BIO: Orlando GIBSON, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lana Clark 
<myclarkhistory@hotmail.com>

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 46.
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ORLANDO GIBSON, foreman of Pennsylvania Railroad car shops, Huntingdon, Pa., 
has born in Duncansville, Blair county, July 18, 1852. He is a son of Abraham 
and Sarah (Hamor) Gibson, natives of Blair county. Abraham Gibson was born in 
1827; he now resides in Altoona. His wife was born in 1839, and died February 
2, 1874. He was a mechanical engineer, and was employed by the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company at Altoona for about twenty years. He had six children: 
Mary, wife of Charles C. Allen, of Huntingdon; Orlando; Harry, residing in 
Altoona; George, in Sacramento, Cal.; Orpha, wife of George Shoemaker, of 
Sacramento, and Elizabeth, wife of George Clark, also of Sacramento. 
  Orlando Gibson was educated in the schools of Altoona. When only fourteen 
years of age he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as 
engine cleaner in the round house at Altoona. On November 1, 1867, he was 
placed in charge of the locomotive boiler washing department, and on June 12, 
1868, entered the machine shop, to learn the business of a machinist. He was 
transferred from this department to the Altoona yards, in which he became a 
fireman, June 1, 1869. Six months later, in January, 1870, he drew the 
premium offered to firemen for economy in using the company's fuel and stores 
in the discharge of his duties. On the erection of the new car shops at 
Altoona, Mr. Gibson was placed in charge of the steam heat department, 
January 4, 1870. On April 2, of the same year, he was sent on the road as 
fireman, and filled this position until September 1, 1872, when he was 
promoted to engineer. On August 1, 1887, he was once more promoted to his 
present position as foreman of the car department and master mechanic of the 
machinery department of the shops at Huntingdon. When Mr. Gibson first took 
charge of the shops only thirty-three men were employed in them. He has made 
numerous extensions and improvements, so that seventy-five employees are now 
required, work being executed of character and extent similar to that done in 
the car shops at Harrisburg and Altoona. Mr. Gibson's thirty years of 
service, rendered steadily in one line of business, with its honorable record 
of increasing usefulness and consequent promotion, is a fair illustration of 
the value of diligent and untiring performance of duty. Besides his business 
services, he has made his influence felt in a very wholesome way by taking 
part in the organization of the P.R.R. department of the Y.M.C.A. in 
Huntingdon; for one year he served the branch efficiently as its president. 
Mr. Gibson was the organizer of the Veteran Employees' Association, Middle 
Division Pennsylvania Railroad, and now holds the office of vice-president of 
this association. He is an active member and Past Chief of Standing Stone 
Castle, No. 176, K. of G.E., and of Juniata Commandery, No. 66, of the same 
fraternity. In political views, Mr. Gibson is independent. 
  Orlando Gibson was married in Altoona, July 18, 1872, to Annie C., daughter 
of Joseph and Charity Marshall, both deceased. Mrs. Gibson was born in 
Bloomfield, Perry county, Pa., July 8, 1854. They have six children: Hattie 
Flora Belle (Mrs. John Kaylor), of Pittsburg, Pa.; William A., born. December 
24, 1874; James Marshall, born. October 21, 1879; Mary H., born February 16, 
1883; Blanche C., born February 2, 1887. and Oliver Elder, born June 25, 
1889. Mr. Gibson and his family attend the M. E. church.