An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 470-471 JOSEPH GIBSON, pioneer, farmer and stock-raiser of Washington, now residing on one of the best farms in Thurston county, situated a mile and a quarter from Bucoda, was born in Cass county, Indiana, December 1, 1833. His parents, Joseph and Sarah (McMillan) Gibson, were natives of Virginia and descendants of old and prominent families. His parents conducted a farm in the Old Dominion for many years, on which the subject of this sketch was reared until he was nine years of age. On his ninth birthday his father died, and shortly afterward young Joseph went to Ottawa, Illinois, to live with a man named Sherman. On arriving at sufficient age he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, William More by name, with whom Joseph soon learned the trade and continued to work at it one year. He then went to work on a farm for G.W. Crusen, with whom he remained three years, after which he was engaged on various farms throughout the State until he attained the age of seventeen. Having by this time heard the marvelous reports from California and the entire Northwest, he determined to try his fortunes in that far-away country. Accordingly, April 25, 1852, he started by ox team for California, but on the way changed his mind and his course, arriving in November, of the same year, after six months' travel, in Oregon City, Oregon. He was engaged near this city for two months in cutting wood, when, in December, 1852, he, in company with J.L. Chamberlain, came to Puget Sound. In the early spring of 1853 Mr. Gibson commenced lumbering, working in a sawmill until late in the fall of the same year, when he took a claim on Grand Mound prairie, which he made his home, but at the same time continued his work in a sawmill. He was thus engaged until the outbreak of the Indian war in 1855, when he enlisted in the volunteer service and was mustered in the regulars, with the rank of Orderly Sergeant, under Captain Gilmore Hays; First Lieutenant, Jerard Hurd; and William Martin, Second Lieutenant. After the close of the war Mr. Gibson went back to farming and stock-raising on Grand Mound prairie, where he remained a few years, and then sold out and removed to King county, settling on land on White river, at which place he established a post office, named Slaughter, and was appointed Postmaster. In 1863-í64, before going to White river, he served as Postmaster in Thurston county. While at Slaughter he also served as County Commissioner one term. After a residence at that point of eight years Mr. Gibson sold out and removed to Tenino, Thurston county, where he commenced farming and stock-raising in the vicinity of Tenino, which occupation he continued a year and a half, and then exchanged his farm for one on the Skookumchuck river, situated a mile and a quarter from Bucoda, where he has ever since remained. He also served Thurston county as Commissioner two terms, discharging his duties with his usual efficiency and integrity. In November, 1856, Mr. Gibson was married to Narcissa J. Henness, a worthy lady, daughter of B.L. and Lucretia (Chandler) Henness, Washington pioneers. Our subject and his wife have nine children living: B.F., R.O., S.O., J.A., Mary, I.D., F.V., Annie and Fannie. Mr. Gibson has done much by his energy and enterprise to advance the interests of the communities in which he has resided, and deserves the esteem which he so universally enjoys. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.