Showing posts with label Gibson Cemetery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gibson Cemetery. Show all posts

Saturday, July 1, 2023

The Gibson Family and their Graveyards in Corydon, KY

I feel there is absolutely no better time (or topic) to dive into my absolute favorite family cemetery of all time -- Gibson Cemetery in Corydon, Henderson County, Kentucky. I will also be talking about what I call "Gibson Cemetery #2" out in Corydon as well. 


The above photograph is Gibson Cemetery #1 (the main family cemetery) which sits high on a hill off of Hughes-Sights Rd in Corydon. This photograph was taken by a Gibson cousin, Karen Fleming. 



This photograph is from Google Street View (2012) and is zoomed all the way in. It's the best photograph currently available to show you what Gibson Cemetery #2 looks like when the crops aren't tall enough to hide it. When it's crop season, it's usually behind corn and you cannot see it unless you know precisely where it's at or you use an aerial satellite map to find it. 

It's an educated guess that Gibson Cemetery #1 might have been started with the death of Joel Gibson's wife, Eleanor Davis, when she died in Henderson County in 1818. Other family historians document that she died "on the way to Kentucky," but Joel and family were already here in 1813, so that is inaccurate to say, if she truly died in 1818. 

However, going with documented burials in Gibson Cemetery -- Joel Gibson, patriarch of the Gibson family here in Henderson County, Kentucky, has the earliest death date on a tombstone of December 23rd, 1830. Some Gibson family historians believe that he merely has two cenotaphs in Gibson Cemetery and that he's actually buried in North Carolina. I don't know where that rumor started or when.. but it's 100% codswallop. 

Joel has two tombstones out in Gibson Cemetery -- one is an original military provided tombstone and I do believe it's been there since 1830 or shortly thereafter -- I say this because it fits the look and style of almost all Revolutionary War military provided headstones that I've ever seen. The second military provided tombstone lays flat to the ground and is much newer. The tombstone application for the second one was filled out in 1970 by Joel's great-great-grandson, Jesse Chandler. 

Gibson Cemetery #2, it appears to have been started at the death of John William Gibson, a great-grandson of Joel's, who died October 8th, 1856. That's the earliest death date on a tombstone that's been documented in that cemetery at the current time.

I'm unsure if this line of the Gibson family had had a falling out with the family and felt they couldn't be buried in the "main" cemetery which is, as the crow flies, about a half of a mile from this new cemetery.. or if they simply felt compelled to have their own little family cemetery separate from the main one. John's father, James William Gibson who would have been Joel's grandson, is buried too in this Gibson Cemetery #2. Whereas James' father, Berryman Gibson, is buried in the main Gibson Cemetery with his father and the patriarch, Joel Gibson. 

It's no secret that most of Corydon at one time or another was Gibson land or that of a family that ties into the Gibson family -- Tapp, Pritchett, Dixon, Crooks, Hughes, Sights, Eblen, Denton, Culver to just name a few of the surrounding related families. 



I know this photograph is small - you might be able to right click and open the image in a new window to make it larger.. but it's an aerial map of the area out in Corydon (it's Corydon's southeast side.. between Corydon and Cairo to be more accurate) that the cemeteries are located. 

The small red circle on the left of the photograph is Gibson Cemetery #2 and the larger red circle more on the right is the original Gibson Cemetery. I've been told before that all of the land (roughly) from Hughes-Sights Rd to the north, possible Highway 60 to the west, possible the curve to the south on 145, and Rock Springs Dixie Rd to the east was all Gibson land way back when. Like 1820's-1840's at least. We know between Rock Springs Dixie & US Alt 41 is Eblen Rd and the Eblen's have a family cemetery out there as well so they definitely were neighbors of the Gibson's. 

To the south is a road called Pritchett-Crooks and there are a few different family cemeteries out there. The Pritchett's and Crooks' were definitely neighbors of the Gibson's. To the south is also a community called "Dixie" which isn't an official 'town' anymore like Corydon or Cairo but still a community. There is a church with a cemetery there called Union Hill where a lot of Gibson relatives and neighbors are buried. It's located off of Whitelick Rd which takes you from Henderson County down into Webster County (it's honestly really close to the county line as Whitelick Creek is the dividing line between Henderson & Webster out that way.)

There's a Duncan Cemetery, Morehead Cemetery, Minton Cemetery, Royster Cemetery, Liles Cemetery, Brown-Konsler Cemetery, Alderson Cemetery, and I could go on... that are in relatively "close-ish" proximity to the Gibson Cemetery's. They're all out in the Corydon/Cairo/Dixie area as I would call it. A lot of these families have been in Henderson County by at least the 1820 census and they've never left. 

A little bit of back story here about why I love the Gibson Cemetery so much... it's the first little family cemetery I ever went to as a kid right after I discovered my love of genealogy. I was 7 years old (2000) and went with my Mom and Grandma. I've been back numerous times since then and it's just an overwhelming sense of connection when I go out there. To stand at my 6x Grandfather's grave and know that my 5x Grandfather and 4x Grandfather stood there at his funeral in 1830. Every time I go out there, I feel so close to my ancestors.. it's really indescribable even for me. 

For those of us who are Gibson descendants (or married to a Gibson descendant): my Grandmother told me growing up that it would cost nothing (no plot cost) to be buried out in the Gibson Cemetery. In my opinion, there is still plenty of open room to be buried there... but the downfall to a small private cemetery - there's no "exact plot records." Honestly, to be buried out there, it would be a guessing game on where to plant yourself, so to speak.. There might be unmarked graves out there, or graves that once had a tombstone that no longer do.. so if you decided to be buried out there, it's very possible when they go to dig your grave... they might be disturbing someone else's from 100+ years ago. 

With this blog, I thought I would thoroughly document each person buried in both of the Gibson cemeteries for easy research access not just for myself in the future but for other Gibson relatives. This is going to make for a lengthy blog but I know it'll be well worth it. As much as I would love to add photographs of tombstones for each person to accompany this blog, I know that is way too time consuming and plus, it would make this blog take eons and eons to load for some people who have a worse internet connection than others. 

The following are those who are buried in Gibson Cemetery #1 (the main family cemetery) in alphabetical order (to the best of my ability). I will be listing their name, their birth and death date, who they are a child of, who they married, and their cause of death if available. I will also be mentioning their exact relationship to me as I am related to every single person buried in this cemetery. As a quick note to you guys - my 3x Grandparents, 4x Grandparents, 5x Grandparents, and 6x Grandfather are buried here. (Possibly 6x Grandmother as well, if my theory is correct that the cemetery might have started with her burial in 1818.)

1) John DeForest Culver. Born June 20th, 1868, died March 19th, 1919. Son of William Hollis Culver Jr and Neosha Jane Gibson. Husband of Mary Frances Gibson. My 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Mitral insufficiency and labor pneumonia, due to Influenza. 

2) Mary Frances (Gibson) Culver. Born June 30th, 1872, died February 4th, 1931. Daughter of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Sibbie Denton. Wife of John DeForest Culver. My 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Nephritis and hypertension.

3) James Lee Denton. Born November 9th, 1912, died October 27th, 1913. Son of James Benjamin Denton and Sibbie Lee Culver. My 3rd cousin 2x removed. Cause of death: Ileocolitis.

4) Florence Duncan. Born April 14th, 1875, died January 31st, 1899. Daughter of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

5) Infant Duncan. Born February 6th, 1890, died September 8th, 1891. Son of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

6) John Melvin Duncan. Born November 13th, 1848, died October 17th, 1933. Son of John Duncan Sr and Nancy Smith. Husband of Mary Susan Tapp. My 1st cousin 6x removed. Cause of death: Paralysis and old age.

7) John Strother Duncan. Born January 31st, 1885, died June 18th, 1916. Son of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. Husband of Vera Whitledge. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Heart dropsy. 

8) Laura Bell Duncan. Born November 4th, 1870, died April 13th, 1945. Daughter of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Broncho pneumonia. 

9) Marion Duncan. Born October 18th, 1889, died September 6th, 1945. Son of William French Duncan and Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

10) Mary Pearl Duncan. Born May 28th, 1885, died November 9th, 1900. Daughter of William French Duncan and Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

11) Mary Susan Tapp. Born April 2nd, 1851, died May 20th, 1935. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Wife of John Melvin Duncan. My 1st cousin 5x removed. Cause of death: Chronic myocarditis and nephritis. 

12) Robert Fulton Duncan. Born September 18th, 1887, died July 14th, 1936. Son of William French Duncan and Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Cerebral hemorrhage. 

13) Sarah Catherine Tapp. Born April 1852, died April 8th, 1899. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Wife of William French Duncan. My 1st cousin 5x removed.

