William H. Gibson
Encyclopedia
William Harvey Gibson was a Republican politician who was Ohio State Treasurer
, an American Civil War
Union Army
General and orator. He resigned from the Treasurer office in disgrace, redeemed his reputation in war, and was later Ohio Adjutant General
and Canal Commissioner.
, Jefferson County
, Ohio
. Gibson's father purchased 320 acres from the Federal Government in Seneca County, Ohio
in 1821, and the family moved there when William was four months old. He received a common school education, with a two year course in Ashland
Academy, where he honed his debating skills. He learned the carpenters trade, and studied law.
Gibson settled in Tiffin, Ohio
in 1843, and practiced as a lawyer. He took the stump for the first time for the Whig Presidential candidate Henry Clay
in 1844. On May 25, 1847, Gibson was married in the Presbyterian Church to Martha Matilda Creeger of Tiffin.
Gibson supported Whigs Taylor in 1848, and Scott in 1852, attending the National Convention in 1852 in Baltimore as a delegate. He averaged two speeches a day for Scott. With the collapse of the Whig party, Gibson became a Republican. Gibson was a delegate to the National Republican Convention in 1856.
to avoid prosecution, and Gibson returned to Tiffin.
summarized Gibson's service in the American Civil War
thusly:
On July 25, 1861, Gibson had a large recruiting poster printed:
Gibson entered service July 31, 1861, and by August 31 was named Colonel of the Forty-Ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry
. In his first battle, at Pittsburg Landing, he had three horses shot from under him, and was carried from the field with a bayonet wound. The 49th served for three years in a number of battles. Gibson was mustered out September 5, 1864, and brevetted Brigadier General March 13, 1865.
In 1868, Gibson was nominated for Ohio's 9th congressional district
, but lost to Democrat Edward F. Dickinson
, with his biographer alleging voting fraud.
In the 1880's, Gibson was made a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was appointed Ohio Adjutant General
by Governor Foster. In 1887, he was named to the Ohio Canal Commission by Governor Foraker
. After serving as postmaster of Tiffin, he died at home in 1894. Governor McKinley
spoke at his funeral. He was interred in Greenlawn Cemetery.
Ohio State Treasurer
-List of Ohio State Treasurers:...
, an American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
General and orator. He resigned from the Treasurer office in disgrace, redeemed his reputation in war, and was later Ohio Adjutant General
Ohio Adjutant General's Department
Ohio Adjutant General's Department is in the executive branch of government in the State of Ohio concerned with the military forces of the State of Ohio in the United States of America....
and Canal Commissioner.
Biography
William H. Gibson was born at Cross Creek TownshipCross Creek Township, Jefferson County, Ohio
Cross Creek Township is one of the fourteen townships of Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 8,761 people in the township, 5,643 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Ohio
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 69,709. Its county seat is Steubenville and is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was at the time Vice President....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Gibson's father purchased 320 acres from the Federal Government in Seneca County, Ohio
Seneca County, Ohio
Seneca County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 56,745. Its county seat is Tiffin and it is named for the Seneca Indians.The Tiffin Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Seneca County....
in 1821, and the family moved there when William was four months old. He received a common school education, with a two year course in Ashland
Ashland, Ohio
Ashland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Ashland County. The population was 21,249 at the 2000 census. It is the center of the Ashland Micropolitan Statistical Area...
Academy, where he honed his debating skills. He learned the carpenters trade, and studied law.
Gibson settled in Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin is a city in and the county seat of Seneca County, Ohio, United States. The population was 18,135 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Tiffin as a Tree City USA....
in 1843, and practiced as a lawyer. He took the stump for the first time for the Whig Presidential candidate Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
in 1844. On May 25, 1847, Gibson was married in the Presbyterian Church to Martha Matilda Creeger of Tiffin.
Gibson supported Whigs Taylor in 1848, and Scott in 1852, attending the National Convention in 1852 in Baltimore as a delegate. He averaged two speeches a day for Scott. With the collapse of the Whig party, Gibson became a Republican. Gibson was a delegate to the National Republican Convention in 1856.
State Treasurer
In 1855, Gibson ran for Ohio State Treasurer, defeating the Incumbent Democrat, John G. Breslin. Breslin was a fellow Tiffin resident, and was related by marriage to Gibson. Gibson was inducted into the office January 17, 1856, and resigned June 13, 1857. Gibson found that the treasury was short several hundred thousand dollars when he entered office. He confronted Breslin, who assured him that the money would be made good. Breslin noted that his predecessor, Albert A. Bliss had been $65,000 short, and had made it up. He intended to do the same. When the Breslin Treasury Defalcation became public, Gibson was forced to resign. An indignation meeting of leading politicians in the streets of Columbus denounced Breslin and Gibson. A commission appointed to investigate found Gibson's crime was not in taking money for himself, but in participating in a cover-up. Breslin had moved to CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to avoid prosecution, and Gibson returned to Tiffin.
Civil War
Whitelaw ReidWhitelaw Reid
Whitelaw Reid was a U.S. politician and newspaper editor, as well as the author of a popular history of Ohio in the Civil War.-Early life:...
summarized Gibson's service in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
thusly:
On July 25, 1861, Gibson had a large recruiting poster printed:
Gibson entered service July 31, 1861, and by August 31 was named Colonel of the Forty-Ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry
49th Ohio Infantry
The 49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 49th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Noble in Tiffin, Ohio August and September 1861 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel William H. Gibson...
. In his first battle, at Pittsburg Landing, he had three horses shot from under him, and was carried from the field with a bayonet wound. The 49th served for three years in a number of battles. Gibson was mustered out September 5, 1864, and brevetted Brigadier General March 13, 1865.
Post war
Gibson practiced law in Tiffin until 1872, when he gave up the vocation. He devoted time to real estate and railroad development. He also was busy making stump speeches for Republican candidates, including for Grant in 1868 and 1872, Hayes in 1876, Garfield in 1880, Blaine in 1884, and Harrison in 1888.In 1868, Gibson was nominated for Ohio's 9th congressional district
Ohio's 9th congressional district
Ohio's 9th congressional district has been represented by Representative Marcia C. Kaptur since 1983.This district is in the northern part of the state, bordering Michigan and Ontario, Canada , and includes the counties of Erie, Lorain, Lucas, and Ottawa.-List of largest municipalities:All or part...
, but lost to Democrat Edward F. Dickinson
Edward F. Dickinson
Edward Fenwick Dickinson was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Fremont, Ohio, Dickinson attended the public schools. He graduated from St. Xavier College, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he had studied law. After he was admitted to the bar, he commenced practice in Fremont, Ohio...
, with his biographer alleging voting fraud.
In the 1880's, Gibson was made a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was appointed Ohio Adjutant General
Ohio Adjutant General's Department
Ohio Adjutant General's Department is in the executive branch of government in the State of Ohio concerned with the military forces of the State of Ohio in the United States of America....
by Governor Foster. In 1887, he was named to the Ohio Canal Commission by Governor Foraker
Joseph B. Foraker
Joseph Benson Foraker was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 37th Governor of Ohio from 1886 to 1890.-Early life:...
. After serving as postmaster of Tiffin, he died at home in 1894. Governor McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
spoke at his funeral. He was interred in Greenlawn Cemetery.
External links
- Gibson obituary in New York Times
- Breslin Treasury defalcation in New York Times