Alvin A. Gibbs

The Gibbs family are of English extraction, the original ancestor having come from England about the close of the Revolutionary War and settled near Worcester, Mass. Alvin Gibbs, father of the subject of this sketch, lived in Greenedge, Hampshire County, Mass. At an early age, he emigrated to New York, settling in Otsego county; from here he moved to the town of Hammond, St. Lawrence county, where Alvin A. was born, Sept. 16, 1822. Remaining here but a short time, he removed to the township of Watertown, where he bought a farm, upon which our subject spent his boyhood days. He received a good education, graduating at the Jefferson County institute. When fourteen years of age he learned the trade of a cloth dresser. At twenty he left his father’s home and started in life for himself, and came to Brownville, where he followed his trade until he was twenty-four years of age. Having a decided taste for merchandising, he engaged himself as clerk to a dry-goods merchant in Brownville by the name of Oliver Stevens. After completing his business education he went to Janesville,Wisconsin, where he engaged in the clothing trade. Disposing of his stock and trade, he went to Manstown, where he again entered the dry-goods business.

In 1858 he returned to Brownville, and in company with A. S. Lord carried on a general trade for some time. Dissolving his connection with Mr. Lord, he has continued the business until the present.

Mr.Gibbs has been called to several positions of trust and has taken a proper interest in political matters. A sincere Republican and an inveterate foe to human slavery, no man was more patriotic or more freely contributed material and moral support to the republic in its late struggle for life. Mr. Gibbs has been supervisor of the town of Brownville for three terms and no better evidence is needed of his sterling worth and high social qualities then that fact that after his first election no candidate was nominated against him. He has been president of the village for seven years, which position he now holds, as also that of postmaster, having been the incumbent of the latter the past seventeen years. He is a zealous and prominent member of the Episcopal church, and the records of eternity shall tell the fruits of his labor.

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Transcribed by Holice B. Young from Jefferson Co. History by L. H. Everts.