The Last Hanging in Scott County, Virginia

The following is an excerpt from The Progressive Age, a newspaper published in Estillville (now Gate City), VA:

HANGED!

Wayne Powers and Geo. Gibson pay the Death Penalty

"Sketch of the Life and Confession of Geo. W. gibson, Furnished for the Progressive Age, by Himself: As I die tomorrow, at the hands of the law, a public criminal; I desire now in an hour when the incentives to misrepresentation must be allowed by all to have ended, to give to that public by whose law I die . . . circumstances of the killing of William Gibson, on Chestnut Ridge, on the night of the 19th of April, 1884, and to confess with it a brief account of my life up to that time. I was born in Russell county Virginia, Jan. 15th 1858, and on the day of my execution will be 27 years and 21 days old. My parents were Spenser and Sarah J. Gibson. I had a brother William who was older than myself and a sister younger than I. My parents were very poor and illiterate; they disagreed and separated when I was five years old, and my father went to Alabama and died there some five years ago. My mother was left on Sinking Creek, in this county, with her three children, she remained here about a year after their separation, and then went to Ohio with her brother; leaving her children in this county, and thence she went to Missouri, where she died some eight years ago. Thus it was I began life with the unpropitious surroundings of poverty and family dissensions; and soon was left alone in the cold world with no mother's hand to sooth my boyish brow, and no father's counsel to point out to me the way of life or warn me of the breakers whereon my frail young basque might wreck . . . About thirteen years ago my brother William went to Tennessee, and I never heard of him afterward . . . Soon after my father left, I was put at Stephen Broadwatters to stay for my victuals and clothes; there I spent two years, the next four years I spent at Mack Arnetts, and the next six months I staid at S.P. Porter's. I then set in to work for Hugh Porter until I was twenty-one years old, under contract that he should give me a good common school education and at the expiration of the time a horse saddle and bridle, two suits of clothes and ten dollars in money. I served and obeyed him as best I could until the time expired; but he did not altogether perform his part of the contract, as he did not send me to school but about ten days during the entire five years I remained with him. And thus I was left without an education, to fight life’s battles, unarmed by its weapons and unskilled by its wisdom. The next year I spent with Thomas Porter, whose daughter I afterward married. The following year . . . with Isaac H. Porter, for whose many acts of kindness and generosity I owe a debt of the deepest gratitude. The next six years I spent chiefly with my father-in-law, but as we did not agree well, I decided to cast my lot elsewhere. So after making provisions for my family during my absence, I went to West Va., to look out a new home for us. On the 15th day of February 1884, I started to West Va. in company with Wayne and Jonas Powers and Joseph Mead, and while there I worked for Wm. Garrett, and became acquainted with William Gibson who was also employed by Mr. Garrett as a farm hand. He claimed to be my cousin and we became greatly attached to each other, and he expressed a desire to come to Virginia on my return, and I wrote to my wife in reference to him, and to other friends of mine for the purpose of procuring employment for him when we arrived. We started on Monday, April the 14th, 1884. Before starting Wayne and Jonas Powers made known to us their wish to come with us, but we endeavored to avoid them as we supposed they would want us to bear their expenses, but they fell in with us and after a journey of six days, we arrived at John Ramey's on Clinch River about dark on the 19th of April 1884 . . . Leaving Jonas Powers and Wm Gibson in Broad Shoal Gap a short distance from John Rameys, Wayne Powers and I went to John Rameys, bought six pints of Brandy, returned to where they were, built up a fire and being weary and footsore, remained there drinking the liquor and resting for near three hours. Will Gibson had my pistol and loaded it while there. Wayne Powers also loaded his pistol. We then crossed Clinch River in a canoe, Will Gibson fell out into the river, and then handed my pistol back to me. We traveled along together until we got near Chas. Horns, at the foot of Chestnut Ridge; here Jonas Powers left us and went in the direction of Charles Horns, I saw him no more until I saw him under arrest after the murder. Myself and the other two went along together until we arrived near the top of Chestnut Ridge. Wayne and Will Gibson were some five steps in advance of me and were quarreling. Wayne stepped back and shot Gibson in the back of the head; he ran and cried out, ‘run here George, your friend Will Gibson is shot.’ I pursued after him and fired two shots at him; one of them, and I think only one, hit him. He fell and I sprang upon him and cut him three times; once on the hip, once on the side and then cut his throat. Wayne run up soon after and cocked his pistol to shoot him again. I told him not to do that. He asked ‘Has he got enough?’ I answered yes, for he was then dead. We then considered as well as we could in our drunken condition, what we should do with the body, and decided to burn it. We piled rails on it and then Wayne pulled sage grass and put under them, and I fired it with a match. We did not kill him for his money or clothing. But after he was dead, we thought it was useless to destroy his money and clothes, so we divided the nine dollars and twenty cents between us, which was all he had. I took his clothing and we burnt his satchel, and some clothing. We parted about an hour and a half before day. I can only attribute the part I took in the murder of Wm. Gibson to my drunken condition, for such a thing as killing Will Gibson had not before been talked of between myself and Powers, and by me never before thought of. I loved him as a brother, and had I been sober would have died in his defense. I could only have perpetuated the deed in my then insane and drunken condition. I have grave reasons to believe that Will Gibson was my own brother. Since I have been confined in jail here, I have seen a man who knew my brother William who lived at Rogersville, Tenn.; he said he left . . . about 7 years ago. This corresponds in point of time with the length of time the murdered man had been in West Virginia. These circumstances, together with the very marked resemblance of our features, have led me to fear that he was my brother, who for some reason concealed his relationship from, perhaps designing to make himself known when we reached home. Owing chiefly to the burning of the body, public sentiment was fired to indignation against us, and some witnesses gave false testimony against me, but one of these was exposed on my trial by several witnesses who had heard his testimony in the case on a former occasion and observed the material difference. In conversation and in private writings I have given to numerous persons the names of those who swore falsely against me - I shall not give them here. In regard to them all, I will only say, I trust Heaven will be more merciful in judgment of their faults than they have been of mine. My life will answer the penalty of violated law tomorrow; but I feel that I am prepared. It is a shameful death I know, but that God whom I worship and in whom I trust for salvation . . . I will be with him in Paradise tomorrow. It is not so bad to die after all. To me it is only a moment’s pain, necessary to rid me of this mortal clay, that my spirit may soar away to view the wonders and beauties that ever greet the eye, and enrapture the soul upon the eternal fields of Paradise. My greatest regret is in leaving my wife and children, and for the stigma my death entails upon them. I earnestly commend them to the charitable consideration of those among whom they must live, and ask that they will watch over my two little boys, and aid their mother to train them up in the way they should go. And O! may the cup of intoxicating drink never touch their lips, for it was this that has brought a fate so terrible upon their father. Society would do well to banish liquor forever from its midst. I, who have been decoyed to my ruin by it, might with some show of just reproach turn upon that people whose laws license this most deadly and dangerous of all agents, and say, ‘shake not thy glory locks at me.’"

