MRS. ANN GIBSON, or "Aunt Ann" as she is more familiarly known, is one of the earliest settlers in Curran Township now living. No member of the pioneer band, to whose hardihood, industry and perseverance amid discouragements the present generation are indebted for the comforts that surround them, is more deserving of representation in a volume of this nature than she. For years her life was one of toil and hardship, her labors heightened by the lack of modern conveniences, yet every trial was cheerfully borne, every new demand upon her energies met with a spirit that lightened the burden. In looking back over her most toilsome days she is grateful that they never lacked for plenty to eat and enough to wear, homespun though their clothing was and plain their fare.
Mrs. Gibson was born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 26, 1814, her parents being James and Amelia (Troball) Finley. She was a babe of two months old when they removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and she was left an orphan when but four years of age. She had one brother, James, who is probably deceased. In the paternal line she is of Scotch-Irish descent, while her mother was of German ancestry. After the death of her parents Ann Finley was reared by an aunt, May Robinson, continuing to reside in Cincinnati until she was sixteen years old. She had the best school advantages the city afforded and acquired a good education. Her home was on Broadway and many a time Gen. William Henry Harrison led his little daughter and our subject along the street to school. There the maiden saw Gen. LaFayette many times, and made the personal acquaintance of Andrew Jackson.
In 1830 Miss Finley went with her aunt to Gallatin County, Ky., where Mrs. Robinson and her son owned a large farm, bordering on the Ohio River, and dealt in wood extensively. There, May 14, 1833, she became the wife of Preston Gibson. That gentleman was born in Boone County, Ky., and was a son of John and Nancy (Hampton) Gibson, the former a native of Bourbon and the latter of Boone County. Mrs. john Gibson was a relative of the well known Wade Hampton, the Southern statesman. John Gibson became the possessor of a large tract of valuable land in Boone County, on the Ohio bottoms, and carried on extensive planting interests. He also entered land in Sangamon County, Ill., upon which he settled some of his children.
Preston Gibson received a good education, and being possessed of more than ordinary mental ability profited by his opportunities and became rarely well informed on many topics. He had fine business capabilities, as was evidenced by the success with which he prosecuted the work to which he gave his attention. He began his personal career by embarking in the mercantile business in Warsaw, Ky., continuing it until after his marriage, when with his young bride he came to this State. They traveled by boat to Beardstown, where an ox team was hired to convey their goods to Curran Township, this county, Mrs. Gibson riding on horseback. June 12, 1833, about a month after their marriage, the young couple took possession of a quarter-section of land that had been entered by Mr. Gibson's father. It was then a wilderness and very few neighbors resided within the township, and those at some distance apart. Mr. Gibson built a log house, 16x16 feet, and his wife helped to lay the floor, which was pegged down, the husband being ill at the time.
In the log house Mr. and Mrs. Gibson resided for several years, enduring the usual privations of frontier life, all the cooking being done by a fireplace, clothes made from wool and flax of their own raising, and their trials added to by fever and ague which preyed upon their physical strength. At times they would become so tired of their surroundings that they would make a trip back to Kentucky to enjoy the comforts of life and the society of their old friends. Mrs. Gibson made two trips with a two-horse team and wagon when there were no bridges over the creeks which they were obliged to cross. She has also made the journey by boat and rail. Mr. Gibson engaged in farming and stock raising, his principal domestic animals in the early days being swine. He also bought hogs, driving them to St. Louis, Mo., which was the nearest important market. The hardy pioneers were very successful in their worldly affairs and became the owners of six hundred acres of land.
Mr. Gibson was in early life a Whig, but later became a Bell Democrat, and was a member of the Bell Committee in 1860. He possessed the wide information, mental energy and fine character which gave him a position of influence felt over a wide circle of country. His social qualities were such as to render him popular, which is not true of all men who are Conspicuous in the work of a community. He died of consumption September 8, 1863, at the age of fifty-three years, four months and eleven days.
After her husband's demise Mrs. Gibson took charge of the farm, operating it successfully, and gaining the reputation of being as good a farmer as anyone in the neighborhood. She was administratrix of the estate, which, under her able management, proved the source of an income more than sufficient to meet the wants of the family. She divided the property with the children, retaining one hundred and twenty acres, which is a part of the original homestead on which she has lived since 1833. This is well improved, having commodious and substantial buildings, and is one of the landmarks of the county. Mrs. Gibson now rents the land.
A woman of strong mental capacity, keeping well informed regarding the affairs of the world, "Aunt Ann" naturally has her own opinions regarding matters of Public policy as well as household economy, and in all womanly ways is ready to advocate her theories. She believes in democracy in Governmental affairs. She became a member fo the Methodist Episcopal Church when thirteen years old and is a charter member of the Mt. Zion class. While in Kentucky, prior to her marriage, she started a class, and the first cabin in which she lived in this county was thrown open for preaching and prayer meetings. She is active in her support of the church work in its various phases, giving liberally of her means, and as far as her strength will permit, of her personal services.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gibson four children were born, of whom we note the following: John E. is now living in Andrew County, Mo.; Nancy M., who married William Trimble, died in Curran Township, this county; James W. formerly lived with his mother and had charge of the place; he used to go South or West every fall to hunt and fish and recruit his health, which was not good. In 1889 he became very sick and went to Las Vegas, N.M., where he died three weeks later. Hi death was a severe blow to his mother, whose companion and mainstay he had been for years. His politician preference was for Republican principles and he held the office of Postmaster of Curran for several years. Hampton, who lives on a part of the home farm, married Susan A., daughter of Dr. A. A. Patteson, a Kentuckian, who was formerly a prominent physician of this county. Hampton Gibson was Sheriff from 1880 to 1882. Mrs. Gibson also reared two nieces who were left orphans when mere babes, and managed their business as administratrix to the estate of which they were heiresses. The older of these, Luella M. Gibson, married J. Gardner and died in Gardner Township. The younger, Mamie, died at home.