14) Sarah Frances Duncan. Born March 14th, 1891, died July 26th, 1891. Daughter of William French Duncan and Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

15) Vincan Duncan. Born January 17th, 1877, died November 20th, 1890. Son of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

16) Welzy Duncan. Born April 9th, 1878, died July 17th, 1880. Son of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. My 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

17) William French Duncan. Born April 16th, 1854, died July 18th, 1937. Son of Nathan Benjamin Duncan and Mary Jane Holeman. Husband of Sarah Catherine Tapp. My 2nd cousin 5x removed. Cause of death: Very hard to read but it mentions an accidental burn.

18) Dixie Lou Frasier. Born and died October 30th, 1930. Daughter of Ambrose Haywood Frasier and Frances Jenell Laswell. My 3rd cousin 2x removed. 

19) Gayle Frasier. Born February 8th, 1885, and died May 24th, 1950. Son of John C. Frasier and Lee Forrest Pressley. Husband of Lucile S. Gibson. "Husband of 1st cousin 4x removed." Cause of death: Cerebral hemorrhage. 

20) Lucile S. Gibson. Born January 6th, 1890, died March 26th, 1975. Daughter of George Harrell Gibson and Cora Francis Young. Wife of Gayle Frasier. My 1st cousin 4x removed. 

21) Bailey Gibson. Born December 8th, 1818, died February 5th, 1859. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Sirena Weldon. 4x Great-Granduncle. (Not entirely sure if he's buried in Gibson 1 or Gibson 2. No tombstone for him has been located yet he's constantly listed as being buried here in Gibson #1.)

22) Berryman Gibson. Born June 13th, 1785, died September 1869. Son of Joel Gibson and Eleanor Davis. Husband of Susan A. Duncan. My 5x Grandfather. Cause of death: consumption (tuberculosis.) (His original tombstone has been replaced. The death date has erroneously been given as September 1, 1870.. this is incorrect. He's listed in the 1870 census as "dying prior to June 1st, 1870." So he died September 1869.)

23) Carrie E. Gibson. Born April 7th, 1873 (on tombstone, birth year appears to be closer to 1877 in census), died October 20th, 1898. Daughter of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. My 1st cousin 4x removed. 

24) Cora Francis Young. Born April 20th, 1863, died March 18th, 1950. Daughter of James Brice Young and Lucretia Ann Winfield. Wife of (?) Pritchett and George Harrell Gibson. Wife of 3rd Great-Granduncle. Cause of death: Shock from a fractured hip, chronic myocarditis, and diabetes.

25) Derwood Gibson. Born December 8th, 1914, died August 22nd, 1917. Son of James Odie Gibson and Della Caroline Gibson. Cause of death: Dysentery. My 2nd cousin 3x removed. 

26) Eliza Jane Webster. Born February 12th, 1838, died June 19th, 1896. Daughter of Joseph Webster and Elizabeth Cooley. Wife of Nathan Alander Gibson Sr. Wife of 4th Great-Granduncle. 

27) Ellen Sarah Skeel. Born December 26th, 1894, died June 26th, 1950. Daughter of Elbridge Milford Skeel and Mary Josephine Utt. Wife of Louis Steven Emhuff and James Odie Gibson. Wife of 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: congestive failure, arteriosclerotic heart disease, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus. 

28) Elmos C. Gibson. Born December 21st, 1875, died January 11th, 1876. Son of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed. (He's also getting confused with his sister, Carrie, I believe.. and there's also a rumor he lived to be 101 years old. I've found no proof of this. He's not alive in the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, or 1940 censuses.)

29) Elymus R. Gibson. Born December 16th, 1899, died January 3rd, 1918. Son of William K. Gibson and Margaret Ellen Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Acute miliary tuberculosis. 

30) Erastus Kohl Gibson. Born September 19th, 1886, died June 30th, 1919. Son of George Harrell Gibson and Cora Francis Young. Husband of Mary Evelyn Hughes. 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: Carbolic acid poisoning, suicide. 

31) Ethel Gibson. Born July 17th, 1900, died March 29th, 1916. Daughter of James Odie Gibson and Della Caroline Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed. Cause of death: Pneumonia. 

32) George Harold Gibson. Born May 9th, 1875, died September 2nd, 1945. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. Husband of Stella Robertson. 1st cousin 4x removed. Cause of death: paralysis (or that's the best I can read on the death certificate.)

33) George Harrell Gibson. Born December 20th, 1862, died September 9th, 1940. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Cora Francis Young. 3rd Great-Granduncle. Cause of death: Organic heart disease. 

34) Bertha Georgia Fryar. Born March 31st, 1881, died June 2nd, 1921. Daughter of George Washington Fryar and Matilda Jane Moss. Wife of Roscoe Gibson Sr. 4th cousin 3x removed. Cause of death: Septicemia and placenta previa. 

35) Infant Gibson. Born and died March 27th, 1861. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. 3rd Great-Grandaunt. 

36) James Fagan Gibson. Born November 14th, 1848, died May 11th, 1911. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Nancy Jane Gibson. 3rd Great-Granduncle. Cause of death: myocarditis. 

37) James Morris Gibson. Born April 12th, 1902, died April 16th, 1970. Son of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. Husband of Louella Alice Morris. 1st cousin 4x removed. COD: Pneumonia and C.O.P.D. 

38) James Odie Gibson. Born May 26th, 1878, died July 24th, 1952. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. Husband of Della Caroline Gibson and Ellen Sarah Skeel. 1st cousin 4x removed. 

39) Joel Gibson. Patriarch of the Gibson's in Henderson County, KY and the surrounding areas. Born in 1750, died December 23rd, 1830. Served in the Revolutionary War. Potential son of John Gibson and Mary Duncan of Caswell County, NC. Husband of Eleanor Davis. His wife might be buried in the cemetery as well. If she truly died in 1818 - that was AFTER they came to Henderson and settled in Corydon. Joel is my 6x Great-Grandfather. His children have been proved as definitively being the following: Vicey *possibly nickname for Levicy?* Gibson (m. Josiah Stone), Burgess Gibson (m. Sarah ?), Elizabeth Gibson (m. ?), Bailey Gibson (m. Catherine Sights), Greenberry Gibson (m. Charlotte Davis), Berryman Gibson (m. Susan A. Duncan), Robert Gibson (m. ?), Tillman Gibson (m. Sarah Crowley), Margaret "Peggy" Gibson (m. Abraham Shelton), Nancy Gibson (m. ? Shelton). 

40) John Beverly Gibson. Born February 13th, 1855, died June 29th, 1936. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Sarah Jane Koonce. 3rd Great-Granduncle. COD: Arteriosclerosis. 

41) John D. Gibson. Born March 10th, 1885, died September 17th, 1903. Son of George Harrell Gibson and Cora Francis Young. 1st cousin 4x removed.

42) John Gregory Gibson. Born December 18th, 1816, died November 6th, 1890. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Mahala Caroline Busby and Elizabeth (?) Young. My 4x Great-Grandfather. COD: Unsure, but he ran the county sanitarium/poor farm for nine years before he died. He died at the sanitarium. 

43) Katsie Lucille Son. Born July 24th, 1895, died January 24th, 1970. Daughter of James C. Son and Hallie Dossett. Wife of Joseph Leslie Crews and Roscoe Gibson Sr. Wife of 1st cousin 4x removed. 

44) Lizzie Gibson. Born February 22nd, 1892, died October 28th, 1895. Daughter of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed. 

45) Lucilla E. Gibson. Born October 10th, 1853, died September 27th, 1878. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Gibson. 3rd Great-Grandaunt. 

46) Mahala Caroline Busby. Born January 1820, died November 18th, 1868. Daughter of William L. Busby and Elizabeth Denton. Wife of John Gregory Gibson. My 4th Great-Grandmother. 

47) Martha Caroline Busby. Born May 1st, 1849, died December 6th, 1855. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. 3rd Great-Grandaunt. 

48) Mary J. Gibson. Born December 27th, 1859, died April 27th, 1860. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. 3rd Great-Grandaunt. 

49) Martha Walker. Born April 28th, 1876, died July 15th, 1972. Daughter of George William Walker and Mary E. Utley. Wife of John Beverly Gibson. Wife of 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

50) Maud V. Gibson. Born September 30th, 1877, died November 28th, 1893. Daughter of William K. Gibson and Margaret Ellen Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed. 

51) Nancy Jane Gibson. Born January 20th, 1855, died December 2nd, 1927. Daughter of John William Gibson and Susan Covey. Wife of James Fagan Gibson. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Bright's disease, and dysentery. 

52) Nathan Alander Gibson, Sr. Born January 5th, 1828, died July 23rd, 1899. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Marietta Webster, Eliza Jane Webster, and Susan B. Hancock. 4x Great Granduncle. 

53) Robert Benjamin Gibson, Jr. Born April 11th, 1884, died May 31st, 1885. Son of Robert Benjamin Gibson Sr and Susan A. Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed.