History of the Murder

“Wayne and Jonas Powers, two brothers, George and Will Gibson, the latter cousins, had been absent from this county for some months, residing in West Virginia. Last Spring they concluded to visit their homes, and in company started on their journey. On Saturday evening April 20th, 1884, they stopped at the house of John Ramey and purchased a gallon of brandy, and then started for Chestnut Ridge, lying close to the Russell line, where a quiet spot was chosen for the committing of the murder. Here the life of Will Gibson was taken by the men now under sentence of death. After the killing, rails and other combustible matter were piled upon his remains, and an effort to destroy the evidence of their crime by cremating the body of their victim. The next morning smoke was seen rising from the spot by S.P. Porter and wife, while going to preaching, and they investigated the cause and discovered portions of the unconsumed body. The news of the murder spread rapidly, and on Monday, Richard Hager, Ambrose Taylor and Alex. Austin had these three men arrested upon the charge of having killed Will Gibson. They were taken to Sinking Creek Church and an examination before Justice Ramey, was held. They were bound over and brought to Scott County and lodged in jail on Wednesday, April 23rd, 1884. They were indicted by the grand jury of the May term of the county court, Judge Wood presiding, and on being arraigned upon the indictments of murder plead not guilty. They all elected to be tried in the circuit court, and were remanded back to prison. At the August term of the circuit court, Judge Kelly presiding, Jonas Powers was placed on trial. The trial lasted some days, and the jury, after deliberating for 24 hours, failed to agree, and were discharged. The cases of Wayne Powers and George Gibson were continued until the next term of the court. At the November term of the circuit court, Jonas Powers was arraigned. After a full and patient inquiry into the facts, occupying four days, the charge was given to the jury, who retired and after deliberating some ten minutes returned with a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. The next day Wayne Powers was arraigned, and his trial consumed about three days. The jury deliberated during the night, and at the meeting of the court the next morning, returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. On Saturday of the same week George Gibson was placed upon his trial, and it lasted until the Friday following when the jury returned a verdict, guilty of murder in the first degree.”

