Washington Dorsey Gibbs (August 6, 1839 – September 7, 1915) was an American lawyer and politician in Mississippi. He served as a state senator and state representative from Yazoo City. He was also known as Wash Gibbs.[1][2]
Early life and education[]
He was born a few miles south of Yazoo City on August 6, 1839, the son of Quesney Dibrell Gibbs and Sarah Dorsey Gibbs.[3][4] Gibbs obtained a degree from the University of Virginia, the studied law in his father's law office before going on to graduate from law school in Lebanon, Tennessee.i.[4]
He practiced law for a short period until shortly after his marriage to Miss Louise Johnson on January 11, 1860. They relocated to the Woodbine plantation near Bentonia, Mississippi.[4]
They had eight children together but three died while young.[4][5]
American Civil War[]
In September 1861 at the start of the American Civil War, he enlisted with the "Anding Hussars" attached to the William Wirt Adams brigade.[4] He was commended for his gallantry and service during many battles before being captured on a scouting mission and imprisoned at Camp Morton.[4] After the war he returned to Yazoo to discover that his mother, father and sister had died with many other close relatives very sick.[4]
Post war and politics[]
Gibbs returned to his plantation and worked as a lawyer, rebuilding his life and caring for his large family.[4] After becoming well known and a frequent public speaker in 1875, he was the candidate for presidential elector for the Democrats.[4] He was prominent in overthrowing "carpet-bag" rule and restoring white supremacy in Yazoo County, being the originator of the 'white line' movement and part of the Red Shirts.[4]
His wife died in July 1879.[6]
He was elected as state senator from Yazoo County in 1879,[7] but declined to run again for the next term.[8] In 1886 he was elected the Floater-Representative for Yazoo and Holmes counties,[9] and in 1907 was again elected as Senator of Yazoo County.[4]
His grandson was named after him and joined the U.S. Marines.[10]
Death[]
He died Tuesday September 7, 1915 in Yazoo City with just two of his children surviving him, Mrs Lulu Kirk and Mr Lee Gibbs.[4] He had been dealing with heart disease for a few months leaving him very weakened and he had been suffering greatly in his last few weeks.[4]
References[]
- ↑ "'Wash Gibbs' Attack on Senator Bilbo". Vicksburg Evening Post. 23 May 1911. pp. 4. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98023541/wash-gibbs-attack-on-senator-bilbo/.
- ↑ "Hon. W. D. Gibbs candidate for the floater". The Vicksburg Herald. 23 April 1885. pp. 2. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98023814/hon-w-d-gibbs-candidate-for-the/.
- ↑ Society, Nicholas Gibbs Historical (February 19, 1977). "Nicholas Gibbs and His Descendants, 1733-1977". The Society. https://books.google.com/books?id=pmNMAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Washington+Dorsey+Gibbs%22.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 "Death of Maj Gibbs". The Yazoo Herald. 10 September 1915. pp. 1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98007802/death-of-maj-gibbs/.
- ↑ History, Mississippi Department of Archives and (February 19, 1908). "The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi". Department of Archives and History. https://books.google.com/books?id=BCYLAAAAMAAJ&dq=Washington+Dorsey+Gibbs&pg=PA1008.
- ↑ "Death of Mrs. W.D.Gibbs". The Clarion-Ledger. 30 July 1879. pp. 3. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98021792/death-of-mrs-wdgibbs/.
- ↑ "The Legislature of 1880". The Clarion-Ledger. 5 November 1879. pp. 2. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98021953/the-legislature-of-1880/.
- ↑ "W.D.Gibbs declines re-election". 19 May 1881. pp. 2. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98022244/wdgibbs-declines-re-election/.
- ↑ "Mississippi Legislature 1886". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9920967/the-clarion-ledger-jackson/.
- ↑ "Marine Recruiter". U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Service. February 19, 1941. p. 25. https://books.google.com/books?id=PGme3G3N9poC&dq=Washington+Dorsey+Gibbs&pg=RA9-PA25.
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