54) Robert Benjamin Gibson. Born January 14th, 1844, died January 15th, 1913. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Sibbie Denton and Susan A. Pritchett. 3rd Great-Granduncle. COD: Croupous pneumonia.

55) Roscoe Gibson Sr. Born January 6th, 1883, died March 4th, 1957. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. Husband of Bertha Georgia Fryar and Katsie Lucille Son. 1st cousin 4x removed. COD: Cerebral embolus, arteriosclerotic heart disease. 

56) Sarah Jane Koonce. Born September 1855, died 1906. Daughter of Owen Lawrence Koonce and Arrena Sims. Wife of John Beverly Gibson. Wife of 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

57) Silas Gibson. Born September 23rd, 1886, died December 21st, 1887. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. 1st cousin 4x removed. 

58) Stella Robertson. Born April 24th, 1877, died August 22nd, 1958. Daughter of Ira Bascom Robertson and Martha Frances Gibson. Wife of George Harold Gibson. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Bowel obstruction, hernia. 

59) Susan A. Duncan. Born January 18th, 1791, died February 2nd, 1865. Daughter of Nathaniel Benjamin Duncan and Jane Rainey. Wife of Berryman Gibson. My 5x Great-Grandmother. 

60) Susan A. Pritchett. Born June 14th, 1857, died January 11th, 1937. Daughter of Ephraim Pritchett and Elizabeth Handley. Wife of Robert Benjamin Gibson. Wife of 3rd Great-Granduncle. COD: carcinoma of the stomach. 

61) Virgie M. Gibson. Born and died 1896. Daughter of William K. Gibson and Margaret Ellen Pritchett. 1st cousin 4x removed.

62) William O. Gibson. Born December 16th, 1876, and probably died shortly after. Son of John Beverly Gibson and Sarah Jane Koonce. 1st cousin 4x removed.

63) William C. Gibson. Born October 16th, 1825, died January 2nd, 1898. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Mary Frances Floyd (who is also very likely buried beside him, unmarked.) 4th Great-Granduncle. COD: Bright's disease.

64) Mary Frances Floyd. Born about 1836, died between 1880-1898. Daughter of John Crosby Floyd and Mary Randolph. Wife of William C. Gibson. Very likely to be buried here next to her husband. Wife of 4th Great-Granduncle. 

65) William James Gibson. Born November 21st, 1842, died April 22nd, 1843. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

66) William K. Gibson. Born 1858, died 1904. Son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Husband of Margaret Ellen Pritchett. 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

67) Katharine Anna Koonce. Born August 19th, 1853, died March 3rd, 1899. Daughter of Owen Lawrence Koonce and Arrena Sims. Wife of Peter Benjamin Grisham Sr. Sister-in-law of 3rd Great-Granduncle. 

68) Elliott Hoy. Born May 1909, died October 14th, 1921. Son of James Samuel Hoy and Minnie Lee Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed. COD: Pertussis and nephritis (that's the best I can make of the death certificate. I'm not sure if the P word really is pertussis but it's the closest I can come. It sure isn't pneumonia.) 

69) George Fagan Hoy. Born December 28th, 1896, died March 19th, 1965. Son of James Samuel Hoy and Minnie Lee Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed. 

70) Infant Hoy. Born and died November 24th, 1899. Son of James Samuel Hoy and Minnie Lee Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed.

71) James Morris Hoy. Born September 28th, 1917, died July 24th, 1929. Son of James Samuel Hoy and Minnie Lee Gibson. 2nd cousin 3x removed. COD: Meningococcal meningitis epidemic of Detroit 1928-1929. 

72) James Samuel Hoy. Born July 27th, 1873, died July 31st, 1967. Son of Leander Jones Hoy and Eliza Jane Hancock. Husband of Minnie Lee Gibson. Husband of 1st cousin 4x removed. 

73) Minnie Lee Gibson. Born October 4th, 1877, died January 7th, 1974. Daughter of an unknown father and Lucilla E. Gibson. Raised by her Uncle and Aunt, James Fagan Gibson & Nancy Jane Gibson. Wife of James Samuel Hoy. 1st cousin 4x removed.

74) David Hoy Key. Born July 16th, 1927, died October 11th, 1927 (tombstone incorrectly gives October 27th). Son of Reeves C. Key and Cora Agnes Hoy. 3rd cousin 2x removed. COD: Broncho pneumonia.

75) Elinora "Ellen Nora" D. Tapp. Born November 9th, 1858, died April 6th, 1875. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Wife of Burrell Jerome King. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

76) Elizabeth J. Tapp. Born June 10th, 1856, died November 6th, 1894. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Wife of Burrell Jerome King. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

77) Andrew Jackson Koonce. Born October 15th, 1917, died August 30th, 1919. Son of George William Koonce and Lou Inez Mills. 3rd cousin 3x removed. COD: Accidentally burned to death by scalding hot water. 

78) Arrena Sims. Born September 5th, 1818, died April 30th, 1889. Possible daughter of Elisha Sims and Ann Clopton. Wife of Owen Lawrence Koonce. Mother-in-law of 3x Great-Granduncle. 

79) George William Koonce. Born October 29th, 1872, died February 10th, 1919. Son of Owen Thomas Koonce and Martha Ann Gibson. Husband of Lou Inez Mills. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Dropped dead working in the field, most likely of a heart attack. He suffered from organic heart disease.

80) Owen Lawrence Koonce. Born December 29th, 1819, died November 11th, 1907. Son of Wendell M. Koonce and Nancy Woods. Husband of Arrena Sims. Father-in-law of 3x Great-Granduncle. 

81) Eula May Duncan. Born May 17th, 1891, died February 19th, 1920. Daughter of Elijah Thomas Duncan and Amelia Pritchett. Wife of Henry Oliver Nally. 4th cousin 2x removed / Wife of 2x Great-Granduncle. COD: Pneumonia/Influenza

82) Henry Oliver Nally. Born November 3rd, 1856, died December 14th, 1925. Son of Thomas Sidney Nally and Martha Jane Oliver. Husband of Vandalia Delia Gibson. My 3x Great-Grandfather. COD: Vascular heart disease. 

83) Mamie Eva Phillips. Born April 4th, 1890, died September 30th, 1986. Daughter of Conrad Herman Phillips and Mary Belle Royster. Wife of Sidney Thomas Nally, John Eblen Denton, and Henry Oliver Nally. 7th cousin 2x removed / Wife of 2x Great-Granduncle. 

84) May Nally. Born and died on March 30th, 1916. Daughter of Sidney Thomas Nally and Mamie Eva Phillips. 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Premature birth.

85) Morrison Phillip Nally. Born October 31st, 1922, died November 23rd, 1922. Son of Sidney Thomas Nally and Mamie Eva Phillips. 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Enterocolitis. 

86) Ray Nally. Born and died on March 30th, 1916. Son of Sidney Thomas Nally and Mamie Eva Phillips. 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Premature birth. 

87) Sidney Thomas Nally. Born April 5th, 1885, died November 15th, 1926. Son of Henry Oliver Nally and Vandalia Delia Gibson. Husband of Mamie Eva Phillips. 2x Great-Granduncle. COD: Erysipelas. 

88) Vandalia Delia Gibson. Born December 21st, 1856, died July 5th, 1949. Daughter of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby. Wife of Henry Oliver Nally. My 3x Great-Grandmother. COD: arteriosclerotic heart disease. 

89) Isadora Duncan. Born July 2nd, 1874, died June 13th, 1908. Daughter of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. Wife of William Jasper "Jack" Nesler and William Martin "Willie" Drury. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Suicide by carbolic acid poisoning. 

90) Virlie Norton. Born August 8th, 1894, died June 23rd, 1896. Daughter of Harry J. Norton and Eliza Jane Sutton. Step-great-granddaughter of my 4x Great-Granduncle (Nathan Alander Gibson Sr.) 

91) George Washington Overfield. Born November 12th, 1872, died March 2nd, 1955. Son of Manuel James Overfield and Macy Catherine Watson. Husband of Mary Jane Duncan. Husband of 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Diabetes mellitus and chronic osteomyelitis. 

92) Mary Jane Duncan. Born February 5th, 1880, died March 5th, 1971. Daughter of John Melvin Duncan and Mary Susan Tapp. Wife of George Washington Overfield. 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

93) Christine Thompson. Born April 2nd, 1919, died February 20th, 1995. Daughter of Sam Thomas Thompson and Camilla Nally. Wife of Dale Edward Palm. 1st cousin 3x removed. Cremated.

94) Dale Edward Palm. Born January 30th, 1920, died May 11th, 1995. Son of John Nevin Palm Sr and Edith Hoffman. Husband of Christine Thompson. Husband of 1st cousin 3x removed. Cremated.

