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Mahoning County, Ohio
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Biographies

Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown & Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. Biographical Publ. Co.
Chicago, Illinois -
1907
 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
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  JOHN GIBSON, a prominent farmer of Youngstown township, residing on a fine farm of 125 acres, located in section 43, was born on the farm on which he resides July 27, 1829, and is a son of Robert Dixon and Lydia (Marshall) Gibson, who were  among the early pioneers of Mahoning County.
     James Gibson, grandfather of our subject, came to Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, in 1799, and settled on the farm now occupied by Samuel Gibson, the brother of John.  It was his intention to locate at Warren, Ohio, and while on his way there he stopped over night on the farm on which he later settled.  There is a fine spring on the farm, the water of which so pleased Mr. Gibson, that after going to Warren and looking over the town, he decided to return and settle on the farm in Youngstown township, a part of which is now owned by the subject of this sketch.  Robert D. Gibson, father of John, was but 16 years old when his father settled on this farm, and he here spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1862, at the age of 78 years.  His widow, who was eleven years his junior, survived him eleven years and also died in her 78th year.  They were the parents of nine children, five of whom grew to maturity, and but four of whom are living, namely: Samuel, who is now 88 years old; Nancy (Mrs. Skinner Hine), of Boardman township; John, whose name begins this sketch; and Mrs. Eliza E. Nielson.  James Marshall Gibson died in 1846 aged 23 years.
     John Gibson was born in a log cabin on the farm on which he still lives.  He was educated in the district schools of the township, after which he taught for one term at the Flint Hill school, located on a corner of his father's farm.  He then assisted his father on the farm until his marriage, which occurred when he was 27 years old.  He first lived in the central part of the farm.  He resided for some time in the old stone house which his father built when he was a lad of nine years, and which is still standing, remaining there with his parents for five years after his marriage, when he built, in 1861, his present home.  On his father's death in 1862, he inherited 125 acres of the land, the remaining 75 acres going to his brother.
     Mr. Gibson was married in 1856 to Amelia L. Eckles, a daughter of James Eckles  They have had four children, all of whom are living: Cora Dell who is now Mrs. Nicholas L. Rees and has three children, resides in Youngstown; Charles R., resides with his parents and has charge of the farm; Sarah E., the wife of Frank L. Head, resides in Pittsburg, and has two children; Marshall C. who is assistant secretary of the Y. M. C. A., of Youngstown, also resides at home.  Mr. Gibson has been engaged in agricultural pursuits since locating upon his present farm, and is one of the most influential and prosperous farmers in the township.  He is a charter member of hte Westminster Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, and was elected an ender of this church much against his wishes.  Previous to this he was a member and an elder of the First Presbyterian Church.
Source: 20th Century History of Youngstown & Mahoning Co., Ohio and Representative Citizens - Publ. Biographical Publ. Co.Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 947
  SAMUEL GIBSON

Source: 20th Century History of Youngstown & Mahoning Co., Ohio and Representative Citizens - Publ. Biographical Publ. Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 461

  WILLIAM T. GIBSON

Source: 20th Century History of Youngstown & Mahoning Co., Ohio and Representative Citizens - Publ. Biographical Publ. Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 547

  JOHN E. GRAY, general farmer, dairyman and breeder of Jersey cattle, residing on a valuable farm in section 6, Coitsville township, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, Jan. 27, 1839, and is a son of George and Jane (Early) Gray.
    
