An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 271-272. JOHN J. GIBBONS, who resides about four miles southwest from Hood River, is one of the substantial and industrious fruit raisers of the valley. He was born in Ireland, on May 21, 1846, the son of Martin and Annie (King) Gibbons, natives also of Ireland. The father died in Mayo county and the mother lives there at the present time. He was a civil engineer and a farmer. Our subject came to the United States when nine years of age with his older brothers and sisters. They settled in New York city and John obtained work as an errand boy in a large store where he continued two years. Then he went to St. Louis and joined relatives there and spent two years in learning the carpenter's trade after which he entered the car shops and was employed in that capacity for ten years in St. Louis and St. Joe. About 1878, Mr. Gibbons came to San Francisco and took a place in the Southern Pacific shops. In 1881, we find him in The Dalles, operating for the O.R. & N. In 1892, he decided to quit the railroad and retire to the farm, where he now lives, which he had bought during his service in the shops. Then he settled down to the cultivation of his farm and to raising fruit. He has about eleven hundred fine apple trees, Spitzenberg mainly, and sold many hundreds of boxes last year. He also raises grapes, pears and berries but apples are his main crop. On October 9, 1870, at St. Joseph, Missouri, Mr. Gibbons married Miss Sarah McSherry, who was born in Maryland, opposite Alexandria, Virginia, whence her parents moved when she was an infant. Her father, Richard M., was a native of north Ireland and came to the United States when a young man. He served in the Confederate army and died in Kansas in 1899. Mrs. Gibbons' mother was also a native of Ireland and there was married. She died in Kansas. Mr. Gibbons has six brothers, Edward, Peter, Michael, Patrick, David, deceased, and James. The latter died in India as a member of the British Heavy Artillery. Mrs. Gibbons has two brothers, James and Thomas, and four sisters, Alice Goldsberry, Mary Magney, Theresa Dever, and Maggie Gurry. Mr. Gibbons has five children living, Frank, Charles, Albert, Willis and Emma, and three deceased; David M., who served in Company D, Second Oregon infantry in the Philippines where he died from disease contracted in the army; John, who died at Hood River when eighteen; and Richard, who died at Hood River, on September 18, 1898, aged twenty. On October 29, 1898, Mrs. Gibbons was killed by a runaway horse. Mr. Gibbons is a member of the A.F. & A.M. and also belongs to the Christian church. He is a Republican and has been delegate to the conventions although he is not especially active. In all school matters, Mr. Gibbons manifests a marked zeal and interest. He has held the office of director a long time and with John Wilson, succeeded in establishing the Barrett district school which is a fine property of' three rooms and one of the largest of its kind in the county. Mr. Gibbons spent a great real of time in bringing the matter before the people and raising funds for the enterprise and finally was successful and it is a monument to his wisdom and labor in which he may well take pride. Mr. Gibbons is a good man, highly respected by all, and has shown marked industry in the labors he has performed in this valley. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.