Gibbs Family, Bronaugh, Vernon County,Missouri

Early Bronaugh Residents

The Gibbs Family

Jack Allen has shared a wealth of information about his Gibbs ancestors that came to Bronaugh in the 1880's:

William Henry Gibbs and Emma DeEstell Worsley Gibbs, Jack's great-grandparents. This is about the age they were shortly before they left Bronaugh for Oklahoma.

The Gibbs family home is on the Worsley Cemetery Road just southwest of Bronaugh. The Gibbs family purchased this 160 acre farm in the 1880's. Six acres were lost when the Missouri Pacific train went through the east side of the farm in 1886. This photo was probably taken by Chet as a boy. The Gibbs children attended Lone Valley (Chicken Bristle) School southeast of their home. The farm has been in the Irwin family since 1919.

"Chester A. Gibbs photo."

Here are two scans of a beautiful "crazy quilt" that was sewn by Emma Worsley Gibbs. It is in the possession of DeEtte Green Zant.

The quilt is over 100 years old and in perfect condition. Some of the fancy stitching done on her children's clothing can be found on close ups.

William Henry's mother, Mary Anne Parsons Gibbs, lived 3/4 miles north of the Gibbs farm near the Bronaugh Railroad Pond. A part of the photographer's emboss shows at bottom right, the word "Nevada."

Mary Ann Parson Gibbs and husband, Henry Bond Gibbs with young son, William Henry Gibbs. This photo was mis-identified for awhile but is now in its correct position thanks to Jack and Mary Helen Allen.

Janet Smith shared this scan. Mary Ann Parson Gibbs and husband, Henry Bond Gibbs. He died in 1878 at 65 years old in Quincy, Illinois. He was 10 years older than Mary Ann his second wife. Of course, he didn't live in Bronaugh. Mary Ann came to Bronaugh quite a while after she became a widow.

Thai Walter via Jack and Mary Helen Allen shared this photo of Mary Ann Gibbs and her house. Mary Ann was widowed by the time her only son, William Henry Gibbs, brought his family to Bronaugh. Mary Ann came along, but did not want to live with her son. So they bought a small house just beside the Railroad Pond about a mile northwest of her son's home. Her grandsons enjoyed visiting her there, fishing and watching the Missouri Pacific trains pass through. Mary Ann is on the left above. The lady beside her is a neighbor but we don't know her name..

William Henry and Emma Gibbs. Photo taken by Parmelee of Nevada.

left, Jack's maternal grandfather, Delbert Arthur Gibbs. He was born in Illinois in 1875, but the family moved to Bronaugh about the time of this picture. He was the first of W.H. and Emma Gibb's three children.

right, Young Delbert Arthur, maybe around 13 or 14?

Left - Their second child, Chester Albert Gibbs, the author of "Napahoe Titanofa." He was born in the home in Bronaugh in 1885. Chester became a successful photographer, first in Vernon County and later in Oklahoma. Photo taken in Nevada.

Right - Verla and Chet. We'd like to know the story behind his costume.

upper left: On left is Verla Gibbs b. 1890, younger sister of D.A. and C.A. Gibbs. She was born in the house. The other girl is her first cousin Cynthia Worsley, daughter of John Orlando Worsley.

right: Later photo of Verla. Note the embossed swastika* on the mat, and Chet's sig, "Gibbs, Mountain Park and Frederick, Okla."

lower left: The cousins a few years later, this time with Cynthia on left and Verla on right.

"Chester A. Gibbs photo."

The photo to the left is of Chester Albert Gibbs "Chet" at about the age he started taking photographs in Bronaugh, around 1898-99. Some wonder if Ernest Purdum might have taken this picture. Check out Chet's Photo page.

Right is Chet at about the time they left Bronaugh, after 1900.

Left: Thanks to the Allens for sharing this photo.

Mary Helen Allen wrote: "We know the guy on the right is D.A. Gibbs. This was taken in Nevada. Could the other man be John Orlando Worsley. Or is he not old enough?"

Right: Jack Allen identifies this photo as Johnny Gibbs. Johnny's mother was Ida Worsley Gibbs, the sister of Jack's great-grandmother Emma Destil Worsley Gibbs (they married brothers.) Emma and her husband William Henry Gibbs, lived in the house on the cemetery road. Johnny was a favorite visitor of Jack's great-uncle Chester Gibbs, Bronaugh's boy photographer. The photo was made by G.J. Keller, Mendota Illinois

The photo is 2 3/4" diameter and the card 3 11/16" square with embossed floral decorations. This photo is unusual in that the round photo is mounted diagonally.

