rive banks, and when nineteen years old began running for Bright Withee, and was their foreman two years. They subsequently took him as a partner on contracts. In 1871 he began logging for himself, in which he has ever since continued. Mr. Gibson settled on his present farm in April, 1872, which was at that time covered with timber, with no one but Indians for neighbors. Mrs. Gibson saw but two white women in three months, and taught several Indian women how to make clothing. When Mr. Gibson came to this county there was not a tree cut, and he first lived in a tent in the thick forest. He has been wonderfully successful, having begun a penniless boy, and now owns 480 acres in one tract and also another tract of 320 acres. At one time he had 3,000 acres in Taylor County, Wisconsin. He is running two camps this winter, and has put in as high as 12,000.000 feet in one season. He lumbered six winters in co-partnership on the land of Hon. W. T. Price.

Mr. Gibson was married July 8, 1869, to Matilda C. daughter of Henry and Mary (Armstrong) Sperbeck. The former is deceased, and the latter now lives with her daughter, at the age of seventy-nine years. She is a native of New York State, near Albany. Mrs. Gibson was born in Lorain County, Ohio, September 28, 1849. Her parents had six children, five of whom are still living: James, John, Wallace, Johanna and Matilda. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have two children Lew, born May 18, 1872, and Blanch E., June 8, 1875. Mr. Gibson has held the office of Assessor two years, was chairman six years, and was a member of the State Board of Commissioners that built the State road passing his farm. He also served in the late war, in Company G, Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and was in the siege of Savannah, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. He became sic, but refused to go to the hospital he was but fifteen years of age when he enlisted. His companion, with whom he ran away from Canada, was also a soldier, but in the Sixth Wisconsin, and was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. Mr. Gibson is a member of the Masonic order, being a Sir Knight, and is also a member of the G. A. R. and religiously his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Gibson is a Republican.

Farm Buildings of Joseph Gibson.
 

Mr. Gibson's farm on which the buildings above are located is situated in the town of Hixon, and consists of three hundred and forty acres of fine hardwood land, one hundred and sixty acres of which is cleared and under cultivation. His home which is shown in this cut is one of the most neat and tasty farm residences in the county. It is built of white brick which was shipped from Oshkosh, making a very attractive as well as a very comfortable residence. A few of Mr. Gibson's buildings being situated at some distance from the house could not be shown in this cut. ("Clark County Illustrated" by Saterlee, Tifft & Marsh; 1890)