Page 126 - Jefferson County AR 1889 History (Goodspeed)

A HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. A

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1city and chief emporium of the Hudson Bay Com- graduated in 1870. He then started south, deter-
mined to settle at some desirable point. He
pany. Seeing that Victoria possessed unsur- finally settled a t Little Rock, and entered the law
passed natural advan- in location, a sslnbrioua firm of Benjamin & Barnes, a leading law firm of
climate, and commodious harbor, he wisely con-
'cluded that it was bound to beaome a commercial Little Rock, where he completed his studies and

capital and immediately engaged in business, was admitted to the bar. One year afterward he

investing largely in real estate and building the was appointed county attorney of Pulaski County,

second mercantile house outside the Hudson Bay ; which position he resigned in 1873, when the citi-

Company's fort. His operations in real estate zensof Little Rockelected him city judge, he being

were extensive and invariably successful, and he the first colored man eleded to that position in the

built several of the largest business houses; and United States. I u June, 1876, Judge Gibbs was

one of the moat beantifnl villas in Victoria appointed by President Hayes, registrar of the land

he ocoupied as his family residence for many ofice at Little Rock, to which oftioe he was re-ap-

years, and afterward sold it to Judge Crease, , pointed in 1881. He is a partner in the ElecLric

attorney-general of the colony, who has since oo- Light Company, and a largeshare-holder in several

enpied it. Having amassed considerable wealth, other aompanies, and lives in a handsome suburban

and owning, as he did, property enough to bring residenoe, which he lately built. Judge Gibbs

him in a large rental, he wnclnded to withdraw was mluried to Mariah A. Alexander, of Kentucky,

from active business operations. I n 1866 he was and they are now the parents of four children:

elected to represent the moat aristooratic ward in Donald (who livm a t Vichrin), Harase !a printer),

the common council of the city of Victorin. On Idah (a graduate of'oberlin College) and Hattie

the discovery of anthracite coal on Queen Char. I (a graduate of the Conservatory of Music at Ober-

lotte Island, being the first discovery of the kind lin). Judge Gibbs has been endorsed by the Re-

on the Pncific coast, Mr. Oibbs became a large publican State Central Committee of Arkansas, for

share.holder in an English company, and was receiver of public moneys of the Little Rock Larid

elected one of the directors. When the company Office, and as he is without opposition it is ex-

advertised for proposals for building a railroad, pected that President Harrison will appoint him.

wharves, etc., Mr. Gibbs resigned his position as Ferd Havis, circuit clerk and recorder, Pine

director and put in a bid, which, although not the Bluff, Ark. I n the brief sketch of this useful and

lowest, was accepted on account of hin known re. well respected citisen may be seen how it is pos-

sponsibility and integrity. He left Victoria in sible for a young man to rise in the world throngh

January, 1867, on the steamer Otto, taking with individual efforts, when not in the possession of

him fifty men, snrveyoys, mwhanics and laborers. means other than those h t o w e d by nature. He was

He finished his contract within the stipnlated time, born in Desha County, Ark., November 15, 1846,

twelve months, in spite of hostile Indian demon- and is the son of John Havis. Ferd Havis came

strations, and sent the first cargo of anthracite to Jefferson County, Ark., when but a boy, grew

coal ever unearthed on the PncSo coast. to the to manhood there and there reeeived his education

directors and to a market. Previous to entering in the common schools. He is a barber by trade

on this enterprise he had determined t o return to and followed this vacation up to the date of his

the United States, and had been reading law un- election to his prweut office. I n 1871 he was

der a celebrated English barrister. After wm- elected alderman in the city of Pine Bluff, and

pletiug his contract and returning t o Victoria, he served two yenrs; he was elected an a member of

settled up his business affairs and returned to the legislature in the fall of 1872 for two years,

the United States, going to Oberlin, Ohio, whern and npon the adjournment of the legislature in t+'
1873, was appointed assessor of JeffersonCounty,
,j,-.he settled with his wife nud children, and entered for four years. I n 1874he received a commission
the law department of the college, from which he
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