History of Kentucky
and Kentuckians: the leaders and representative men in commerce,
industry... - Page 1639
by E. Polk Johnson - 1912
James T. Gibson -- Knox County, Kentucky, figures as one of the most
attractive, progressive and prosperous divisions of the state justly
claiming a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which
is certain to conserve consecutive development and marked advancement
in the material upbuilding of this section. The county has been and is
signally favored in the class of men who have contributed to its
development along commercial and business lines and in the latter
connection the subject of this review demands recognition as he was
actively engaged in the general merchandise business for a period of
twenty seven years. He is now living virtually retired at Barbourville,
Kentucky, but he was long known as a prosperous and enterprising
business man and one who methods demonstrated the power of activity and
honesty in the business world.
James T. Gibson was born on the old Sevier homestead in Clay county,
Kentucky, the date of his nativity being the 28th of June 1847. He is a
son of Tyre and Martha ( Sevier) Gibson, the former of whom was called
to eternal rest in 1888 at the age of seventy four years and the latter
of whom passed away in 1907 at the age of eighty eight years. Tyre
Gibson was a native of Hancock County, Tennessee where he was
reared and educated and whence he came to Kentucky as a young man. He
was a farmer by occupation and passed the major portion of his active
career in Clay County, where he met and married his wife whose maiden
name was Martha Sevier. The Sevier family traces its ancestry back to
stanch Huguenot origin and Mrs. Gibson was a daughter of James Sevier
who was a gallant and faithful soldier in the war of 1812, in which he
participated in a number of the most important conflicts. James Sevier
was a son of Valentine Sevier, who was a brother of John Sevier
governor of Tennessee and who fought in the war of the revolution.
Governor John Sevier was first governor of Tennessee and was six times
governor in addition to which he served in Congress under President
Washington. He died in Alabama while making a government survey in the
swamp lands and was buried there. He had been in thirty seven battles.
While Bob Taylor was governor of Tennessee he went to Alabama and
interviewed the governor of the state obtaining his permission to
remove the remains of Governor John Sevier to Knoxville, where they
were buried in the court house yard. James Sevier, father of Mrs Type
Gibson was summoned to the life eternal in 1868 at the patriarchal age
of ninety two years. He acted as despatch carrier for General Jackson
during the war of 1812 and he raised a large family of children namely
Valentine, Holland, Alex, John R., Robert, Samuel E. Rebecca, Sallie,
Polly and Martha, the last mentioned of whom was mother of him to whom
this sketch is dedicated. All of the above children are deceased except
Samuel E. Who now maintains his home at Sullivan, Indiana he being
eighty six years of age. Mr and Mrs. Type Gibson became the parents of
six children namely Susan who is the widow of William Asher of
Knox County, Kentucky; Mary Jane is deceased; Amelia is the widow of A.
Y. Calton and resides at Barbourville; Ellen is deceased, as is also
Kittie Frances; and James T., is the immediate subject of this review.
The only son in a family of six children James T. Gibson was reared to
the age of eighteen years in Clay County, Kentucky and thee he received
his preliminary educational training. In 1866 he came to Barboursville
where he continued t be identified with the mercantile business for a
period of twenty seen years at the expiration of which he entered the
employ of Bambarger, Bloom & Company in the capacity of traveling
salesman for dry goods and notions. Subsequently he was similarly
engaged in connection with the firm of Daniel Briscoe Brothers &
Company of Knoxville and with the firm of Louis Dix & Company of
Cincinnati. He retied from active participation in business affairs n
January 1913 and he is no passing the closing years of his life at
Barboursville, where he is accorded the unalloyed confidence and esteem
of his fellow men.
At Jellico, Tennessee, in the year of 1870 was celebrated the marriage
of Mr. Gibson to Miss Anna C. Pogue, a daughter of A. E. Pogue, who was
a pioneer Kentuckian. Further mentioned concerning the Pogue family is
made elsewhere n this work so that a detailed account of the family
history is not demanded at ths juncture. Mr. And Mrs. Gibson have five
children concerning whom the following brief data are here
incorporated; Charles H. remains at the parental home. He is a
traveling salesman by occupation. James P. Is a physician and surgeon
and he resides at Stewartsville, Indiana. He is married and has three
children. Henry H., of Corbin, Kentucky, is a conductor of the
Louisville & Nashville Railroad. He is married and has one child.
Ben is in the railroad business but resides at home. Lillian M. who is
at home at the present time, is the wife of W. H. Spahr, an
agriculturist by vocation. They have one daughter aged two years.
In their religious faith the Gibson family are devout members of the
Methodist Episcopal church and n politics he is a stanch advocate of
the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands
sponsor. Mr. Gibson is a man of fine mentality and broad human
sympathy. He thoroughly enjoys home life an takes great pleasure n the
society his family and friends. He is always courteous, kindly and
affable, and those who know him personally accord him the highest
esteem. His life has been exemplary in all respects and he has ever
supported those interest which are calculated to uplift and benefit
humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest
commendation.