(NOTE: John T. Gibson probably never had his portrait taken prior to the Civil War. However, during the 10 month period that the 86th Illinois was in the Nashville, Tennessee area in 1862-63, John, like most of the Union soldiers in the Nashville area, probably took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were most often printed in the form of what was called a CDV, a paper picture glued to a heavier card stock about the size of a modern day baseball card, and the soldiers didn't just have one or two copies made. Most of the time, they had a dozen or more made, so they could swap pictures with their tentmates, messmates and for their friends, in the 86th and back home.
John T. Gibson survived the war and lived well into the 20th century. During his life, John probably had his picture taken dozens of times, if not hundreds of times. I would dearly love to see a copy of that CDV added to his Find A Grave site for all with an interest to see. However, at this point, I would be thrilled just to see some pictures of him added to his Find A Grave Memorial, even ones of him as an old man. Can anyone help me? Thanks, Baxter)

Sergeant JOHN T. GIBSON, Co. G, 86th Illinois

John T. Gibson was born on August 7, 1842 in Washington, Illinois, Tazewell County, one of ten children known to have been born to George D. Gibson, who was born on August 2, 1810 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and Alice (Birkett) Gibson, who was born January 31, 1820 in Vergennes, Addison County, Vermont.
George D. Gibson came to Tazewell County, Illinois in 1836 and was married to Alice Birkett in 1837. The family is known to have owned farms in Deer Creek Township seven or eight miles southeast of Washington, Illinois and three miles slightly southwest of Washington, Illinois and it was on these farms that John grew to manhood farming the land beside his father and brothers. The family is found in Deer Creek Township in Tazewell County at the time of the 1860 census. George D. Gibson had a sister by the name of Sarah Dunn Gibson. Sarah was married to Vivian Cloud and among their fourteen children was a son named, Milton Homer Cloud. Milton also volunteered to serve in the Washington/Deer Creek/Morton company, which would become Co. G of the 86th Illinois. So, John T. Gibson and Milton Homer Cloud were 1st cousins serving together in Co. G. Another member of Co. G was Ralph Mericle, who was a 1st cousin once removed from John T. Gibson. Ralph's grandfather was the oldest brother of George D. Gibson.

When George T. Gibson's mother passed away, the following obituary appeared in the Washington News published in Washington, Illinois;
"THE DEATH OF MRS. G. D. GIBSON
Venerable Lady Passes to the Great Beyond--Died in Peoria.
BURIAL IS TO BE TO-DAY
Was Born in Vergennes, Vermont, and Passed the Greater Part of her Long Life Near This City. The Deceased has Numerous Relatives Here.
Alice Birkett was born at Vergennes, Vt., Jan. 13, 1820. She moved with her parents to Peoria in Oct., 1831. Six months later the family moved just west of Washington where she spent the greater part of her life.
She was married to George D. Gibson in June, 1837. The young couple settled on what is now known as the Melbourne Stock Farm. Ten children were born to them, of whom eight matured and raised families, one died in infancy and one at 9 years. Sarah, the wife of H. W. Gove, died in Washington in 1885. For a number of years they lived in the house where Christ. Gieselman now lives. Here Mr. Gibson died in 1893 after which time she made her home among her children. She died Monday evening, Jan. 18 at the home of her daughter, Martha Myers, in Peoria.
Though 84 years old, her health was fair up to within 24 hours of her death when she suffered a paralytic stroke which proved fatal. She has many relatives including two brothers living in this vicinity and several nephews, sons of her sister, Mrs. Damerell, living at Low Point. Besides, she has nineteen grandchildren and nine
great-grandchildren living.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p. m. today, at the Presbyterian church, Rev. Dr. Cornelison, officiating. The remains will be laid to rest in the family not in the new cemetery. Friends of the family are invited."

(Note: The Melbourne Stock Farm is the Asa H. Danforth farm and would have been located in the general area just south
and west side of the current Glendale Cemetery. Also, the reference to the "new cemetery" in Alice's obituary is a reference to Glendale Cemetery.)

