Elk County KS Archives Obituaries.....Gibbon, John W.  June 3, 1927
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Howard Courant,        June 9, 1927
DEATH OF JOHN W. GIBBON

Pioneer Lumber Dealer and Ex-Mayor of Howard Passed Away Friday, June 3, 1927


Word was received in Howard last Friday at noon that John W. Gibbon had passed 
away, at the Halstead Hospital, where he had been for about two weeks, for 
care and treatment.  His death was no surprise to this community, for he had 
been manifestly failing steadily--rapidly, for many weeks.

Many months ago he had submitted to a surgical operation for a goitre or some 
kind of growth in his neck and throat.  He had at first experienced some 
relief, but soon acknowledged that he had not been materially benefitted.  He 
steadily lost strength, his voice rapidly failed him, and at the last he could 
not speak audibly.  He suffered greatly and was distressed by coughing spells 
which greatly racked him. He again went to the hospital, but the doctors and 
surgeons frankly told him they could do nothing for him, and that his case was 
more or less of a mystery to them.  Last week he sank rapidly, and his sons 
were called to his side, and Friday he passed away, having been unconscious 
for about two days.

The remains were brought home to Howard Saturday night and Sunday afternoon a 
great many friends called at the home for a last look on the face of a 
friend.  Monday at 10 a.m. funeral services were held at the M. E. church, 
conducted by Rev. J. H. Hoopingarner, pastor, assisted by Revs. Bayles of the 
Baptist church, McKinney of the Christian church and Griggs of the 
Presbyterian church.  Aside from the church ritual service and the scripture 
reading, the talks were strictly personal and memorial.  Rev. Hoopingarner 
said a sermon would almost be out of place, as the life of Mr. Gibbon had been 
a better sermon than he or any minister could preach.  He spoke most feelingly 
and sympathetically of his acquaintance with Mr. Gibbon during the past year 
or more he had been his pastor.  He was followed by Justice John Marshall, who 
came from Topeka to assist at the services.  Judge Marshall had been 
intimately and affectionately associated with Mr. Gibbon for many, many years 
dating from Mr. Gibbon's arrival in Howard, more than 45 years ago.  While the 
talks of both these men were highly eulogistic, we believe every person under 
the sound of their voices heartily concurred in every word that was uttered.

The following obituary was read by Rev. Hoopingarner, during the services:

John Willian Gibbon was born at West, Hartlepool, England, September 17, 1857 
and died at the Halstead, Kansas hospital on June 3rd, 1927.  He was the 
eldest of five children of Joseph Gibbon and Jane Outhwaite Gibbon.  At the 
age of 13 years he came to America with his mother and brothers and sisters, 
the father having preceded them about a year, the family home being 
established at Burlington, Kansas, where he grew to manhood, attending the 
Burlington schools.  He attended the State Agricultural College at Manhattan 
for a year and then started out for himself taking employment with the S. A. 
Brown Lumber Company as special agent in which capacity he was temporarily 
located in a number of Kansas and Missouri towns, coming to Howard as the 
manager of the yard here in 1882.  He was married November 14, 1884 to Jennie 
M. Kelsey at Ottawa, Kansas.  To this union were born two children, Will 
Outhwaite Gibbon of Jarbalo, Kansas and Allen Kelsey Gibbon of Kansas City, Mo.

Besides his widow and children there survive him five grandchildren:  a 
brother, Thomas Outwaite Gibbon, of Hartford, Kansas; another brother, Joseph 
Gibbon of Burlington, Kansas: and a sister, Mrs. W. A. Thew of Conway Springs, 
Kansas.

While a young man he united with the Methodist church at Burlington, and has 
been a member of the Howard Methodist church ever since his coming to the 
town.  He has served his church as Sunday School superintendent for over 30 
years and in some official in the church all his life in Howard.  For twelve 
years he was a member of the school board of the Howard district, has been a 
member of the Council a number of times and was Mayor of Howard for two terms.

Interment was in the family lot in Grace Lawn cemetery.

The following were the pall bearers:  Active, B. W. Hamar, A. W. Goodwin, L.B. 
Fleak, W. E. Allen, Ben A. Eby, M. M. Munsinger, Honorary- C. W. Fleak, Geo. 
K. Reid, P. Small, F. L. Sliker, Thos. E. Thompson, B. M. Wisner.

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