95) Dennis Wayne Palm. Born September 3rd, 1945, died January 18th, 1994. Son of Dale Edward Palm and Christine Thompson. 2nd cousin 2x removed. Cremated.

96) Vandelia D. Gibson. Born September 28th, 1888, died May 17th, 1976. Daughter of Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A. Pritchett. Wife of Aubrey Kohl Gibson and Robert Charles Schultz. 1st cousin 4x removed. COD: Myocardial infarction, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 

97) Infant Stanley. Born and died November 17th, 1922. Child of Lyman Stanley and Sarah Cornelia Brown. Distant relationship (honestly unsure why the Stanley children are buried in Gibson Cemetery unless they're just friends of the family.)

98) Tommie Stanley. Born July 14th, 1903, died November 18th, 1915. Son of Lyman Stanley and Lena Miller. Distant relationship. COD: (this took a while to decipher) Follicular tonsillitis and vascular lesions of the heart.

99) Lelia Hattie Duncan. Born January 4th, 1881, died October 9th, 1904. Daughter of George Henry Duncan and Mahalia Caroline Gibson. Wife of George Washington Stone. 2nd cousin 4x removed. 

100) Archibald Tapp. Born February 14th, 1854, died August 10th, 1931. Son of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. Husband of Elnora Wood. 1st cousin 5x removed. COD: Carcinoma of face (had to be a type of skin cancer.)

101) Arulius Benjamin Tapp. Born February 10th, 1846, died February 14th, 1860. Son of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

102) Elnora "Ella Nora" Wood. Born January 24th, 1869, died September 30th, 1956. Daughter of Joseph Wood and Minerva Handley. Wife of Archibald Tapp. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed. COD: Cerebral thrombosis, generalized arteriosclerosis. 

103) Martha F Tapp. Born May 29th, 1848, died December 14th, 1850. Daughter of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

104) Mary Susan Gibson. Born February 10th, 1823, died January 12th, 1864. Daughter of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Wife of William Tapp. 4x Great-Grandaunt. 

105) Nathan Tapp. Born August 13th, 1849, died September 5th, 1852. Son of William Tapp and Mary Susan Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed. COD: Flux. 

106) William Tapp. Born December 15th, 1817, died March 8th, 1886. Son of Vincent Tapp and Rosanna Hopson. Husband of Mary Susan Gibson. Husband of 4x Great-Grandaunt. 

107) Willie Tapp. Born 1906, died 1918. (No death certificate or obituary found.) Son of Roland Gooch Tapp and Bertie Ann Duncan. 3rd cousin 3x removed.

108) Camilla Nally. Born October 20th, 1882, died November 3rd, 1962. Daughter of Henry Oliver Nally and Vandalia Delia Gibson. Wife of Sam Thomas Thompson. 2x Great-Grandaunt (Twin of my Great-Great-Grandmother, Mary Janella (Nally) Thompson). COD: Pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, 2nd degree burns on neck and back (from a gas heater), and pyemia. 

109) Mary Katherine West. Born April 18th, 1917, died October 8th, 2009. Daughter of Cohen West and Anna Elizabeth McGroarty. Wife of Otis Benton Thompson. 3rd cousin 3x removed / Wife of 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Urinary tract infection, Alzheimer's disease.

110) Otis Benton Thompson. Born November 18th, 1914, died August 20th, 1981. Son of Sam Thomas Thompson and Camilla Nally. Husband of Mary Katherine West. 1st cousin 3x removed. 

111) Sam Thomas Thompson. Born April 3rd, 1880, died October 10th, 1950. Son of Martin Henry Thompson and Elizabeth Levina Nally. Husband of Camilla Nally. 2x Great-Granduncle.  COD: Cerebral thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, and senility. 

112) Thornton David Thompson. Born March 5th, 1912, died January 11th, 1933. Son of Sam Thomas Thompson and Camilla Nally. 1st cousin 3x removed. COD: Diabetes mellitus and cachexia (wasting syndrome.) 

113) Vannie Louise Thompson. Born November 24th, 1911, died November 19th, 1915. Daughter of John Rowan Thompson and Mary Janella Nally. Great-Grandaunt. COD: Membranous croup.

114) Lida Watson. Born April 3rd, 1897, died February 4th, 1898. Daughter of Charles William Watson and Ella Culver. 2nd cousin 3x removed.

115) Marvin Watson. Born December 18th, 1921, died September 28th, 1924. Son of William Hollis Watson Sr and Mary Anna Duncan. 3rd cousin 2x removed. COD: Dysentery of eight days duration. 

116) Infant Welden. Born and died January 10th, 1863. Son of William Lafayette Welden and Susan Ann Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed.

117) Martha Welden. Born February 24th, 1868, and died possibly in 1875. Daughter of William Lafayette Welden and Susan Ann Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed.

118) Susan Ann Gibson. Born May 24th, 1833, died March 18th, 1887. Daughter of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Wife of William Lafayette Welden. 4x Great-Grandaunt.

119) Martha Vandelia Nally. Born November 19th, 1891, died November 9th, 1913. Daughter of Henry Oliver Nally and Vandalia Delia Gibson. Wife of Richard James Williams. 2x Great-Grandaunt. COD: Vascular disease of the heart, dropsy of the heart.

The following are those who are buried in Gibson Cemetery #2 (the second family cemetery) in alphabetical order (to the best of my ability). I will be listing their name, their birth and death date, who they are a child of, who they married, and their cause of death if available. I will also be mentioning their exact relationship to me as I am related to every single person buried in this cemetery.

1) Malinda Belle Gibson. Born July 4th, 1871, died November 3rd, 1955. Daughter of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. Wife of Robert Jackson Sellars and George Hickman Cates. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Bronchial pneumonia, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, generalized arteriosclerosis, and senile dementia. 

2) Louisa Jane Gibson. Born August 18th, 1834, died October 30th, 1863. Daughter of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Wife of Andrew Joseph Crawford Jr. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

3) Benjamin Franklin Gibson Sr. Born July 15th, 1836, died October 5th, 1909. Son of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Husband of Talitha Ann Floyd and Sarah Crosby Floyd. 1st cousin 5x removed. (Family suspicion that he's buried here. It's possible he could be buried in New Mexico or Texas.)

4) Ellis Earle Gibson. Born June 13th, 1880, died December 31st, 1920. Son of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. Husband of Bertha Culver. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Status epilepticus, epilepsy. Status epilepticus is usually a seizure lasting more than five minutes in result from a high fever or infection.

5) George Lafayette Gibson. Born December 25th, 1846, died May 11th, 1905. Son of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Husband of Lockie Ann Christopher. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

6) George Louis Gibson. Born July 9th, 1880, died July 28th, 1880. Son of William L. Gibson and Sarah Elizabeth Walker. 3rd cousin 3x removed. 

7) George Other Gibson. Born August 1st, 1873, died December 18th, 1884. Possible son of James Franklin Gibson and Sarah Easley Mills, but would have been born prior to their marriage, so he's possibly an adopted son. He doesn't appear with them in the 1880 census. His tombstone does read "Son of J.F. and S.E. Gibson." If this is true - he's my 3rd cousin 3x removed. 

8) Infant Gibson. Born and died June 16th, 1879. Daughter of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. 2nd cousin 4x removed.

9) James Andrew Gibson. Born July 9th, 1880, died July 28th, 1880. Son of William L. Gibson and Sarah Elizabeth Walker. 3rd cousin 3x removed.

10) James W Gibson. Born and died November 17th, 1882. Son of John Wiley Gibson and Nancy Caroline Morehead. 3rd cousin 3x removed.

11) James William Gibson. Born February 18th, 1810, died May 27th, 1885. Son of Berryman Gibson and Susan A. Duncan. Husband of Mary Watson and Mary E. Royster. 4x Great-Granduncle. 

12) Elizabeth A. Pritchett. Born 1844, died between 1880-1900. Daughter of William W. Pritchett and Permelia Powell. Wife of James William Gibson Jr. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed. 

13) James William Gibson Jr. Born March 26th, 1841, died November 26th, 1879. Son of James William Gibson Sr and Mary Watson. Husband of Elizabeth A. Pritchett. 1st cousin 5x removed.

14) John William Gibson. Born November 25th, 1831, died October 8th, 1856. Son of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Husband of Susannah Covey. 1st cousin 5x removed.

15) Lillie Gibson. Born February 25th, 1879, died October 23rd, 1879. Daughter of Robert A. Gibson and Kimmillar S. Christopher. 2nd cousin 4x removed.

16) Lizzie Gibson. Born August 7th, 1882, died October 15th, 1882. Daughter of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. 2nd cousin 4x removed.

17) Lockie Ann Christopher. Born February 25th, 1846, died May 4th, 1920. Daughter of John J. Christopher and Elizabeth White. Wife of George Lafayette Gibson. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed. COD: Sudden death, neuralgia of the heart. 

