San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WILLIAM EDWARD GIBBONS, M. D.
When on November 21, 1920, Dr. W. E.
Gibbons breathed his last, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stockton, California lost
one of its most distinguished men of science and the United States one of its
most loyal and worthy citizens, for he was dean of the medical profession of
San Joaquin County, and beloved by a legion of steadfast friends in this and
neighboring counties. He had entered
upon the practice of medicine in San Francisco in the late ‘70s, and in the
early ‘80s he had established his offices in Stockton.
Dr. Gibbons was born in Missouri in
1841, and when twenty-two years of age he came to California. For awhile he worked at the harness-maker’s
trade, and then he became attached to the City and County hospital staffs of
San Francisco, by whom he was kept busy for six years, during which time his natural
talents impressed his associates, and won for him a high place in their
esteem. Acting on their advice to take
up the profession of medicine, he entered St. Mary’s College, at San Francisco,
and there for two years followed their prescribed course; later he took a
medical course in the University of California, and later still special studies
in the University of the Pacific. In
1878 he first hung out his shingle as an M. D.; two years later he removed to
Sutter Creek, in Amador County, and after another two years he joined the
fraternity at Stockton.
Throughout his long professional
career he was most zealous in the advancement of his professional attainments,
and he enjoyed the highest standing among medical men in this and other
counties. Though he enjoyed a very
lucrative practice, however, and was engaged, he found time to do good deeds
and to shower kindnesses and benevolences wherever he knew there was need of
them. His natural benevolence, cheery
presence, kindly wit, democratic characteristics won for him the affection of
all with whom he came in contact, and wherever Dr. Gibbons’ name was spoken, it
was in terms of affection and respect.
Ever since his earliest residence here, Dr. Gibbons in particular was
prominent in the social, fraternal and political life of the community. He served as county health officer, city
health officer, and at various times was consulting physician to boards and
hospitals. Standing high in professional
attainments, possessed of all the attributes that typify the highest manhood,
and benevolent in the extreme, he endeared himself to the hearts of all who
came to know him well.
About forty-eight years ago, Dr.
Gibbons married Miss Mary Agnes Rowley of San Francisco; and he was granted an
inestimable blessing of her companionship until a few years ago, when she
breathed her last. A sole survivor is
his daughter, Mrs. John Raggio, also an esteemed citizen, and a worthy
representative of this well-known pioneer.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
516. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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