Logging
New Ipswich Historical Society
Logging in the old days
1903 - Mrs. Miranda Kibling Gibson Obituary
NEW IPSWICH.
In Memoriam. 1903
Mrs. Miranda Kibling Gibson, who died Jan. 21, was born at Strafford, Vt., and spent her early days In Ashburnham, where she attended the public schools. She completed her education at the first academy establishment at Fitchburg. She married Joseph A. Gibson, a son of the noted Dr. Stillman Gibson of this town, Oct, 29, 1835. Her mother was of German descent and she inherited rare musical ability. She was a fine vocalist and quite an adept on the violin and bells.
Mrs. Gibson was the center of a very happy home, surrounded by her favorite flowers and children. Her son, Fred J. Gibson, spent many years In making her life happy and comfortable and was a great comfort in her later days.
Mrs. Gibson was a remarkably vigorous lady and until her late Illness continued her personal correspondence and recorded events in her diary daily. of a retiring and quiet nature, yet she attracted many people about her. With the exception of some deafness, she retained all her faculties in an extraordinary manner, read the daily papers and conversed upon the leading topics of the day with great intelligence. She loved flowers and her flower garden: each year was an object of interest to all beholders.
Her husband, Joseph A. Gibson, died Feb. 22, 1875, and a daughter, Mrs. Anna G. Hargreaves, has since died.
She was placed in the tomb Jan. 24, followed by mourning relatives and friends. An Impressive service was conducted at the home by Rev. William R. Thompson, whose remarks were highly appreciated by all. Two of her favorite hymns, "Abide with me," and "Nearer, my God, to thee," were rendered by Mrs. H. P. McKown, Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Walker and C. L. Knowlton. The floral offerings were numerous
and beautiful, including a pillow of roses, calla lilies and hyacinths, inscribed "Mother," from the children; carnations and azaleas, from Stillman and Fred Gibson: crescent of roses from Dr. and Mrs. Whalley; Iilies of the valley from Mr. and Mrs. George W. Shattuck; wreath of calla lilies and rosea from Mr. and Mrs. Carmi Seales; smilax, ferns and carnations from Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Wright: cut flowers from Mrs. E. A. Merrill; bouquet of pinks and smilax from Miss Maud E. Whalley: carnations and roses from Mrs. Frederick Jones; violets and carnations from Dr. and Mrs. F. W. Jones; mignonette, ferns and carnations from Mr. and Mrs. George D. Burton; ferns from Mrs. R. Putnam.
The following sons and daughters survive her: Stillman and Fred J. Gibson, Mrs. Angelia Whalley, Mrs. Sarah Shattack and Mrs. Nettle Scales Twelve great-grandchildren are also enumerated in the list of mourners.
James Roger diary entries
31st October 1912 (Thursday)
Fine day, wind westerly. David with H. Royce in cemetery. I swept hall and went to golf course in afternoon and played with Mr. Hale of New York. Hamish came home by afternoon train. Got marriage notice from DPU.
New Ipswich History, 1735, 1914. Joseph and Miranda's children constituted a very musical family, some of the daughters forming a concert troupe known as the "Gibson Sisters".
The Gibsons were an interesting family. Stillman was a homeopathic physician who never attended med school. He had an inquisitive mind and was self-educated in the field of medicine. He was into helping people and animals get well. He treated humans and animals for a very modest fee.
The logging photo reminds me of the logging I did with my father. We had a 6 ft 2 man crosscut saw and loaded the logs onto a 1940 3/4 Chevy pickup truck with chains. Our truck could carry only half of what you see in that photo. I feel for those horses.