Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Robert C. Gibbs

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Robert C. Gibbs was born in Callaway County, Mo., April 15, 1832, son 
of Samuel C. and Charlotta (Kenney) Gibbs. The father was born in 
Scott County, [p.837] Ky., in 1800, was of English descent, and a 
cousin of Gen. Gibbs, of New Orleans battle fame. He immigrated to 
Callaway County, Mo., in 1829, and lived there until 1875, when he 
moved to Audrain, of the same State, and there remained until August, 
1880. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, but followed agricultural 
pursuits most of his life. He was a member of the Old School Baptist 
Church, as was also his wife, who was born in Scott County, Ky., in 
1802, and died in Missouri in 1841. Julius Gibbs, father of Samuel C., 
was a Virginian by birth, and a pioneer settler of Kentucky, who lived 
in a block-house. Of the nine children born to Samuel C. Gibbs and 
wife, Robert C. was the fifth. He was reared on a farm in his native 
county, and remained with his parents until the age of sixteen, when 
he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, and followed this twenty-
eight years. He also owned a farm in Audrain County, and moved to the 
same in 1853, where he remained until 1881, when he located on his 
present farm, three miles east of Siloam Springs, which consists of 
150 acres, 130 under cultivation, and has since followed farming and 
stock raising. He was married April 19, 1855. to Miss Sarah E. Kenyon, 
a native of Pennsylvania, born February 13, 1829, and eight children 
have been born to them: Infant (deceased), Edgar S., Martha B., Robert 
O. (deceased), Edward T., Addie (deceased), Annie E. and Herbert E. 
Mr. Gibbs and wife, and all but the youngest child, are members of the 
Missionary Baptist Church, of which he is trustee, and the eldest son 
is a preacher. Politically Mr. Gibbs is a Democrat, and he is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity. He takes a great interest in public 
improvements and educational matters, and is a valuable citizen of his 
community. He was moderator of the Springtown Baptist Association in 
1885, and was appointed by Gov. Hughes a member of the Equalization 
Board of Benton County, in 1886. Mrs. Gibbs' mother, Mrs. Eliza 
Kenyon, is now living with her son-in-law, Mr. Gibbs, and is over 
eighty years of age. The Kenyon family has long been noted for zeal in 
religious matters.