The Gray family originated in Holland and the founder of the family in America was an Adam Gray, who settled in New Jersey, 14 generations in the past.  Amos Gray, a descendant of Adam and grandfather of John E., was born in New Jersey and came to Ohio in 1804, crossing the mountains in a wagon drawn by oxen.  He penetrated to Youngstown when the place was represented by three log cabins and after a short stay there he proceeded to Liberty township, Trumbull County, just across the line from Mahoning County.  He was a stone-mason by trade and a brick worker, but at that time no brick were burned in that section, so that his work narrowed down to cutting stone and building chimneys.  In a few years he moved to Coitsville township and bought a farm about one mile north of the farm of the subject of this sketch, remaining on that property until his death.  At that time the whole country was one vast timber tract, and he had to clear a space on which to erect his log house and barn which were acknowledged to be the best in the township.
     The children of Amos Gray were the following:  Mrs. Margaret Sippy, Mrs. Catherine Krahl, George, Jesse, Mrs. Mary Ann Kirk, David, Mrs. Sophia Dunscomb, Stewart and Amos Sutton.
     George Gray
, father of John E., was born in New Jersey, in 1802, and was two years old when he accompanied his parents to Youngstown.  He was his father's helper in all his pursuits.  Shortly after his marriage he moved to Fowler township, Trumbull County, where he lived for a few yeas and then returned to Coitsville township, and after his father's death he bought the old homestead.  His useful life was prolonged into old gage, his death occurring in 1884, when 82 years of age.  George Gray was married (first) to Louisa Ciglor, and they had three children, namely: Mrs. Aurilla Stewart, deceased; Mrs. Mary Predmore of Youngstown; and Louisa who died in childhood.  Mr. Gray was married (second) to Jane Early, who was born in 1803 and died in 1875.  She was a daughter of Thomas Early, who came to America from Ireland, accompanied by his family, and landed at Philadelphia with but small capital.  In Dublin he had learned the weaver's trade, at which he was very expert, having worked in various cities, and being able to weave fancy patterns in colors very artistically.  In the new land to which he had come he found no demand for his skilled services.  After placing his wife and two children in a room he had provided for them, and supplying them with the necessaries for the winter, he started out in search of work of any kind, with no money but an English shilling in his pocket.  At Ten Mile, Pennsylvania, he secured work as a thresher with a flail and sent for his family who made the journey in an ox cart.  By most remarkable economy he managed to acquire enough money to buy a few acres of land near Struthers, in Coitsville township, but in a short time removed further north in the township and purchased a farm which is on the line of Youngstown township.  By this time he had found work at his trade, and it is recorded of him that he would labor all day in the fields and remain up half the night weaving.  To his hardly-earned acres he kept adding until at the time of death he owned 300 acres of valuable land.  The children of George and Jane (Early) Gray were:  John E.; Mrs. Lucinda Wise, deceased; Mrs. Minerva Howells of Butte, Montana; Thomas H., residing at Youngstown George M., of Sioux City, Iowa.
     John E. Gray was four years old when his father moved from Fowler township to Coitsville township, where he has passed all his subsequent life, with the exception of six years spent in Stark County, during four of which he was in a dry goods business at Waynesburg and two in the sewing machine business at Massillon.  He formerly cultivated 100 acres, but has recently sold about 50 acres as town lots, a very profitable transaction.  He has had much success in the breeding of fine Jersey cattle.
     June 12, 1867, Mr. Gray married Cornelia A. Slusser, who was born and reared at Massillon, Ohio.  Her parents were William Foster and Harriet (Borland) Slusser, both natives of Stark County, Ohio, the father born Mar. 7, 1822, and the mother July 8, 1827.
     The Slussers were of German extraction and formerly spelled their family name Schlosser, but after the grandfather, Peter Schlosser, came to Stark County, the name was simplified and spelled as it now is.  The Slussers moved from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, to Stark County, Ohio, in 1805.  William Foster Slusser and his wife spent sixty-two years in their home in Tuscarawas township, Stark County, and then came to spend their last years at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Gray.  The mother died Mar. 31, 19__, and the father a few years later, May 13, 1907.  Mrs. Gray was their only child.  Mr. and Mrs. Gray have one son, Eugene S., who is in business with the McCain Realty Company.
Source: 20th Century History of Youngstown & Mahoning Co., Ohio and Representative Citizens - Publ. Biographical Publ. Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1907 - Page 765

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