The subject of this sketch was born February 20, 1835, in Chillicothe, O., the only son of James L. Gibbs, a merchant tailor. Joseph’s mother was a Miss Donohoe, daughter of Amos Donohoe, of Leesburg, Va. Joseph went to school until fifteen years of age, when he began to learn the blacksmith’s trade. In 1856 he stated business for himself at Clarksburg, Ohio, but moved his shop, in 1858, to Mattoon, Illinois, where he worked for twenty-three years. Then moving to Independence, Kansas, in September 1881, he remained until the spring of 1884, when, moving to Claremore, Indian Territory, he reopened his shop, and in March 1888, started hotel keeping. He is now proprietor of the Pacific House, the principal hotel in Claremore. Mr. Gibbs married Miss M. J. Scoot, daughter of Dr. Archibald Scoot, of Tipton, Ohio, by whom he has five living children, Joseph L., James F., Edward H., Charlotte and Etta F. Mr. Gibbs stands five feet eight and a half inches and weighs 140 pounds. He is a man of good business capacity and is popular in his own town, as is also Mrs. Gibbs, who is a lady of kind and charitable disposition, a good business manager and a gentle and loving wife and mother.