Now to continue with the biography of John T. Gibson;
On August 9, 1862, John T. Gibson volunteered in Deer Creek, Illinois to serve in a company which was being raised in the Washington/Deer Creek/Morton area of Tazewell County by a Washington Photographer by the name of William B. Bogardus.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name GIBSON, JOHN T
Rank CPL Company G Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence DEER CREEK, TAZEWELL CO, IL Age 20 Height 6' Hair BLACK
Eyes GRAY Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity IL

Service Record
Joined When AUG 9, 1862 Joined Where DEER CREEK, IL
Joined By Whom W B BOGARDUS Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where CAMP PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks PROMOTED SERGEANT DEC 4, 1863

When Bogardus had about 90 volunteers he led the Washington/Deer Creek/Morton volunteers into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, Bogardus and 87 of his volunteers were mustered into service as Co. G of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Bogardus was elected Captain of Co. G by the men of the Washington/Deer Creek/Morton company. John T. Gibson was elected to fill the position of 2nd Corporal.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, and boarded a train bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana. Three weeks later, the men of the 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade, in pursuit of Confederate troops in Kentucky. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more to come.
During the next two years, Corporal John T. Gibson served faithfully in Co. G as the men of the 86th served in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, John was witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chicakamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peach Tree Creek, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia, Averasboro, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina to name a few and marched with Sherman to the Sea. In December of 1863, Corporal John T. Gibson was elected by the men of Co. G to fill a recently vacated Sergeant position. Corporal John T. Gibson was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on December 4, 1863, while the 86th was at Morgantown, Tennessee during the march north through east Tennessee to relieve the beleaguered troops in Knoxville, Tennessee. Sergeant Gibson served in this capactity through the end of the war.
A few weeks after the defeat and surrender of Confederate General Johnston's Army to that of General Sherman, the war came to a close. The men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington City (now D.C.) where they participated in the Grand Review and where they were mustered out of the service on June 6, 1865. Shortly after that Sergeant John T. Gibson and the men of Company G were on their way back to their homes and families in Tazewell County.
On January 1, 1868, John T. Gibson was married to Emily Thayer in McLean County. Emily was born on Nov. 21, 1843 in Washington County, Vermont, the daughter of Aaron Thayer and Esther (Field) Thayer. The Thayers had ten children and were residing in Vermont when Aaron died in 1863. Three years later, the oldest son, Erastus, talked his mother into moving the family west and came west settling in Tazewell County, Illinois in 1866. The following year, 1867, the entire Thayer family moved to Yates Township in McLean County. On New Years Day of 1868, John and Emily were married. John and Emily were first cousins, once removed. John's grandmother, Charlotte Field Birkett, was the sister of Esther Field Thayer, Emily's mother. One son, who died at the age of 2 days, is the only child known to have been born to John and Emily. His information follows;
1. Infant Son Gibson, born October 11, 1868; died October 13, 1868; buried in the Chenoa Township Cemetery in Chenoa, Illinois