18) Louis Jefferson Gibson. Born April 13th, 1861, died April 27th, 1882. Son of Robert W. Gibson and Lucy Ann Floyd. 1st cousin 5x removed.

19) Mary Watson. Born October 11th, 1811, died April 2nd, 1865. Daughter of John Tarlton Watson and Sarah Elizabeth English. Wife of James William Gibson. Wife of 4x Great-Granduncle. 

20) Matildia Gibson. Born May 12th, 1886, died October 14th, 1886. Daughter of William L. Gibson and Sarah Elizabeth Walker. 3rd cousin 3x removed. (This grave originally was for a 'Mattie Cinella' with 1879 dates but.. I believe that was taken from an incorrect source and distributed over the years. The tombstone proves it's Matildia with 1886 dates.)

21) Robert Fulton Gibson. Born January 23rd, 1887, died July 29th, 1962. Son of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. Never married. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Coronary occlusion and myocardial infarction of the anterior descending branch, previous anterior infarction, long standing arteriosclerosis coronary. 

22) Sarah Crosby Floyd. Born April 8th, 1843, died between 1900-1910. (Suspected of being buried here with her husband, although they could be buried in New Mexico or Texas). Daughter of Henry Crosby Floyd and Elizabeth Atkinson. Wife of Benjamin Franklin Gibson Sr. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed. 

23) Susannah Covey. Born August 12th, 1830, died July 13th, 1865. Daughter of Joshua David Covey and Lydia Adamson. Wife of John William Gibson. Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed.

24) Talitha Ann Floyd. Born October 11th, 1837, died September 28th, 1865. Daughter of Henry Crosby Floyd and Elizabeth Atkinson. Wife of Benjamin Franklin Gibson Sr. (Based on gut instinct, I believe she's 100% buried in this cemetery.) Wife of 1st cousin 5x removed.

25) Eula Jennette Gibson. Born August 19th, 1894, died February 8th, 1919. Daughter of James Franklin Gibson and Sarah Easley Mills. Wife of Edward Arthur Moffett. 3rd cousin 3x removed. COD: Labor pneumonia. 

26) Nathan Alander Gibson Jr. Born January 13th, 1857, died March 10th, 1898. Son of Nathan Alander Gibson Sr and Eliza Jane Webster. Husband of Mary Ellen Gibson. 1st cousin 5x removed.

27) Infant Norman. Born December 31st, 1870, died January 21st, 1871. Child of William A. Norman and Martha Frances Gibson. 2nd cousin 4x removed.

28) William A. Norman. Born September 26th, 1844, died January 28th, 1873. Son of Joseph Clifton Norman Sr and Virginia Rebecca Brooks. Husband of Martha Frances Gibson. Husband of 1C5R. 

29) Mary Ellen Pritchett. Born January 24th, 1857, died October 4th, 1857. Not exactly sure who's child she is at the moment. The Pritchett's and Gibson's intermarried a lot as they were always family friends and neighbors. If a tombstone is ever found for her (there had to have been one when Mr. Blue documented the cemetery in the 80's and 90's), then perhaps parents initials are on it. She's most likely a descendant of John Pritchett and Sarah Powell.

30) Martha Frances Gibson. Born October 3rd, 1843, died January 29th, 1885. Daughter of James William Gibson and Mary Watson. Wife of William A. Norman and Ira Bascom Robertson. 1st cousin 5x removed. 

31) Pearl Sellars. Born 1890, died 1894. Daughter of Robert Jackson Sellars and Malinda Belle Gibson. 3rd cousin 3x removed.

32) Robert Jackson Sellars. Born June 9th, 1866, died July 31st, 1897. Son of Isham Sellars and Lucy Ann Hughes. Husband of Malinda Belle Gibson. Husband of 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Typhoid fever. 

33) Juliett Duncan Gibson. Born February 22nd, 1877, died March 15th, 1932. Daughter of George Lafayette Gibson and Lockie Ann Christopher. Wife of James S. Tapp. 2nd cousin 4x removed. COD: Ruptured gallbladder, and chronic heart disease.

34) Eliza Thompson. Born October 20th, 1868, died January 4th, 1885. Daughter of Willis R. Thompson and Emily Adeline Pritchett, adoptive daughter of James William Gibson and Mary E. Royster. 1st cousin 4x removed.


This project has taken me almost a full month to complete. Over the course of the month, typing up this blog and adding plenty of material to my genealogy page on Facebook (Genealogy by Brecca) -- I have fixed a LOT of stuff in Gibson Cemetery #1 and #2. I have solved a lot of family mysteries.. I have found a lot of sad stories and over the next little while I will absolutely share those to this blog as well. 

For now, I will end this blog by saying thank you so much for having an interest in the Gibson cemeteries.. and if you're a relative, please say hello! I hope this blog helps future Gibson genealogists for years to come!!

Monday, August 1, 2022

June Scavenger Hunt: Find someone who died in June.

 I posted about my 1st cousin 4x removed, Erastus Kohl Gibson, for the first time last August but, I felt today, he needed to be talked about again.



Erastus was born on September 19th, 1886. He was the son of George Harrell Gibson and Cora Francis Young.

On November 27th, 1912, in White County, IL, he married Mary Evelyn Hughes. They had one son, James, on December 15th, 1913.

On June 5th, 1917, Erastus filed his draft card at the age of 30. On June 19th, 1918, he was ordered for military service at Camp Zachary Taylor. Later that year, he headed to France to fight in WW1.

He arrived home from France April 2nd, 1919 after nine months. He was involved in four major battles -- and against what the article reads, he was actually injured slightly one time.

Before leaving for war -- Erastus and his wife, Mary, had gotten a divorce. The judge had ordered their son, James, to be with one parent for six months, and the other for six months.

Erastus hadn't had his son but for almost three months when she came to get the boy and take him. I'm guessing it was more an arrangement of, "you get our son January-June, and I get him July-December." That type of six months.

Unfortunately, in a stage of despondency over losing his son after only having him for just shy of three months - he drank carbolic acid and took his own life. He unfortunately was gone before physicians could reach him and potentially save his life.



Erastus died 103 years ago -- June 30th, 1919.



After his fathers suicide - James went on to live with his maternal Grandparents here in Henderson for several years, and then moved to California with his remarried mother. He married in 1938, had children, and finished out his life in California, passing away in 1975.

From what I can gather on Ancestry - James' descendants, children and grandchildren, had no idea of the reason for Erastus's suicide. Only after finding the same article I'm sharing with you all, did they finally know the *why*.

Erastus is laid to rest with most of his Gibson kinfolk in the Gibson Cemetery in Corydon. He is surrounded still by those who loved him.

103 years later - you aren't forgotten, cousin. 🙏🙏

June Scavenger Hunt: Find someone born in June.

  I present to y'all - my 5x Grandfather, Berryman Gibson.



Buried in the Gibson Cemetery in Corydon, he has an extensive list of descendants all over the United States today. From yours truly, the hometown genealogist, to an Emmy-winning journalist, to a Professor of Biophysics, to a renowned children's author, and a local barbecue restauranteur. That's barely scratching the surface at his descendants.

Berryman was born on June 13th, 1785, in Caswell County, North Carolina, to Gibson family patriarch Joel Gibson and his wife, Eleanor (her name is also given as Ellender at times.) Berryman *might* be a twin of his brother, Greenberry Gibson. They both go by the nickname "Berry" Gibson so... they've been confused with one another from time to time in a genealogy standpoint.

In roughly 1808, he married Susan A. Duncan in either Caswell Co, NC, or perhaps Pittsylvania Co, VA. It is known that around 1808, the family had left Caswell Co, NC and headed to Pittsylvania Co, VA. From there, by about 1814 or so (after the War of 1812), Berryman headed to the Henderson Co, KY area.

Berryman or his brother Greenberry fought in the War of 1812, in the 7th Regiment Virginia Militia. The registration name is just "Berry Gibson," so honestly it could have been Berryman OR Greenberry.. I'd love to know which one.

The family made their roots just outside of Corydon - in the area of current day "J. Gibson Rd" (named after Joel? Maybe John? Maybe James? Lots of J. Gibson's in the family!) which is beside both of the Gibson cemeteries in Corydon. It is said that the Gibson's had wondrous sized plantations. My Grandma Glynda talked about overhearing the older generation in her youth talking about the old "Gibson homestead," there near the cemetery. I believe it was gone/torn down by the time my Grandma was born in 1941, though.

Berryman and his wife Susan had at least eleven children that I'm aware of, possibly more that died in infancy/youth.

