Washington Dorsey Gibbs
Washington Dorsey Gibbs (August 6, 1839 – September 7, 1915) was an American lawyer and politician in Mississippi. He served as a state senator and state representative from Yazoo City. He was also known as Wash Gibbs.[1][2]
Early life and education[edit]
He was born a few miles south of Yazoo City on August 6, 1839, the son of Quesney Dibrell Gibbs and Sarah Dorsey Gibbs.[3][4] Gibbs obtained a degree from the University of Virginia, the studied law in his father's law office before going on to graduate from law school in Lebanon, Tennessee.i.[4]
He practiced law for a short period until shortly after his marriage to Miss Louise Johnson on January 11, 1860. They relocated to the Woodbine plantation near Bentonia, Mississippi.[4]
They had eight children together but three died while young.[4][5]
American Civil War[edit]
In September 1861 at the start of the American Civil War, he enlisted with the "Anding Hussars" attached to the William Wirt Adams brigade.[4] He was commended for his gallantry and service during many battles before being captured on a scouting mission and imprisoned at Camp Morton.[4] After the war he returned to Yazoo to discover that his mother, father and sister had died with many other close relatives very sick.[4]
Post war and politics[edit]
Gibbs returned to his plantation and worked as a lawyer, rebuilding his life and caring for his large family.[4] After becoming well known and a frequent public speaker in 1875, he was the candidate for presidential elector for the Democrats.[4] He was prominent in overthrowing "carpet-bag" rule and restoring white supremacy in Yazoo County, being the originator of the 'white line' movement and part of the Red Shirts.[4]
His wife died in July 1879.[6]
He was elected as state senator from Yazoo County in 1879,[7] but declined to run again for the next term.[8] In 1886 he was elected the Floater-Representative for Yazoo and Holmes counties,[9] and in 1907 was again elected as Senator of Yazoo County.[4]
His grandson was named after him and joined the U.S. Marines.[10]
Death[edit]
He died Tuesday September 7, 1915 in Yazoo City with just two of his children surviving him, Mrs Lulu Kirk and Mr Lee Gibbs.[4] He had been dealing with heart disease for a few months leaving him very weakened and he had been suffering greatly in his last few weeks.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "'Wash Gibbs' Attack on Senator Bilbo". Vicksburg Evening Post. 23 May 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Hon. W. D. Gibbs candidate for the floater". The Vicksburg Herald. 23 April 1885. p. 2. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ Society, Nicholas Gibbs Historical (February 19, 1977). "Nicholas Gibbs and His Descendants, 1733-1977". The Society – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Death of Maj Gibbs". The Yazoo Herald. 10 September 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ History, Mississippi Department of Archives and (February 19, 1908). "The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi". Department of Archives and History – via Google Books.
- ^ "Death of Mrs. W.D.Gibbs". The Clarion-Ledger. 30 July 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "The Legislature of 1880". The Clarion-Ledger. 5 November 1879. p. 2.
- ^ "W.D.Gibbs declines re-election". The Clarion-Ledger. 19 May 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Mississippi Legislature 1886". Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Marine Recruiter". U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Service. February 19, 1941. p. 25 – via Google Books.
- 20th-century American politicians
- People from Yazoo City, Mississippi
- Military personnel of the American Civil War
- Democratic Party members of the Mississippi House of Representatives
- Democratic Party Mississippi state senators
- University of Virginia alumni
- Cumberland School of Law alumni
- 1839 births
- 1915 deaths
- 19th-century American politicians
- Mississippi lawyers
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 19th-century American lawyers