Representative Patrick Gibbons View All Years
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Patrick Gibbons
Lee County
A native of the Emerald Isle, Mr. Gibbons was born June 26, 1832. While yet a resident of the land of the shamrock he attended the private schools, receiving a primary education, and supplemented the same by an academical course at Londonderry. In 1850 he sailed for the United States, and that same year took up his residence at Liberty, Indiana, and about eighteen months later went to Cincinnati, Ohio. There he accepted the position as manager for the wholesale alcohol and liquor house of S. S. Boyle, and held the position until 1857. At the expiration of this time he started west, seeking newer fields in which to obtain a competency. Crossing the Mississippi River he terminated his journey at Keokuk. Mr. Gibbons on first locating at Keokuk engaged in the wholesale liquor business, and was thus occupied until 1867, when for twelve years he retired; from active labor. We next hear of him visiting: the mountains of California, where his time was occupied in pleasure for about two years and then, after spending two years in Indiana, where his children were attending school, he once more returned to the city of his adoption, Keokuk. Mr. Gibbons was elected to the State Legislature in 1869, and while there was one of the prominent supporters for the State Capitol, and was also projector of the bill for damage to baggage during transportation as well as many other bills of interest to the traveling public and to the citizens of the State, served on the committee on federal relations, schools and international affairs. In 1882 he embarked in the stove business, next door to the post-office, and was thus engaged when he was appointed, under President Cleveland's administration, Postmaster of the city. Mr. Gibbons was one of the first to organize a pubic library at Keokuk, and was also a Director of that institution. Patrick Gibbons was married to Miss Celestine LeFaivre, at St. Louis, Mo., in 1862. In politics Mr. Gibbons is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
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