Susan preceded Berryman in death in 1865 - and the Good Lord called Berryman home in September of 1869. His tombstone erroneously gives his death date as September 1st, 1870. However - the 1870 federal mortality schedule which lists deaths PRIOR to June 1st, 1870 - says he died in September of 1869. His cause of death was consumption, which is the old term for tuberculosis.

I believe sometime in possibly the 1930's or 1940's (and possibly it was even later than that, as I wasn't born myself until 1993) - Berryman and Susan's tombstones were replaced. No original headstones for them have been found by myself or other Gibson descendants at the cemetery as of 2022. Whoever replaced the originals either destroyed them or kept them for themselves.

Their children:

1. James William Gibson, February 18 1810 / May 27 1885, married Mary Watson, then Mary E. Royster. Buried in the 2nd Gibson Cemetery in Corydon.

2. Elizabeth "Betsey" Gibson, born in about 1811. I believe she died prior to 1850. She was the wife of her first cousin, Solomon Stone (son of Josiah Stone & Vicey Gibson.)

3. Joel E. Gibson, 1813 / 1853. Married Margaret J. Martin. He could be buried in either cemetery.

4. Martha Gibson, born about 1815. As of the 1850 census, she was unwed and living with her parents. She disappears after that. She's likely buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

5. John Gregory Gibson, December 18 1816 / November 6 1890. Married Mahala Caroline Busby, then Elizabeth (?). John & Mahala are my 4x Grandparents. They're buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

6. Bailey Gibson, December 8 1818 / February 5 1859. Married Sirena Weldon. He's said to be buried in the main family cemetery. His death year has also been given in error as 1866. His will was written in 1857, and I believe he died 1859.

7. Mary Susan "Polly" Gibson, February 10 1823 / January 12 1864. Married William Tapp. They're buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

8. Robert W. Gibson, November 16 1824 / January 6 1884. Married Catherine Pritchett, then Lucy Ann Floyd. He and his second wife, Lucy, are buried in the Tapp Cemetery southwest of Poole in Webster County.

9. William C. Gibson, October 16 1825 / January 2 1898. Married Mary Frances Floyd. He's buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

10. Nathan Alander Gibson Sr, January 5 1828 / July 23 1899. Married Marietta "Mary" Webster, then Eliza Jane Webster, and lastly Susan B. Hancock. He's buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

11. Susan Ann Gibson, May 24 1833 / March 18 1887. Married William Lafayette Welden. She's buried in the main Gibson Cemetery.

If you're a Berryman Gibson descendant - please let me know! I love meeting new Gibson cousins. If you've got a Gibson line and you aren't sure if you're a Berryman descendant, or a Joel Gibson descendant, feel free to message me!

June Scavenger Hunt: Find a common last name in your area.

 I know there are a few more prominent last names than Williams, but trust me, it's pretty dang popular! haha.



This is the grave of Vandelia (spelled Van . Delia on her grave) "Vannie" (Nally) Williams. As with the other Vandalia/Vandelia's in the family, their name is often said to have really been "Vannie Delia" or "Vannie Dalia." That's why Vandelia's is written the way it is on the top of her tombstone.

Vannie was the daughter of Henry Oliver Nally and Vandalia Delia "Vannie" (Gibson) Nally. Henry & Vandalia were my 3x Grandparents. I suspect that my 3x Grandmother was also a "Vannie Delia" but the full spelling of her first name was Vandalia - likely named after the proposed colony. ( Read more about that here: Vandalia Colony )

Vannie was actually a twin sister of Henry Oliver "Bud" Nally (technically he was a Jr, but he and his father never used Sr & Jr in their names). They were born on November 19th, 1891, in Corydon, KY. They were clearly named after their parents - but Vannie's first name was spelled Vandelia, whereas I believe wholeheartedly my 3x Grandmother's was Vandalia.

Vannie married Richard James Williams, likely in late 1912, and they had only one daughter -- Eleanor Dorothy Williams on September 16th, 1913.

Unfortunately, on November 9th, 1913, just ten days shy of her 22nd birthday... Vannie passed away of vascular disease of the heart and dropsy. The following day, she was laid to rest in the Gibson Cemetery where quite literally her entire family resides.

After Vannie's passing - Richard remarried to Vannie's niece, Gertrude "Gertie" Baker. (Gertie was the daughter of Vannie's eldest sister, Emma.) Together, they had one son who died in infancy.

Vannie and Richard's daughter, Eleanor, married Elvis McKasson and had at least four children. Eleanor lived to see the age of 70, passing away in 1984. Her family resides over on the Indiana side of the river these days.

Vannie Williams has one of the largest graves in the Gibson Cemetery... and she certainly deserves it. A young wife, mother, daughter, sister... taken incredibly too soon.

Along with her niece, Vannie Louise Thompson, and her cousin, Vandelia (Gibson) Schultz.. she and her mother make up the only four known Vandalia/Vandelia/Vannie Delia's in the family. It's a name I'd love to see brought back to life in the family. I've always wanted to name my first daughter Glynda Geneva (after both of my Grandmothers) but if I had a second daughter, I'd likely name her Vandalia Janella (to pay homage to my 3x and my 2x Grandmothers.)

Rest in peace, Great-Great-Grandaunt. 🙏 Almost a hundred years later, you aren't forgotten.

May Scavenger Hunt: Find the grave of someone who passed away in May.

 For this prompt -- I'll be introducing you to Vandelia (Gibson) Schultz, my 1st cousin 4x removed.




Vandelia "Vannie" Gibson was born on September 28th, 1888, in Henderson County, KY, to parents Robert Benjamin Gibson and Susan A "Sudia" Pritchett. Vannie was named for her Aunt, Vandalia Delia "Vannie" (Gibson) Nally -- my 3x Grandmother.

Vannie was one of at least sixteen total children born to her father, Robert. She was one of twelve born to her mother, Sudia.

On January 21st, 1911, in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky - she married her first cousin, Audrey Kohl Gibson. They promptly moved to Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

They divorced sometime in the mid-1920's because Audrey re-married in 1928. Audrey and Vannie never had children together.

On May 21st, 1935, Vannie re-married in Henderson, Kentucky, to Robert Charles Schultz, a native of Warrick County, Indiana. He would die just a few years later in 1939.

Vannie never married again after her second husbands' death, and although they had no children together, she kept the Schultz last name.

She passed away on May 17th, 1976 in Evansville of a myocardial infarction due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. (It runs in the family, trust me.)

Vandelia survived all of her siblings, so at the time of her death, her obituary states "there are no immediate survivors." She did have numerous amounts of nieces, nephews, and cousins - way too many to list in an obituary.

She was buried in the Gibson Cemetery and unfortunately -- she has no tombstone. The best idea I have as to where she'd be buried is somewhere near her parents tombstone. She has at least six or so siblings that are in the Gibson Cemetery with her.

One of Vandelia's siblings, James Morris Gibson, just got his tombstone in the cemetery in the last month. A grandson had contacted me a handful of years back and asked if I would look around for a tombstone... and I couldn't locate one.

A granddaughter reached out to me last summer and asked for the proper avenues to go through in putting her Grandfather a tombstone in the cemetery and where at would they place it/how could they locate the exact burial location. She went through many hoops - trying to contact the funeral home his funeral was through in 1970, etc. As of May 2022, he finally has a stone placed, I believe, behind his parents tombstone.

I hope someday that Vannie Schultz will have a tombstone but with having no descendants, it's not something I can realistically see happening. There's also NO actual burial records for the Gibson Cemetery. The most comprehensive list of burials in the cemetery is on my blog here, just look for the one titled "At the Cemetery." 

There are no maps and no actual burial/plot records for the family cemetery. There is plenty of room, to my understanding, for more graves. If you're a Joel Gibson descendant - you have every right to be buried there. The newest burial in the cemetery was in 2009 when Otis' widow, Mary Katherine, passed away.

The last time I was at the cemetery which was September of 2019, at Otis and Mary's grave, I noticed a small plaque for their son, David, who passed away in 2017. I believe he was buried in Texas. I'm going to guess one of his sisters (Pamela or Ginger) placed it there for a spot of memorial closer to home. Pamela ended up passing in 2019, and Ginger in 2021. I believe they were both cremated, so it's entirely possible their ashes may reside in the Gibson Cemetery now. If anyone knows for sure, let me know, and I'll get them documented properly onto Find-a-Grave. 

May Scavenger Hunt: Find the grave of someone born in May.

 For this prompt - I'd like to introduce you to Eula May (Duncan) Nally.




Eula was born on May 17th, 1891, in the Alzey area of Henderson County to parents Elijah Thomas Duncan and Amelia Pritchett.

Her mother, Amelia, would pass away just two years later. Her mother is buried in Watson-Thornberry Cemetery in Cairo. Her father would live another couple of decades and is buried in Fairmont Cemetery.

Eula was one of only three children - she had two brothers, Edgar and Oscar. If I had to guess - Amelia being so young; she likely passed during childbirth or right after.