At the time of the 1870 census, John T. & Emily (Thayer) Gibson are found residing in Yates Township (east of Chenoa, Illinois), McLean County, Illinois where John is farming for a living. They have no children at this time. At the time of the 1880 census, John T. Gibson is found widowed and residing in Chenoa Township, McLean County, Illinois where he is now employed as a Hardware Merchant. It is now known that Emily's mother, Esther (Field) Thayer, died on July 13, 1879. Esther's earthly remains were laid to rest in the Chenoa Township Cemetery. Two weeks later, Emily (Thayer) Gibson died on July 28, 1879 in Chenoa Township of McLean County and her earthly remains were laid to rest in the Chenoa Township Cemetery, near her mother's, amongst the Thayer family.
At the time of the 1880 census, John T. Gibson is found widowed and residing in Chenoa Township, McLean County, Illinois where he is employed as a Hardware Merchant. On September 14, 1881, John T. Gibson was married 2nd to Elizabeth D. "Lizzie" Youle in Tazewell County. Lizzie was born on October 27, 1853 in Sand Prairie Township, Tazewell County, Illinois, the daughter of William Youle and Sarah (Askren) Youle. William Youle and Sarah (Askren) Youle were both born in Yorkshire, England. William was born in 1823 on the Holme upon Spaulding Moor in Yorkshire, England, while Sarah was born July 28, 1819 in Yorkshire. They were married on May 6, 1845 and nine children are known to have been born to them. The Youle came to America in June of 1851 where they first settled in Sandusky County, Ohio. The following fall of 1852, the family came on west to Illinois where they settled along the Tazewell County/Mason County line. They are believed to have moved to the Delavan, Illinois area in 1866. Mr. Youle engaged in farming during the greater part of his life. He also was an extensive stock raiser and stock dealer. From 1873 until his death, he was engaged in the lumber business, where he was a member of the firm of Youle & Brunson. His death occurred Aug. 4, 1878. He was a man loved and respected by all who knew him. In business William Youle was enterprising and successful; as a citizen, honored and esteemed; and as a husband and father, loved. He was the first to introduce Osage hedge, for fences, into Tazewell County, and was for a time engaged in the hedge business. Two children are known to have been born to John and Lizzie. They are;
2. Fred Dana Gibson, born December 27, 1884, probably in Delavan, Tazewell County, Illinois, though his death certificate states he was born in Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois.
Fred Gibson died on 27 Oct 1954 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. His residence is given as 4607 N Sheridan. The following is found on his death record on familysearch;
Age 69
Marital Status Married
Occupation Accountant
Birth Date 27 Dec 1884
Birthplace Pontiac, Illinois
Funeral Home Chas V Anderson
Burial Place Chicago, , Illinois
Cemetery Mount Olive
Father's Name John T Gibson
Mother's Name Lizzie D Youle
Informant's Name T Hunley

3. Paul Youle Gibson, born February 16, 1894 in Denver, Colorado. Paul's mother died when he was 9 months old. In the 1900 census, Paul is found living with his father and step-mother in Delavan, Tazewell County, Illinois. Paul's step mother died when he was 10 years old and at the time of the 1910 census, Paul is found with his, twice widowed, father in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois.
By the late 1910's, Paul is found in Arkansas and registers for the draft of WWI in Arkansas County, Arkansas. Paul served as a Corporal in the 112 Ordnance Depot Company during World War I. At the time of the 1920 census, Paul Y. Gibson has yet to be located.
At the time of the 1930 census, Paul Y Gibson is found in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. He is living in a boarding house on Ponce de Leon Avenue and is a Manager of an Auto Servicing factility. Was he really married at this time? If he was, then he must have divorced soon after this;
Age 36
Marital Status Married
Birthplace Colorado
Father's Birthplace Illinois
Mother's Birthplace At Sea

Paul was married to Eva Viola Mills on November 3, 1931 in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. At the time of the 1940 census, Paul and Eva are found renting a place in Ward 48 on Magnolia Avenue in the city of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, where he is a traffic patrolman with the State Park District;
Paul Y Gibson Head M 45 COLORADO
Ena M Gibson Wife F 33 GEORGIA
Mills Gibson Son M 13 NEW YORK

Paul died on May 5, 1968 in Yountville, Napa County, California and his mortal remains were laid in the Independence Cemetery in Independence, Inyo County, California. See his Find A Grave Memorial #74748308.

