Biography of Joseph Carroll GIBSON, Pope County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Lisa McCombe Joseph Carroll GIBSON Joe Gibson was born in Tennessee February 22, 1815. I know nothing of his early life, but surmise that his origins are that of the poor farmer that followed closely on the heels of the frontiersman. He seems to have lived in Tennessee until 1840, for he married Mary Taylor in that state about 1835-1839, and their first child, William Harrison was listed in some records as born in Tennessee about 1840. Mary Taylor was born in Alabama (probably near Huntsville) December 26, 1814. I surmise that her parents were among a group of Tennessee farmers who migrated to northern Alabama in 1809, following the course of the Tennessee River. They evidently moved back into Tennessee (perhaps proceeding down the river, which bends from Tennessee into Alabama and back into Tennessee again) while Mary was a child or teen-ager, tan thus she met and married Joe in Tennessee. For some years I have sought the Tennessee and Alabama origins of Joe and Mary, but without success. This certainly largely due to the fact that both their surnames are quite common, so it is difficult to find meaningful leads. About the time of the birth of son William, the young couple removed to Pope County, Illinois. Here, on June 24, 1840, Joe bought a small farm in the Flat Lick bottomlands about seven miles west of Golconda (Sec.13, R5T13). The couple prospered, and in succeeding years Joe bought many parcels of land in Pope County. He also sold many parcels. Joseph C. Gibson died August 9, 1862, a relatively young man. He was buried (as was Mary at a later date) in a tiny family graveyard located in a pasture on the land they had bought when they first came to Illinois. This is the SW 1/4 of NE 1/4 Sec.13, R5T13, and was owned in 1971, by a grand-daughter, Phyllis (Mitchell) Baker, having remained in the family 131 years. Mary Taylor died July 16, 1877. The Gibson's, while in Illinois, were Methodists. Offspring of this union were: William Harrison Gibson Sept. 6, 1840 Nancy Jane Gibson Sept. 23, 1842 Samuel Darius Gibson November 10, 1849 Mary Ellen Gibson Sept. 6, 1854 I have more information about each of these families, but am mainly interested in locating information on Joseph and Mary. If any one has any leads please let me know, as anything, would be appreciated. Thank you for your cooperation! ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lisa McCombe