24-year-old Eula married my Great-Great-Granduncle, Henry Oliver "Bud" Nally (who was also 24 years old) on January 6th, 1916, likely in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

Eula was just 28-years-old when she died on February 19th, 1920 of pneumonia (on her death certificate) / influenza (in the newspaper.)

As far as I know, Eula and Uncle Bud had no children together. It's surprising they were married just over four years and had no children. It is possible that they might have had a miscarriage or stillbirth in that length of time but I've found no records.

Eula was laid to rest in the Gibson Cemetery in Corydon the very next day, February 20th, 1920. She has a very large, prominent tombstone in the cemetery.

Uncle Bud went on to marry a second time to Ruth Lee Hall in December of 1922. They would have one son together - Edward. Ruth, too, died young in 1939 at just 36 years of age.

Uncle Bud's third and last marriage would be to Aunt Mamie (Phillips) Nally - who was originally married to Bud's older brother, Uncle Sid. (Uncle Sid, too, died very young in 1926 of erysipelas.)

Uncle Bud passed on October 15th, 1972 -- 52 years, almost 53 years, after his first wife, Eula. Uncle Bud was buried in Fairmont Cemetery, which is where his second wife, Ruth, is also buried.

Eula is buried among her husbands family in the Gibson Cemetery - but, slightly more distantly - it is her family as well.

Eula's Great-Great-Great-Grandparents were Nathaniel Benjamin Duncan and Jane Rainey. They were the parents of someone else buried in the Gibson Cemetery -- my 5x Grandmother, Susan (Duncan) Gibson... wife of Berryman Gibson.

Uncle Bud was a Great-Great-Grandson of Nathaniel and Jane through Susan (Duncan) Gibson & Berryman Gibson...so that would have made he and Eula 3rd cousins 1x removed with each other through their Duncan/Rainey line.

Here's to remembering young Eula May (Duncan) Nally - gone now for 102 years.

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

April Scavenger Hunt: Find the Grave of Someone Who Passed Prior to 1850

 


"Find the grave of someone who passed prior to 1850."

For this one... it was more than clear to me that I wanted to write about Joel Gibson, my 6x Grandfather and undoubtedly the patriarch of at least 75% of all Gibson's in the Henderson County area.

Joel, for many many years, has been a favorite ancestor of mine to research. He is the forefather of everyone buried in the two Gibson cemeteries in Corydon. He is quite an interesting man to learn about.

Several years ago, I was contacted by a Joel descendant who believed Joel was an FPC (free person of color.) Now, this was an interesting theory to me as I had heard previously, in my youth, that there might have been some African ancestry on that line. However - DNA hasn't been able to prove this. My Mom did get a whopping 7.2% African on MyHeritage, yet 0% on Ancestry.

As of right now - through DNA matching... it appears Joel Gibson might be a son of a John Gibson and Mary Duncan and had a number of siblings that include (we have DNA matches to descendants of each of these): William Gibson who married Elizabeth McCormick (they ended up in Henderson), Naomi Gibson who married William Hogg, Susannah Gibson who married David Lay, John Gibson who married Judith Hogg, James Gibson, Richard Gibson who married Ann Yates, Julius Gibson, Lucresha Gibson who married a Birchfield, and Hannah Gibson who married Joseph Baird and then Jesse Lay.

Joel Gibson was undoubtedly born in 1750, likely in Caswell Co, North Carolina. That, too, is where he married his wife Eleanor (who's last name has been reported as Davis for years) in about 1768/1769. Joel enlisted into the military in 1776 and was discharged in 1783. He was part of the North Carolina Infantry, the "Continental Line."

Sometime around the year 1807 - the family moved from Caswell County, NC, to Pittsylvania County, VA. A few of Joel's daughters married there in the next few years.
By the 1810 census - Joel is in Christian County, Kentucky. He is listed as a male, 45 years and over. However, Joel would have been closer to 60 years of age - so he probably should have been in a '50-59' category but, age back in those days and those early, primitive censuses... it was fluid. That's the best way to put it. Age was fluid. Historically speaking, Joel and his family arrived here in Henderson County (the Corydon area specifically) in 1813.

On April 25th, 1825, he filed a revolutionary war pension and mentioned he was a widow. (I believe Eleanor died in Henderson County in about 1818.) Joel reports that he relies on his sons for support - money and his care. It literally mentions him being penniless if it weren't for his sons... which is surprising, honestly. Joel was the patriarch or the Gibson's. I feel like his sons wouldn't have everything they had, had it not been for him (at least in part anyway,) so it startles me that he was so... poor. But perhaps he knew that was the only way he'd get his revolutionary war pension approved. I don't know. For many years, family historians believed he moved here to Kentucky on a Land Grant from the war but that has proved to be untrue.

Joel died on December 23rd, 1830, in Corydon, Kentucky. He was laid to rest at the Gibson Cemetery. Some amateur family history enthusiasts say that he was "taken back to North Carolina and buried," but trust me... in 1830 - that was dang near impossible to do and the Gibson family definitely didn't have that kind of expense account, especially with Joel being "penniless." No - Joel was one of the first burials in the Gibson Cemetery. It's arguable that his wife, Eleanor, might have been the actual first, in or around 1818...but no tombstone for her has ever been recovered/found.

I had speculation of Joel's children for YEARS. I couldn't get a hold of his estate paperwork until about two years ago which confirmed all the children that I believed to be his. (When it comes to Gibson research... my gut instinct is about 99.9% correct. They're my favorite line to research so I've become very good at it over the years.) I feel like there might be other children of Joel's that died prior to his death in 1830 that I might be missing. Since they aren't listed in his estate papers... they're lost to history, unfortunately.

The children I have been able to find and a little information about them--

1) Vicey (possible full name could have been Lavicey) Gibson, born about 1770, and married Josiah Stone in or around 1788. They were in Henderson County by 1810. Vicey died between 1840-1850 possibly in Union or Henderson County. ** Chances are, if you're a Stone from Henderson/Union/Webster, you descend through Josiah & Vicey OR through Josiah's brother Levi Stone...and some of you descend through BOTH. **

2) Burgess Gibson (Burgess' name lends me the thought that Joel's mother might have maidenly been a Burgess, not a Duncan, or perhaps Eleanor's maiden name was actually Burgess. I have a lot of Burgess matches in DNA that not only match my Dad through his Bastin line, but also match my Mom and I'm thinking it's through the Gibson's. It's too eerie of a coincidence. Because the Burgesses were known to be in Pittsylvania Co, VA.) Burgess was born about 1772. He had an unknown first wife, then married a woman named Sarah. He was in Henderson by 1820, and I believe he died in Union County between 1840-1850.

3) Elizabeth Gibson reportedly born 1782 - Elizabeth is not listed in Joel's pension paperwork, so in my opinion, it confirms she died prior to 1830.

4) Bailey Gibson, born about 1784. He married Catherine Sights here in Henderson County on February 22nd, 1813. Bailey died here in 1856.

*The next two children, I'm not sure that they weren't twins. Twins run heavily in the Gibson family so it's possible, considering their names are similar*

5) Greenberry "Berry" Gibson, born about 1785, married a Charlotte Davis. He's in Henderson by the 1830 census. By 1840, he's moved to St. Francois Co, MO. I believe he died there between 1850-1860, but some relatives say he came back to Henderson and died. He has a number of Missourian descendants that would love to figure out if he's buried there, buried here, when exactly he died, etc.

6) Berryman "Berry" Gibson, reportedly born June 13th, 1785, and married Susan Duncan in about 1808 - likely in Pittsylvania Co, VA. They were my 5x Great-Grandparents. Berryman was in the War of 1812 and was in the Virginia militia. I believe the family was definitely in the VA area from 1810-1813. Likely, like his family, he was here in Henderson by 1820.. but the first census I've definitely nailed him on is 1830. Berryman's tombstone has been replaced and the year of death has now incorrectly been reported as 1870. However - he is listed on the mortality schedule in the 1870 census, so he died PRIOR to June 1st, 1870 (hence why June 1st, 1870 is given as his death date. That is incorrect.) He died in September of 1869 of consumption (tuberculosis.) His will was not probated until September 5th, 1870, which I believe also added to the 'he died in 1870' idea. He and Susan, though, are definitely buried in Gibson Cemetery.

7) Robert Gibson, born about 1786, reportedly went to Alabama, married, had some kids and then might have migrated back up to Henderson County. He's a bit of an enigma. There's a Robert who married an Eliza Seay in Dallas Co, AL.. but I'm not 10000% sold that it's our correct Robert. It definitely could be, though.

