JAMES GIBB

 
James Gibb was a pioneer San Francisco business man, and widely known by a large circle of friends in that city for over a half a century.  

He was born in Scotland, May 22, 1831. He was reared and educated in his native country, and soon after learning of the first discoveries of gold in California he set out by sailing ship, going around the Horn and arriving in San Francisco, February 1, 1850. In a short time he engaged in the liquor business, and was in business at one location for forty-six years, until burned out in the great fire of 1906. He was very progressive and public spirited, active in various civic organizations. He died July 2, 1919. In 1867 he married Sarah Oliver White, member of another old San Francisco family. She died August 20, 1922, and they had been married more than half a century. Their two children, both unmarried, are Margaret Hastings and James Winton Gibb. 

Mr. Gibb was one of the best known men in San Francisco in his line of business and very probably the most popular. He was noted for his kindness of heart and his charitable disposition, his host of friends often remarking that he did not know how to say “no.” He has helped thousands of less fortunate than himself out of difficulties and always deprecated any mention of it being made. His friends numbered among them all classes of society, from the highest state public officials, bankers, lawyers, physicians, the leading business men, artists and in fact the elite of the community down to those in humbler and more obscure positions in life, and by all of them he was sincerely respected and admired. 

Louise e. Shoemaker Transcriber March 21, 2004