WILLIAM H. GIBSON

Sacramento County

Biographies

WILLIAM H. GIBSON

WILLIAM H. GIBSON.--An enterprising business man whose success may be ascribed, in part, to his having made his name stand for something superior and dependable in his field of industry, is William H. Gibson, proprietor of the sheet-metal works at 417 Twenty-ninth Street. A Canadian by birth, he was born at Brantford, Ontario, on April 8, 1867. His parents were Alexander and Janet (Ritchie) Gibson, both born in Scotland, the former not even a memory to our subject, who was a babe when his father died, Mrs. Gibson died at the age of eighty-six.

William Gibson was the youngest of seven children. He attended the schools of Canada, and then, rather early, learned his trade as a sheet-metal worker. In 1888, when the attention of Canada as well as the East was riveted on California, on account of the great "boom" in land and real estate here, Mr. Gibson came out to the Golden State, and from that time on he spent some ten years in Sacramento, in the Southern Pacific shops, and two years in a shop in town.

In 1901, however, he established his own business. He first bought out an old firm, Messrs. L. L. Lewis & Company at 504 J Street, and there he remained for some years. The Lewis Company dealt in merchandise, but Mr. Gibson sold that department and continued manufacturing. Then, in 1906, he built the shop where he is now located. His work is in demand, and he employs five men to handle the business contracted. He does general sheet-metal work, and has been more than successful, his customers always appreciating his willingness to try to do for them, especially when they are in urgent need.

Mr. Gibson was married on June 26, 1895, at Sacramento to Miss Farrie May Zimmerman, of Sacramento, a descendent of an old English and German family. Her father, Charles W. Zimmerman, was born at Yellow Bud, Rose County, Ohio. He came out to Peoria, Ill., where he was an engineer on steamboats on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. In 1852 he came via Panama to California. He had an uncle, Capt. Jesse Zimmerman, who was a pioneer captain on the river boats between San Francisco and Red Bluff. Charles W. Zimmerman made his headquarters at Sacramento, and here he was married to Catherine Hosselton, a native of Peoria, Ill., whose acquaintance he had formed while in Illinois. She made the journey to California in 1870, and they were married in Sacramento. Her brothers all served in the Civil War. Charles W. Zimmerman made his home in Sacramento until his death. His widow is now seventy-eight years old and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Gibson. Mrs. Zimmerman and her husband had two children, Farrie being the only one now living. Farrie May Zimmerman received her education in the Sacramento public schools and Bainbridge Business College, from which she was graduated; and after her graduation she was city cashier for Perkins & Sons, until her marriage to Mr. Gibson. Janet, a daughter, has become Mrs. F. J. Wanamaker, of North Sacramento. Robert Z. is assisting his father; he saw service in the World War in the 8th Infantry band, and was in France. Charles W. is also with his father; and Kathryn is at school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gibson are musically inclined, as are all their children; and they appear together in musical circles. Mr. Gibson is a Republican. For twenty-five years he has been an elder and very active in church work in the Westminster Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, is past chief of the Sacramento Caledonian Association and is also a member of the Order of Scottish Clans; while Mrs. Gibson is a member of the Daughters of Nile.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 834-837. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.