Ichabod Gibbs (1826 - 1858) Cause of death

Question

Ichabod Gibbs was born in 1826 in Alburg, Grand Isle, Vermont, United States. His parents were Samuel Gibbs and Amy Babcock. He married Mary Race on December 29, 1849 Together they had 3 children. He died on November 25, 1858 in Bangor, Franklin, New York, USA

We need collaboration finding cause of death. The gravestone has engraving but not legible. Did he die by suicide? An illness? Maybe a farm accident. He didn’t die in the Civil War even though his 3 brothers served in New York Regts. His widow remarried his brother John 

Note: daughter Evaline Abidine (Gibbs) Brown (1853 - 1924) death record records him as the father. 

Thank you 

Answer 1

Andrew,

Had a look at this and couldn't find anything anywhere concerning cause of death. I did look at the higher quality image of the headstone and it clearly says "He died xxxxxxxxxx". In the middle of the xxxxxxxxxx, i am pretty sure I see a "ph".  This tells me that it was most likely NOT suicide, but more likely an illness or disease.  I can't think of any kind of accident that has a "ph" in the middle. I also cannot tell for sure if the xxxxxxxxxx is one or two words, but I think the first two letters are "of". If that's the case, we just need to find a term common to the 1850s with a ph in the middle. If you send me your email in a PM, I'll send you an enhanced graphic of that portion of the image. It might be best to find someone local to Bangor that can physically go look at the headstone to see if it can be deciphered.  They can look from multiple angles and maybe even do a paper tracing.

Ken

Comments

I had a look at the old medical terms here (https://lhaasdav.com/learningcenter/diseasesold.html) and the only one that "may" fit appears to be Hydrophobia. So the text may say "He died of hydrophobia".  Hydrophobia is today known as Rabies.

Ken

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Thanks Ken this is a good start. Maybe Typhus? Typhoid? If you can send me the image that would help. I agree need to physically go inspect the stone itself for a different angle. 

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We definitely now know his cause of death was written on the stone. This is a break thru! Thank you so much

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Ken:

    You must have an amazing set of eyes.

                                  Roger

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Thanks!!!

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A interesting side note. James Buchanan was the President of the United States when he died he never lived to see the Civil War or Abe Lincoln. The word “Triumphant” is possible he died of illness and Not a farm accident. Interesting choice of wording on his stone. He definitely didn’t die in the war.

Answer 2

I found a clearer shot of the headstone on ancestry.com.  I'm getting "triumphantly", but not 100%.  But close.  Maybe just "triumphant".

I also checked newspapers.com and found nothing.

Comments

Thank you Sandi. I can’t find Ichabod in any news clips yet. That would be amazing if we could!

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Here is the shared link to grave it’s a clearer image but might need Ken to try enhancement again. 

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The symbolism I can’t figure out in the stone. It’s circular appears to be a tree? What does it represent? Very unique never seen this symbol on a stone b4

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I think it's just the artisan's style.  It's Ichabod's name.  If there is more to it than that, I would be interested in knowing.  

I would also like to know what he was triumphant about prior to his death.  I was hoping newspapers would help there.  Or maybe court cases?

Good luck!

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News clips hard to find prior to 1858 in Franklin or St. Lawrence Counties of New York as Ichabod Gibbs doesn’t have any results. The LNAB Gibbs is too common. I’m thinking he was not called Ichabod. Maybe a middle name he used or nickname. In an obit should be listed as first name Ichabod but nothing in results, yet!