8 ) Tillman Gibson (also spelled Tilghman) born about 1790 in reportedly Pittsylvania Co, VA. It is documented he went to Alabama. He married a Sarah Crowley in about 1824 (there's Crowley's that are prominent in Webster Co so it's possible she's related to them.) By 1850, he's in Fayette Co, AL. He died there between 1860-1870.

9) Margaret "Peggy" Gibson, born about 1793, married Abraham Shelton on February 24th, 1808, in Pittsylvania Co, VA. There is a land deed she and her husband took out in 1827 for here in Henderson County. I believe Peggy died here between 1840-1846, as her husband remarries in 1846.

10) Nancy Gibson, born about 1795. She, too, married a Shelton... but the name hasn't been located. They, too, likely married in Pittsylvania and her Shelton might have been a brother of Abraham Shelton. Brothers marrying sisters back then was very, very common.

It is not out of the question to say that about 75% of Henderson County is related to one another through a common ancestor of Joel Gibson. There are thousands of us here today and all over the world. Some of his descendants are even famous - one is an Emmy-winning journalist, one is a Professor of Biophysics, one is a renowned children's author, one owns a prominent Henderson restaurant, and the list could go on and on and on.

It might be a bit taboo to mention, but I hope y'all will understand that it's part of our history - but the Gibson's did in fact have quite a substantial plantation or two out in the Corydon/Little Dixie areas. They were indeed slave holders (some of the Gibson sons owned more than others). I spoke with an African-American gentleman with the last name of Dixon at the library many years ago, in about 2009 or 2010.. and he believed he was a Joel Gibson descendant through breeding of slaves. I know that there are a many of African-American, likely slave descended - Dixon's, Pritchett's, Gibson's, and other large last names in that area, out in the Corydon/Dixie/Cairo areas even today. It is very, very possible you're a Joel Gibson descendant. DNA *might* be able to help us determine that.

I'll wrap this up with my usual - if you're out in the Corydon area and feel like dropping by a cemetery... say hello to Joel, because chances are, you're saying hello to your ancestor. If you're ever curious if you have a Joel Gibson line - contact me! I love nothing more than connecting with new Gibson cousins.



April Scavenger Hunt: Find the Grave of Someone who Passed Away in April

 



"Find me a grave of someone who passed away in April."

I've also inverted the colors of his tombstone to help read the stone a bit better. I photographed this stone in 2010 on a cell phone camera, so it's not the best. I plan to get back out there and clean this stone and re-photograph it when the weather calms down.
William James Gibson was born November 21st, 1842, and died April 22nd, 1843. He was the first child born to John Gregory Gibson (1816-1890) and Mahala Caroline Busby (1820-1868), my 4x Grandparents.

John and Mahala married on November 1st, 1841, in Henderson County, KY. They lived in the Corydon area for the majority of their lives.

William was born a little over a year after their marriage and died at only five months and one day old. In total, they had 13 children that I've found. I cannot say for sure they didn't have other children that might have died as infants and their tombstones are lost or they never had one to begin with.

John and Mahala's other children and their spouses include:

2) Robert Benjamin Gibson (1844-1913) m1. Sibbie Denton, m2. Susan A "Sudia" Pritchett.

3) Susan E. Gibson (1846-1865) m. James Frederick Denton.

4) James Fagan Gibson (1848-1911) m. Nancy Jane "Nannie" Gibson.

5) Martha Caroline Gibson (1849-1855)

6) Neosha Jane "Noty" Gibson (she often spelled her last name GIPSON) (1852-1930) m. William Hollis Culver Jr.

7) Lucilla E. Gibson (1853-1878) Never married but had one child out of wedlock, Minnie, who was raised by Fagan and his wife.

8 ) John Beverly Gibson (1855-1936) m1. Sarah Jane Koonce, m2. Martha "Mattie" Walker.
9) Vandalia Delia "Vannie" Gibson (1856-1949) m. Henry Oliver Nally. (These are my 3x Grandparents.)

10) William K. Gibson (1858-1904) m. Margaret Ellen "Maggie" Pritchett

11) Mary J. Gibson (1859-1860)

12) Infant Gibson (1861-1861)

13) George Harrell Gibson (1862-1940) m. Cora Francis Young.

Next time you're out at the Gibson Family Cemetery in Corydon - take time out of your day to say hello to little William, and to the right of his grave, his Great-Grandpa and patriarch of the Henderson Gibson's --- Joel Gibson (1750-1830), Rev. War Patriot. Chances are, no matter who you are, you're a Joel Gibson descendant even if you don't know it yet.

If you'd like to know whether or not you're a Gibson descendant - just message me about doing your family tree! I loooove to meet new cousins, and Gibson cousins are my favorite. 🙂

April Scavenger Hunt: Find a Grave of Someone Born in April




"Find a grave of someone born in April."

As a matter of fact -- this tombstone is shared by two people born in April.

Uncle Sid was born on April 5th, 1885, and Aunt Mamie was born on April 4th, 1890.
Let's talk about them a bit so you can get to know these two people. My Mom actually had the pleasure of meeting Aunt Mamie when she was younger. She told me she was a very kind woman, and quite funny.

Sidney Thomas Nally was the fourth child of Henry Oliver Nally and Vandalia Delia Gibson. Sid and Mamie married on February 3rd, 1911, in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. They had five children together: James Dorris Nally, twins May & Ray who died on the day they were born, Raymond Nally, and Morrison Phillip Nally who died at just shy of a month old.

Uncle Sid died at just 41 years young of erysipelas. If you're a Downton Abbey fan, you'll recognize erysipelas from season one - it's what Mrs. Crawley believes Mr. Molesley has, when instead, it's a rue allergy. Unfortunately for Uncle Sid, as of November 15th, 1926, when he passed -- there was no cure for erysipelas... only management.

Now to talk about Aunt Mamie -- she was the sixth child of Conrad Herman Phillips and Mary Belle Royster. (They are buried in Royster Cemetery.)

Uncle Sid was her first marriage, and unfortunately, it ended in him passing young.
 Sometime around 1928, she re-married to John Eblen Denton. He was a widower - his first wife, Allie Liles, having died in 1925. He, too, passed before Aunt Mamie in just 1932 at the age of 64 of organic heart disease. (He's buried in Denton Cemetery.) Their union resulted in no children.

Some time later - Aunt Mamie married for the third time to Uncle Sid's brother, Uncle Bud -- he was born Henry Oliver Nally (technically Jr.) I believe they married sometime in the 1940's and remained married through Uncle Bud's passing in 1972 at 80 years of age. (He's buried in Fairmont Cemetery.)

Uncle Bud had been married two previous times - Eula May Duncan (she, too, is buried in Gibson Cemetery as she died very young in 1920) and his second wife, Ruth Lee Hall, who died in 1939. Uncle Bud and Ruth had one son: Edward Lee Nally.

Aunt Mamie herself made it to the ripe old age of 96 - passing away on September 30th, 1986. She and Uncle Sid reside in the Gibson Cemetery in Corydon, KY. Their tombstone, in my opinion, is one of the biggest in the cemetery and their descendants keep it nice with a saddle of flowers.

Uncle Sid and Uncle Bud were brothers of my Great-Great-Grandmother, Mary Janella (Nally) Thompson.

I leave you with their tombstone photograph and the only photograph in existence of Uncle Sid -- it was probably taken around his marriage to Aunt Mamie, so circa 1911 (he'd have been 25 years of age.) I enhanced it a bit with the Remini app and also colorized it. He was a very, very handsome young man.

Their tombstone will take quite a bit of effort to clean up - but I'd love to get the discoloration off of it at some point. It'll take quite a bit of product but I sure do know Uncle Sid and Aunt Mamie are more than worth the money, time, and effort.

If you get out to the Gibson Cemetery any time soon... say hello to them. I'm sure they'd be happy to make your acquaintance.



April Scavenger Hunt: Find a Woodsmen of the World Grave

 



“Find a Woodsmen of the World grave.” (This won't be *too* long of a post because I've written in depth about Uncle Fagan before.)

This is James Fagan Gibson and he is my 3x Great Granduncle. His sister, Vandalia (Gibson) Nally was my 3x Great Grandmother. 

Uncle Fagan is buried in the Gibson Cemetery in Corydon and yep, his stone is in need of some TLC. 

The son of John Gregory Gibson and Mahala Caroline Busby, he was born on November 14th, 1848 in the Corydon area. 

Fagan married his 2nd cousin 1x removed, Nancy Jane “Nannie” Gibson on April 20th, 1872 in Gallatin Co, IL. 

He and his wife didn’t have children but they helped care for a few of his nieces— Mary (daughter of his brother Robert) and Minnie (daughter of his sister Lucilla.)

He ran the county sanitarium in Corydon for a while. I also learned his Dad, John, had run the sanitarium and even died there when I found Fagan’s obituary. 

Fagan died on May 11th, 1911 at the age of 62. 

RIP Uncle Fagan. 🙏