THOMAS GIBBS.  One of the oldest farmers of Lucas County of whom this volume furnishes a record is the most venerable and cordially esteemed gentleman whose name heads this article, Thomas Gibbs, who is now living in honest retirement at Sylvania.  It an also be truthfully said of him that, during his active career, he was a typical representative of the best and highest class in the agricultural element of the population of this locality.  Intelligent, practical, systematic, diligent, persevering and provident in his farming operations, he was absolutely just in his dealings with all who had transactions with him, and his career as a farmer reflected credit upon that vocation.
     Mr. Gibbs was born at Preston, Kent, England, in 1836, and is a son of Thomas and Ann (Barnett) Gibbs.  He came of an honorable family in moderate circumstances, and in his youth secured a common school education, which did not progress beyond his thirteenth year.  At that time, feeling that better opportunities awaited him in the united States than could be found in his native land, he left England s shores in his sixteenth year alone and finally landed in America, with but small means with which to give him his start.  He was possessed of resource and initiative, however, and had  quick eye to recognize opportunities and to make the most of them.  Making his way to Cleveland, Ohio, he soon found himself established in the milk business, an enterprise which he soon built up to good proportions.  By 1856, only four years after he had arrived in this country, Mr. Gibbs found in possession of sufficient means with which to return to England and marry the lady of his choice.  He spent little time in England after his marriage, however for in the spring of 1857, eager to return to the scene of his former business success, he came back to America an again located at Cleveland.  That city continued to be the scene of his activities until 1863, but business had fallen off during the war, and in  that year he went to Mentor, Ohio, where he secured employment with the Cleveland & Pennsylvania Railroad, in cutting timber for engines.  In this way he came into contact with many who had been to the front or who were going, and finally he yielded to the lure of the war and in November, 1864, enlisted as a private in Company H, Thirty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  The regiment rendezvoused in camp at Columbus, where it was equipped and drilled, and after two weeks was sent to Nashville, where it came up in time to take part in the last battle of Nashville, one of the most terrific of the entire war, where the Confederate General Hood attacked the Union troops.  After three days of sanguine fighting the wearers of the Gray were driven off and the victorious Northerns followed them into Alabama and practically annihilated what had once been a great army.  Mr. Gibbs received his honorable discharge July 31, 1865, the war having closed, and returned to Mentor, where he remained for one year.  In 1866 Mr. Gibbs came to Lucas County, crossed the state line into Michigan, and there, in Whitford Township, Monroe County, established himself upon a farm.  For twenty years he applied himself assiduously to the development of a good property, and at the end of that time was able to retire from active life and to begin to enjoy the comforts which his years of labor had earned for him.  Since that time his second son, Frederick James, has conducted operations on the homestead.  Mr. Gibbs has never lost his love for flowers, and at his comfortable and attractive home he maintains a wonderful garden, the appearance of which speaks eloquently for the care that is bestowed upon it.  Although he is eighty years of age, Mr. Gibbs does all his own work in the garden, but this is nothing remarkable in the light of the other achievements of this octogenarian who will not admit the approach of old age.  In 1912, when he was seventy-six years of age, he took a trip to the land of his birth, and made the trip alone, spending all summer.  After viewing the various points of interest in England, he traveled leisurely through France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Scotland and Ireland, and then returned to his home in the fall.  He is now awaiting the close of the great European war, that he may make another trip to visit the various great battlefields.
     Mr. Gibbs is a republican in national issues, but has independent leanings, and in local affairs generally gives his support to the men and measures which he believes will be for the best interests of his community, irrespective of party lines.  He has served his city in a number of local offices, has been a member of the school board and of the city council, and at all times has tried to do his full share as a citizen in promoting Sylvania's best interests.  Mr. Gibbs' religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to use his own words, has filled every office from "exhorter down to janitor."  For thirty-five continuous years he acted in the capacity of superintendent, and for over thirty years was recording steward.
     Mr. Gibbs was married in England, in 1856, to Miss Susanna Pittman, daughter of Albert Pittman, of Wordensborough, County Kent, England, who died in 1911, leaving the following children: Thomas B., farming near New Boston, Michigan, married and has three living children; Frederick James, retired, who makes his home at Perrysburg, Wood County, Ohio, and has one married daughter; William Henry, who is engaged in farming near Adrian, Michigan, married and has four children; and Julia Susanna, wife of A. R. Chandler, a prominent hardware dealer and banker of Sylvania, with one son
† Source: History of Northwestern Ohio - Vol. II _ 1917 - Page 1265