"Nov. 26, 1915: Oregonian, p 5. 'Mrs. A. C. Gibbs Dies'

With the death of Mrs. Addison C. Gibbs, which took place on Wednesday night at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alexander Muir, [Kate Gibbs] one of Portland's oldest and most interesting citizens passed away. She was the wife of Oregon's first Governor.

Mrs. Gibbs was one of the oldest members of the First Methodist Church, having united with that body in 1859. She was president of the Aid Society of the church for several years and one of its most popular and best beloved members. For several years of late she has taken no active part in the work, but was always interested and willing to use her influence in any good work.

Mrs. Gibbs was Miss Margaret Watkins. She was born in New York State January 3, 1830, and went to school in Springville, N. Y., [Griffith Institute] where she was graduated. It was while in school that she met Addison Gibbs, and their marriage in 1854 the result. The same year the couple came west by way of the Isthmus of Panama. They settled first in Douglas County, on the Umpqua, where Mr. Gibbs received the appointment of collector of Customs. The family came to Portland in 1858 and built a home on the site where the Heilig Theater is now located. Later they moved to the adjoining place at Park and Taylor streets.

Mrs. Gibbs told many interesting stories about the early days. On January 1, 1913 when Governor West gave a reception honoring the wives of all the ex-Governors, it was a matter of regret to Mrs. Gibbs that she was not strong enough to attend, but she took a decided interest in the affair and when interviewed told of the days in which her husband had been Governor. She said she was busy rearing her children while her husband was state executive.

Mrs. Gibbs was the mother of seven children, three of whom, Charles W. Gibbs, of Wallace, Idaho; Mrs. P. L. (Lizzie) Packard, of Underwood, Wash.; and Mrs. Muir (Kate), of Portland; survive her. The public career of Mr. Gibbs began immediately after his arrival here. He was a Legislator from Douglas County and was elected Governor in 1862. For his activities in leading in the protection of Oregon against the Indians, he was known as "the war Governor." While on a business trip to England in 1886, he died suddenly. His body was laid in Riverview cemetery where his widow also will be buried.

The funeral will take place at 2:30 o'clock today, from the Finley undertaking parlors. Rev. Dr. H. J. Talbot, of Salem, formerly Mrs. Gibbs' pastor in the old Taylor Street church, will make an address and he will be assisted by the Rev. J. H. Boyd, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. The pallbearers will be A. Thurlow, Dr. C. R. Templeton, John Meek, John Bennett, W. H. Morrow and David Muir."

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"Nov. 26, 1915: Oregonian, p. 8 'The Name of Gibbs'

The late Mrs. Gibbs was the widow of the war Governor of Oregon. Her long life had spanned the formative and maturing periods of Oregon history. She was a pioneer of 1855 and she married a pioneer of 1850, who was destined to play a conspicuous and honorable part in the thrilling and critical era through which the state passed from the early sixties to the middle seventies. She survived her distinguished husband by nearly thirty years, but it is pleasing to know that her old age was calm and that her memories were always of duty well done and of worthy tasks well performed."

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She was the daughter of Lydia (Southwick) and William Watkins, and sister of Dr. William Henry Watkins. Her father and brother are also interred at this cemetery. Her children were: William Watkins Gibbs, Lizzie Gibbs Packard, Charles Watkins Gibbs, and Kate Gibbs Muir. Her son William W. preceded her in death in 1886. She lived to be 85 years old.