Elizabeth
Mary Clark was born 26 June, 1832 on the Clark farm in Mercer County,
Pennsylvania. Her parents were David and Margaret (Bell) Clark.
Elizabeth received her education at Westminster College, New
Wilmington, PA.
Elizabeth's father, David Clark, died on 31 Aug
1850, and the next seven years were required to settle the estate.
After the estate was settled in 1857, Elizabeth, her mother Margaret,
and other family members moved to Scotch Grove Iowa. There she married
John Gibson on 11 June, 1857, and joined the Scotch Grove Presbyterian
Church on 17 July 1857.
On the occasion of their 50th Wedding
Anniversary, the Monticello Express carried an article on their life
and history. "Mr. and Mrs. Gibson were married in a log house, the home
of Mrs. Gibson's brother, Mr. Hazen Clark ... The bonnet and slippers
worn by the bride were brought from Dubuque by the minister's wife, and
the bridal couple came down a ladder into the sitting room where they
were married in the presence of a large company of early settlers, by
Rev. J. L. Wilson, who afterwards baptized their five daughters... Mr.
and Mrs. Gibson were privileged to have all of their children with
them, last Tuesday, viz., Mrs. Amelia Bacher, Miss Luella Gibson, Mrs.
Asenath Mudge, Mrs. Libbie Robertson, Mrs. Ada McCarrol."
In
Monticello, the new Presbyterian Church was established on 7 May 1882,
largely funded by John Gibson. Fourteen new members formed the
church, of which six belonged to the Gibson family. The new church
building was dedicated on 22 November 1885.
John Gibson died
in 1910, and Elizabeth died on 14 April 1915. They are buried in lot
977 of the Oakwood cemetery in Monticello.
Prepared and researched by David B. Taylor, great great grandson
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