Sometime before 1884, John and Lizzie are known to have moved to Pontiac, Illinois in Livingston County where their first son, Fred, was born in December of 1884. In 1887, the surviving members of the 86th Illinois organized a reunion which was held in Peoria, Illinois on the 25th Anniversary of their being mustered into service, August 27, 1887. John T. Gibson was one of 23 men from Co. G to make that first reunion, the most of any other company in the 86th. At that time, John gave his address as Pontiac, Illinois.
About 1892 or 1893, John T. Gibson is known to have moved to Capital Hill, in Denver, Colorado. John, Lizzie and Fred are all residing there at the time George D. Gibson, John's father, died in Nov. of 1893. In February of 1894, John's 2nd son, Paul, is born in Denver.
On November __, 1894, Elizabeth D. "Lizzie" (Youle) Gibson died in Denver, Colorado, leaving John T. Gibson with a 10 year old son and a 9 month old son. Lizzie's earthly remains were laid to rest in the Prairie Rest Cemetery in Delavan, Illinois in Tazewell County.
John T. Gibson was married for the 3rd time to Anna Youle, an older sister of Lizzie's. This is believed to have occurred sometime in 1895, probably in Denver as this record is not found in Illinois. Anna may have gone out to Colorado to help with the children and John and Anna may have married there. John was about 53 years of age at this time, while Anna was about 43 years of age at this time. Anna is now known to have been born on December 15, 1849 in Yorkshire, England. John and Anna are known to have resided in Colorado until about 1897, but about that time, they returned to their families in Illinois.
At the time of the 1900 census, John T. & Anna Gibson, along with sons Fred and Paul, and two Youle nephews are all found residing in Ward 1 - 3 in the city of Delavan, Illinois in Tazewell County;
John Gibson Head M Aug 1842 58 Farmer Illinois PN VT
Anna Gibson Wife F Dec 1850 50 England
Fred Gibson Son M Dec 1884 16 Illinois
Paul Gibson Son M Feb 1894 6 Colorado
Wilbur Youle Nephew M Apr 1887 13 Illinois
Clifford Youle Nephew M Feb 1889 11 Illinois
Jennie Ruben Servant F Jan 1879 21 Illinois

On May 1, 1904, Anna (Youle) Gibson died in Delavan, Illinois. Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the Prairie Rest Cemetery in Delavan, Illinois in Tazewell County. Sometime before 1910, John T. Gibson and his son Paul moved to Peoria, Illinois, where they are found residing at the time of the 1910 census; They are found residing in a hotel or boarding house of some sort at what is identified as 917 Hamilton in Ward 3 of the city of Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois;
John T Gibson Head M 65 Illinois Capitalist
Paul Y Gibson Son M 16 Colorado
Christiana Greensfelder Roomer F 25 Illinois

Not long after this, John T. Gibson moved to St. Louis, Missouri. John is known to have resided at 1249 Amhurst Place in St. Louis for some time.
In the 1918 reunion booklet of the 86th Illinois reunion for that year, it was reported that Sergeant John T. Gibson had passed away in February of 1918. A death certificate for John T. Gibson is on file in Missouri which states that John T. Gibson died on April 16, 1918 in St. Louis. The informant for the information on the death certificate was John's son, Fred D. Gibson. Sgt. John T. Gibson's earthly remains were sent to the Missouri Crematory in St. Louis, where they were cremated on the morning of April 18, 1918. The remains were then returned to Clayton R. Lupton, Undertaker, of St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Lupton turned the cremains over to the family, possibly Fred D. Gibson, and they were taken back to Tazewell County, where Sgt. John T. Gibson's earthly remains were laid to rest in the Prairie Rest Cemetery near Delavan, Illinois in Tazewell County. The following obituary was found and provided by Carol Dorward;

Tazewell County Reporter, Washington, IL, May 2, 1918.
[Under Delavan column.]
John T. Gibson, who resided in Delavan until about fourteen years ago, died in St. Louis. The body was cremated and the ashes were brought here for interment at Prairie Rest.

by Baxter B. Fite III and Carol Dorward, of Washington, Illinois.

(There must be many pictures of John T. Gibson scattered throughout the family somewhere, probably some of him in uniform as well. For the benefit of the Washington Historical Society and for all with an interest, Baxter and Carol would love to see some of them added to John's Find A Grave site. Baxter and Carol would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants, who might be able to add to the biographical material about Sergeant John T. Gibson and the Gibson family.)