Gibson Family

The Gibson story in Henry County starts with the history of Samuel Gibson who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1819. He married, in Huron County, Ohio, Susanna Radel, and the marriage is recorded under two dates. November 5, 1866, and September 3, 1866, and both registered in Huron County records.

Samuel and Susanna settled in Henry County in 1865 with their respective parents. Why they were married in Huron County is not known. Susanna was born in Huron County on September 2, 1839. She was a daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth Radel. Phillip was born in Pennsylvania and died in Michigan. Elizabeth was born and died in Ohio. Samuel was the son of James and Ann Gibson, both of Pennsylvania ancestry. They came to Henry County in 1865.

The known children of Samuel and Susanna were Wilson, George and Mary M. Gibson.

This line of the Gibson family descends from the same family as General William Gibson of the 49th OVI, Civil War, fame.

Wilson S. Gibson was born in Orange, Harrison County, Ohio on March 26, 1848, and is related to Samuel Gibson. Wilson died at Holland, Ohio, on February 12, 1918. He is buried in Kline Cemetery, Freedom Township, Henry County, Ohio. He was married on July (August?) 4, 1874, to Minnie J. Caldwell.

Wilson and Minnie had six children. Arthur, Mary (Minnie) and her twin, Daisy, Wilson A., Charles and Herbert Gibson. Two sons and three daughters were living when Wilson died.

Arthur Gibson married Elizabeth Motter, daughter of George and Mary Motter, on April 14, 1902. They are both buried in Springfield Township, Lucas County, Ohio, Cemetery. The Motter history is found in this volume. They were the parents of several children, none living in Henry County. Arthur was a blacksmith in Adams Township, Defiance County, and Ridgeville Township, Henry County.

Mary and Daisy Gibson were born on April 4, 1879. Mary married George Hoover. Nothing is known of the other children.

Mary Ellen Gibson, a relative of the above Gibson families, is included in the Thrapp history in this volume.

One of the original land entries in Lucas County, in that portion that is now Fulton County, in Section 17, is that of Samuel Gibson who purchased land in that section in 1834, making the family one of the early pioneer families in the county.

Gilson Family

William Gilson came from New York state to Wayne County, Ohio, to the Wooster area, and died in Wayne County on February 17, 1839. His wife died in Wayne County but the date of her death is not know, or where they are buried.

Their son, Richard Gilson, was born in Wayne County on February 28, 1809. He married Sophia Cline on November 1, 1832, in Millersburg, Wayne County. Sophia was born on December 1, 1813 at New Philadelphia, Ohio, to Thomas Cline and his wife. Thomas died at New Philadelphia.

After their marriage, Richard and Sophia farmed in Holmes County, Ohio. Children born in Holmes County were:

William born in July, 1833, married Susanna Gehrett on September 9, 1853. Thomas was born on March 17, 1835. David D. was born on May 2, 1837, and died on November 21, 1904. His wife, Mary A., was born on March 10, 1839 and died on May 28, 1919. James was born on June 10, 1838 and died when thirteen months old. Boston was born on July 31, 1841. Reese was born on July 29, 1844 and lived most of his life at St. John's, Michigan.

In September, 1844, Richard moved his family to Napoleon Township, Henry County, Ohio, where he died on September 10, 1870. Sophia died on January 19, 1888.

The children born in Henry County, Ohio, to Richard and Sophia were Mary born on April 10, 1846, died in infancy. Sophia born on September 28, 1848, died in October, 1875. Eliza was born on October 8, 1850 and died on July 18, 1864. Frank was born on November 27, 1862. Elmer was born on September 4, 1854.

Boston Gilson was a member of Company G, 124th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He married Maria Rhodes at Monroe, Michigan. Maria was born in Stark County, Ohio, on March 22, 1860, to David and Margaret Withrow Rhodes. David Rhodes was born in Pennsylvania, and Margarets was born in Stark County, Ohio, to George and Catharine Davis Withrow. George and Catharine Withrow came to Henry County, Ohio, in 1865. George died at the age of eighty-one years, and his wife at the age of seventy-five years.

Richard Gilson was a farmer and operated a threshing outfit. He died at the age of sixty-two years and his wife died at the age of eighty-four years.

Sons, David, Thomas, Boston, Reese and Frank served during the Civil War. William served during the same war as a commissioned officer in the 68th O.V.I. He was shot near Jonesboro, Tennessee on August 31, 1864. William died at the age of seventy-two years. The other brothers escaped injury or capture.

Elmer Gilson was born on September 4, 1854 and was a carpenter. He married Barbara Hoffman who was born near Auburn, Indiana, on March 16, 1856. Her parents were early settlers of De Kalb County, Indiana, and died and are buried there.

Elmer and Barbara Gilson had Minnie who married F.G. Fraley and had Raynett and Robert; N. LeRoy Gilson who married and had a son, Richard; Bertha; and Robert Lee Gilson.

From a descendant