*Regarding the swastika on the photo of Verla, Jack Allen offers this explanation. At one point. Chester purchased a stock of miscellaneous cards to mount photos on. Some included the swastika. The swastika was an ancient symbol used as an ornament. The one embossed on the above photo is the style used by American Indians so it is not surprising that it appears on an Oklahoma photo. Many years later, the Nazi's adopted the swastika as their symbol, but the German one stood on the point of one of the arms rather than flat as shown above.

If you have Gibbs information to share or questions please email Jack Allen.

Go back to Bronaugh.

This page is designed and maintained by Lyndon Irwin.

	William Henry Gibbs and Emma DeEstell Worsley Gibbs, Jack's great-grandparents. This is about the age they were shortly before they left Bronaugh for Oklahoma.
	The Gibbs family home is on the Worsley Cemetery Road just southwest of Bronaugh. The Gibbs family purchased this 160 acre farm in the 1880's. Six acres were lost when the Missouri Pacific train went through the east side of the farm in 1886. This photo was probably taken by Chet as a boy. The Gibbs children attended Lone Valley (Chicken Bristle) School southeast of their home. The farm has been in the Irwin family since 1919. "Chester A. Gibbs photo."
	Here are two scans of a beautiful "crazy quilt" that was sewn by Emma Worsley Gibbs. It is in the possession of DeEtte Green Zant.
	The quilt is over 100 years old and in perfect condition. Some of the fancy stitching done on her children's clothing can be found on close ups.
	William Henry's mother, Mary Anne Parsons Gibbs, lived 3/4 miles north of the Gibbs farm near the Bronaugh Railroad Pond. A part of the photographer's emboss shows at bottom right, the word "Nevada."
	Mary Ann Parson Gibbs and husband, Henry Bond Gibbs with young son, William Henry Gibbs. This photo was mis-identified for awhile but is now in its correct position thanks to Jack and Mary Helen Allen.
	Janet Smith shared this scan. Mary Ann Parson Gibbs and husband, Henry Bond Gibbs. He died in 1878 at 65 years old in Quincy, Illinois. He was 10 years older than Mary Ann his second wife. Of course, he didn't live in Bronaugh. Mary Ann came to Bronaugh quite a while after she became a widow.
	Thai Walter via Jack and Mary Helen Allen shared this photo of Mary Ann Gibbs and her house. Mary Ann was widowed by the time her only son, William Henry Gibbs, brought his family to Bronaugh. Mary Ann came along, but did not want to live with her son. So they bought a small house just beside the Railroad Pond about a mile northwest of her son's home. Her grandsons enjoyed visiting her there, fishing and watching the Missouri Pacific trains pass through. Mary Ann is on the left above. The lady beside her is a neighbor but we don't know her name..

	William Henry and Emma Gibbs. Photo taken by Parmelee of Nevada.
	left, Jack's maternal grandfather, Delbert Arthur Gibbs. He was born in Illinois in 1875, but the family moved to Bronaugh about the time of this picture. He was the first of W.H. and Emma Gibb's three children. right, Young Delbert Arthur, maybe around 13 or 14?
	Left - Their second child, Chester Albert Gibbs, the author of "Napahoe Titanofa." He was born in the home in Bronaugh in 1885. Chester became a successful photographer, first in Vernon County and later in Oklahoma. Photo taken in Nevada. Right - Verla and Chet. We'd like to know the story behind his costume.
	upper left: On left is Verla Gibbs b. 1890, younger sister of D.A. and C.A. Gibbs. She was born in the house. The other girl is her first cousin Cynthia Worsley, daughter of John Orlando Worsley. right: Later photo of Verla. Note the embossed swastika* on the mat, and Chet's sig, "Gibbs, Mountain Park and Frederick, Okla." lower left: The cousins a few years later, this time with Cynthia on left and Verla on right.	"Chester A. Gibbs photo."
	The photo to the left is of Chester Albert Gibbs "Chet" at about the age he started taking photographs in Bronaugh, around 1898-99. Some wonder if Ernest Purdum might have taken this picture. Check out Chet's Photo page. Right is Chet at about the time they left Bronaugh, after 1900.
	Left: Thanks to the Allens for sharing this photo. Mary Helen Allen wrote: "We know the guy on the right is D.A. Gibbs. This was taken in Nevada. Could the other man be John Orlando Worsley. Or is he not old enough?" Right: Jack Allen identifies this photo as Johnny Gibbs. Johnny's mother was Ida Worsley Gibbs, the sister of Jack's great-grandmother Emma Destil Worsley Gibbs (they married brothers.) Emma and her husband William Henry Gibbs, lived in the house on the cemetery road. Johnny was a favorite visitor of Jack's great-uncle Chester Gibbs, Bronaugh's boy photographer. The photo was made by G.J. Keller, Mendota Illinois The photo is 2 3/4" diameter and the card 3 11/16" square with embossed floral decorations. This photo is unusual in that the round photo is mounted diagonally.