William Utley Gibbs (1853 - 1906)

Born 4 May 1853 in Big Prairie, Newaygo, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Lois (Dunham) Holloway — married 1 Jul 1876 in Newaygo, Michigan, United States

Died 11 Jan 1906 at age 52 in White Cloud, Newaygo, Michigan, United States

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Biography

William was born in 1853, the son of James Monroe Gibbs and Frances Jane Utley. He married Lois Dunham in 1876 and they had three children, Gertrude (died in infancy), Orley Monroe, and Bartimus Nathan. He died in 1906 and is buried in White Cloud Cemetery in White Cloud, Michigan.

His obituary, uploaded to his FindAGrave memorial reads as follows:

Obituary. William Utley Gibbs was born in Big Prairie May 4th 1853. He passed to the land immortal on Thursday afternoon Jan. 11, 1906. As his mother had been waiting for him seven years we may suppose that his welcome was as joyful as his departure is tearful.

He came to White Cloud in 1873 and since that time has been identified with its interests and solicitous for its welfare. There was much in his life that parallels with the majority and some things in which he is superior to the average man of the world. His business sagacity brought him in close touch with the extensive commercial interests and lumber operations of this county, and his energy and untiring industry made him a valuable citizen and a good example for many to follow. Mr. Gibbs was a man of optimistic temperament hence his encouraging words and cheering smiles made him exceedingly useful and placed him in happy relations with his fellow men. Naturally quiet and unassuming in his manners, he was not a man to push others aside that he might work his way into prominence. He was quick witted and could seize the ideas of others, and astonish you by the quaintness and force of his own suggestions. At the same time his mind was well balanced, so that he was cautious and not easily led into unpleasant or unprofitable situations. This made him a valuable counselor and public official, which was recognized by his fellow citizens who repeatedly elected him to office.

His ideals were ethical. His conscience was his guide. Hence moral truth had a charm for him and obedience to moral truth had a place in his experience. Out of this developed his spiritual standards and experience, his acceptance of religious obligations and his connection with the church. He showed his love for and confidence in the church by joining it in 1893 and the community loses a steady and upright citizen and the church loses a firm. and constant supporter and a large number of us feel that we have lost a friend by giving for it and working for it. The church showed its confidence in him by electing him to two of its offices—Trustee and Deacon.

Sources

• United States Federal Census:
  • Year: 1870; Census Place: Big Prairie, Newaygo, Michigan; Roll: M593_693; Page: 19A
  • Year: 1880; Census Place: White Cloud, Newaygo, Michigan; Roll: 598; Page: 318D; Enumeration District: 198
  • Year: 1900; Census Place: White Cloud, Newaygo, Michigan; Roll: 735; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0100; FHL microfilm: 1240735
• Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952; Film: 13; Film Description: 1876 Gladwin-1876 Washtenaw. Record A 654.
• Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, Michigan; Death Records. File: 760.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 October 2020), memorial page for William Utley Gibbs (4 May 1852–11 Jan 1906), Find a Grave Memorial no. 68881095, citing White Cloud Cemetery, White Cloud, Newaygo County, Michigan, USA ; Maintained by Laura Pinks (contributor 47128174) .

DNA

Matches between descendants of William Utley Gibbs and his sister, Flora Gibbs Ladner:

• Paternal and maternal relationships suggested by AncestryDNA test matches between Jana Wellman, 2nd great great granddaughter of Flora Gibbs and her cousins as follows:
  • 4C, DG, 2nd great grandchild of William Utley Gibbs. Their most recent common ancestors are their 3rd great grandparents, James Monroe Gibbs and Frances Jane Utley. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (4C in 20% tier) based on sharing 29 cm / across 3 segments.
  • 4C1R, RC, 3rd great grandchild of William Utley Gibbs. Their most recent common ancestors are Jana's 3rd / RC's 4th great grandparents, James Monroe Gibbs and Frances Jane Utley. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (4C1R in 11% tier) based on sharing 20 cm / across 2 segments.
  • 4C1R, KD, 3rd great grandchild of William Utley Gibbs. Their most recent common ancestors are Jana's 3rd / KD's 4th great grandparents, James Monroe Gibbs and Frances Jane Utley. Predicted relationship at AncestryDNA: 4th-6th cousin (4C1R in 6% tier) based on sharing 32 cm across 3 segments.