John Bud Gibson

Bud Gibson and two of his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth bought

a farm located a mile or two southwest of Summers, Arkansas in

S20T15NR33W consisting of about 120 acres. They all three may

have lived there awhile, but both sisters married and moved out,

Mary in 1874 and Elizabeth in 1877. Bud may have married in

1889, as his first child Anna Mabel (Annie) was born 26

February 1890. (Annie was my mother.) Bud's second and last

child Robert Hillry, was born 17 May 1892. Things seemed to go

well with Bud and Hettie. He was a good farmer, and provided

well for his family, but suffered from bouts of extreme depression,

when he felt he could never support his family. During one

of these episodes, Bud shot and killed himself. After this, it

became necessary to pay Bud's sister, Mary for her share of the

farm, and nearly all the livestock, farm tools, grain, hay, and

anything else not nailed down was sold to accomplish this. After

he was grown, my Uncle Robert Hillry, repaid his Aunt

Elizabeth for her share of the farm. On July 2, 1899 Hettie

Gertrude married John A. Tennant, son of a neighbor, Thomas

S. Tennant. John and Hettie had three children Ralph and Roy,

twins, and Eula. Ralph died in infancy, and Eula died in Memphis,

Tennessee about two years ago. Roy still lives at Westville,

Oklahoma. Robert Hillry married Iva Marie Moore 14 February

1914, and had children Virginia Ruth and Genevieve. Anna

Mabel Gibson married Harvey Samuel Gibson, 7 October 1914:

for an account of their descendants, see under John Gibson. Eula

Tennant married Hugh Witt, son of Dave Witt and Myrtle

Thomason Witt of Vinita, Oklahoma. Their children were

J. D. and Buford Witt. J. D. has died and is buried at Vinita.

Buford and family live at Memphis, Tennessee where he is a

commodities broker.

Bud Gibson seems to have been an effective member of the

community, and but for his afliction might have accomplished

much more than he did.

At one time, 2 February 1891, he was elected or appointed

Road Overseer, (A now extinct Township officer charged with

the maintenance of the local roads) and authorized by Justice of

the Peace W. D. Parks, to call up, and supervise the work of a

group of citizens while they repaired the Line Road, beginning at

Summers Store and terminating at the south line of Price

Township. This crew included Ben Haws, William Shannon,

Ross Little, Ollie Batie, B. M. Alexander (Bud's father-in-law),

William Washington, Jim Fletcher, Dude White, and Jake.

Bud was also Road Overseer in 1888, and had a large crew

with which to maintain the George Gibson Road (2nd District)

from the north boundary to the south boundary of Price

Township. Judge Parks also authorized this crew. It included

Evins, H. P. Burkett, J. C. Ross, M. C. Smith, Lewis Williams,

Heb Foster, Richard Colliver, Jim Fletcher, Jim Carter, William

Gibson, William Poston, "Press" (Sidney Preston) Kirk, Trim

Barker, Ellis Boland, Aus Boland, Jack Barker, Ky Little, Henry

Funkhouser, (col.) Stirling Smith, Fate Snodgrass, John

Snodgrass, J. D. Moore, William· Shannon, Jim Little, George

Gibson, C. Edmondson, Elaxander, A. J. White.

Bud and Hettie traded at Cincinnati, about 7 miles north of

their farm, One bill which has come down to me is dated

December 1, 1891 from "R. J. Rhea, Dealer in Drygoods,

Groceries, Boots, Shoes, Hats, Caps and Clothing. Highest price

paid for country produce." It included "1/2 bu. Timothy (grass

seed), $1.25 (by Alexander). One plow share and one wash board,

$1.90; 1 pair boys pants, 1 pair shoes and 3 pair socks, $3.40; 6

yards calico, $.30; 10 yards shirting, $.85; towells, $.50; one boys

coat, $3.00; 1 pair blankets, $1.20; 1 pair boots, $5.00; 1

pitchfork, $.35; 1 pair baby shoes, $.75. These bills were made

between February and August 1891. Items credited against the

bills included: Hauling freight, $12.00, Hauling freight (1700lb.),

$5.10; Hauling 2 bales of cotton, $2.00; by 100 lb. bacon and 15

lbs. lard, $11.50, etc.

Between August and December 1881 the account included:

one Stetson hat and tobacco ($.10) $5.10; Tobacco, $.10; coffee,

$.30; two yards of Jeans, $.80; sugar, 1.00; tobacco, $.10; candy,

$.05; and crackers, $.05.

Bud, Hettie and Barclay Alexander ran up bills of $92.00 and

paid $40.25, still owing $51.85 at the time of billing.

By: James E. Gibson