Addison Eli Gibbs

ADDISON ELI GIBBS.

Addison Eli Gibbs is living practically retired in Carey after a long period of close identification with its business life. He is giving his time to the supervision and management of his extensive interests and occupies a leading place among the influential and prominent men of the community. He is a native of Ohio, born in Portage county, February 22, 1831, and is a son of one of the pioneers of the state. His father, Eli Gibbs, was born in Massachusetts, June 8, 1802, and in the early '20s moved to Portage county, Ohio, where he farmed. In 1840 he came by wagon to Wyandot county and with his wife and four sons lived for about two years on a farm near Upper Sandusky. He died December 4, 1866, and his wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Lucinda Cody, passed away in the same year.

Addison E. Gibbs acquired his education in the Ohio district schools, attending during the winter months and helping with the work of the farm during the summers. At the age of fifteen he laid aside his books and obtained a position in a general store at Patterson, in Hardin county, where he worked for one year for six dollars and a half per month. When he was sixteen he worked out as a farm hand in Seneca county, and in the fall of the same year obtained a position on the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad, receiving for his services nineteen dollars a month in the winter and twenty dollars during the summer season. It is a curious fact that he is the only member of that construction gang who is living today. Mr. Gibbs aided his parents until he was twenty-one years of age but afterward moved to Republic, Seneca county, and there worked in a grain elevator belonging to the railroad company. In 1855 he moved into Carey and has since maintained his residence in this city. For some time he had charge of the large elevator here and retained this position for three years, after which he conducted a similar enterprise in the interests of Dow & Park. In 1862 he formed a partnership with Messrs. Park and Swartz and engaged in the grain and seed trade until the spring of 1864, when he purchased an interest in the drug business belonging to Houck & Myers. This he sold out in order to enter the army and he served loyally and faithfully until the close of hostilities. Upon his return he took a position in the dry goods store of Park & Swartz but shortly afterward was appointed agent of the United States Express Company, an office which he held until he was succeeded by his son Frank, the combined terms of service of father and son extending over forty years. To his activity in this line Mr. Gibbs added, in 1865, the duties of agent of the Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad and this position he held until 1881 without the loss of a day's pay and with no vacation. In the latter year he retired from active life, but after a few days grew discontented with his inactivity and resumed business. He purchased the grocery store of A. J. Frederick and conducted it until 1906, when he sold the enterprise and again retired. He has, however, an office in one of his business blocks and there he still looks after his extensive interests. No man occupies a more enviable position in the community than he, not alone by reason of the success he has achieved but also owing to the fact that his methods have been straightforward and honorable. He is a dependable man under all circumstances and the simple weight of his character and ability has carried him into important business relations.

On the 8th of April, 1852, Mr. Gibbs was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Kerstetter, who died on October 21, 1899. To their union were born nine children: Alice; Ella; Florence, deceased; Hattie; Maud, who has also passed away; Frank C; Fred W.; Hiram J.; and Edward A. Politically Mr. Gibbs gives his allegiance to the republican party, his study of the questions and issues of the day leading him to the opinion that the principles of that party are best calculated to conserve the general good. He has been township clerk, member of the school board, treasurer of the city of Carey and also treasurer of the school board and a member of the city council. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a dignified, courteous gentleman, of kindly spirit and strong principles, who through his marked individuality has left an impress for good upon the community in which he has so long resided.

Bibliographic information:

• Title Past and Present of Wyandot County, Ohio: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Volume 2
• Past and Present of Wyandot County, Ohio: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Abraham J. Baughman
• Editor Abraham J. Baughman
• Publisher S.J.Clarke Publishing Company, 1913
• Original from the New York Public Library
• Digitized Feb 7, 2008
• Page 287
• https://books.google.com/books?id=CBwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA238&lpg=PA238&d...

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CHILDREN OF LYMAN AND SERENA 43 (LEWIS) CODY.

82. i. Lucinda, was born March 11, 1811, and died January 30, 1866. She married Eli Gibbs, who was born in 1802, and died December 4, 1866. They had seven children, all sons, as follows:

1. Addison E.—Born February 22, 1830.

2. Truman L.—Born May 21, 1832, and died April 10, 1842.

3. Henry M.—Born October 15, 1835, and died May 26, 1852.

4. William F.—Born December 9, 1838. He was killed in battle May 27, 1864.

5. Lyman R.—Born May 24, 1842, and died February 15, i860.

6. James A.—Born January 3, 1845. He now lives at Carey, Ohio.

7. George A.—Born December 1, 1847.

Addison E., William F., James A. and George A. were all in the Union army in the war of the Rebellion. William F. was killed in battle, and James and George were both wounded.

83. ii. Samuel Lewis, was born in Oneida county, N.Y., April 15, 1813, and died at Traer, Iowa, August 20, 1890. He married, February n, 1836, Caroline Baxter, who died in 1849. He married, second, Mrs. Theda C. Kenyon, widow of Jerome Kenyon, May 15, 1851. She was born in Nelson, Madison county, N. Y., September 6, 1819, and died November 9, 1890.

84. iii. Amelia, was born June 22, 1815. She married Ziba Letson, and has three children.

85. iv. Frederick, was born January 20, 1817, and died April 15, 1839.

86. v. Marianna, was born March 29, 1819. She married Thomas Egbert.

87. vi. Harriett E., was born May 22, 1822, and died May 7, 1876, at Traer, Tama county, Iowa. She married, in 1846, C. H. Crum. He was born in Virginia, and is also dead.

88. vii. Susan, was born June 7, 1826. She married David Park, and now resides at Traer, Tama county, Iowa.

89. viii. Lyman, was born May 29, 1829. He married, May 15, 1853, Elizabeth Grossell, and now resides at Traer, Iowa.

90. ix. Benjamin F., was born August 17, 1830, was unmarried, and died at Etta, California, November 6, 1889.

Bibliographic information:

• Title Book VXIII. of the Genealogy of the Lewis Family
• Author Simeon Dunham Lewis
• Publisher C.W. Moulton, 1891
• Original from the University of Wisconsin - Madison
• Digitized Apr 16, 2007
• Length 66 pages
• Pages 19 - 34
• https://books.google.com/books?id=KOswAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=...