The Sentencing

“The court ordered the prisoners to be brought in to court and directly they were marched into the bar, surrounded by guards. This was the most solemn and anxious moment of the whole interesting proceedings. The stillness of death reigned in the house. The prisoners were then commanded to stand up and were asked if they had or knew anything to say why the court should not proceed to pronounce judgment against them, pursuant to the verdicts of the juries and according to the laws of the Commonwealth. Jonas Powers declared that he wanted to say that he was not guilty. Wayne Powers said that he had nothing to say. Gibson said he did not get justice. They took their seats and Judge Kelly, with impressiveness and solemnity, pronounced the following death sentence against them: ‘Jonas H. Powers, Wayne Powers, and George Gibson: Such a scene as we now look upon is seldom witnessed in a Courthouse. Under our mild and humane laws, a single convict is rarely seen at the bar of the Court waiting sentence of death. In a service on the bench of this Circuit of more than fourteen years, I have only had three times to pronounce such a sentence. Now you three stand before me convicted each of murder in the first degree, to which the law requires the death penalty. It would be useless to review the details of your crime as the juries have not been mistaken in their verdicts . . . It is shortly this - that for a few dollars and two or three suits of wearing apparel of the victim, you deliberately killed your associate, traveling with you in all the evidence of friendship, and in the attempt to conceal the evidence of your guilt, spent hours of the night in which the deed was done standing around his body, heaping burning rails upon it, until it was almost wholly consumed. But the effort at concealment failed. It is almost always the case that the circumstances attending the murder press so closely upon the heels of the murderer that he cannot escape them. So the circumstances surrounding this murder pointed to you and led to your arrest, and you have been brought to trial. A separate and different jury of twelve honest men have passed upon each of your cases and have found you guilty. As the evidence is in most of its features, the same in each case, it is equivalent to the entire judgment of thirty-six jurymen. These jurymen were selected with all the care possible to have them free from any of the selfish bias or prejudice. They heard all the evidence patiently and attentively. They were addressed by counsel of learning, ability and zeal. Every view favorable to you that could possibly be pressed, was furtively urged by your counsel. Under such circumstances it is hardly probable that three successive juries have been mistaken. I confess that this consideration aids me and lends me support in the trying ordeal through which I am now passing. On each of the three former occasions on which I have been called to pronounce the sentence of death, though but one unfortunate prisoner was to be doomed, my heart recoiled from it. I shuddered at the thought. But how much more trying, when I see three unfortunate human faces looking upon me, awaiting their sentences. I hesitate to pronounce them. But an unavoidable duty, the imperative mandate of the law compels me to do so. But before I do I would admonish you to use the time which will be given you in making all possible preparation for death. Though this Court can see no relief which can be legally extended to you; though no other human tribunal may be able to grant you relief, yet so infinite is the mercy of God, that even the darkest crimes do not close the door of hope to those who appeal to Him. Forgiveness and pardon He freely gives to those even about to perish on account of crime, if they approach Him in true contrition and repentance. And now, with the most profound regret that so terrible a duty devolves on me, I must pronounce upon you each the judgment of the law, which is that you each be taken to the jail of the county from whence you came, and from thence to the place of execution, on Friday the 6th day of February next, and there be hanged by the neck till you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your souls.’ During the delivery of the judgment, Jonas Powers chewed his tobacco without visible emotion. Wayne fixed his gaze upon the floor and remained unmoved to the close. Gibson was nervous and pale, and occasionally looked toward the Judge. The counsel of Jonas Powers presented his case to the Governor, who, after hearing the statement of counsel, granted a stay of execution for thirty days.”

At the Jail

“Since the sentence of the prisoners, the jail has been an attractive point, and daily many visitors were admitted to see the condemned men - many of these being Clergymen and others of religious standing, who have labored both night and day to induce the prisoners to prepare for the change which awaited them. Revs. Messrs. Walker, Bellomy, Bond, Craft and others, including Mr. B.F. Hickum and others, took a very deep interest in the eternal welfare of the poor men. Some two weeks previous to the execution, George Gibson broke down and was happily converted. Since that time he has been almost constantly engaged in prayer and singing, and from the moment of his realizing that his sins were forgiven, he admitted the crime, the justice of the sentence, and his willingness to meet his doom. Gibson stated that for two nights previous he had walked the floor singing and praying constantly, and they were the happiest nights of his life. Gibson’s appetite did not fail him and he ate a hearty breakfast. Powers could not eat and had taken but little nourishment for two days previous to the execution. On Wednesday, after long and earnest prayer by Revs. Mr. Walker and Kennedy, Wayne Powers, who had been under conviction for some time, realized that through the blood of his Savior, even the vilest sinner could find mercy and forgiveness. We paid a visit to the condemned men at the jail this morning, and found everything quiet. There were but few visitors. Geo. Gibson, who is quite tall and about 28 years of age, was first seen. He appeared calm and collected, and talked like a man who had made up his mind to meet his fate with Christian fortitude. He admitted the justice of his sentence, but said he did not get full justice at the trial, and yet it was probably all right. He said he felt resigned, with a clear hope of future happiness. As he intended to make a statement from the scaffold, he preferred not to repeat now what he would say then . . . Wayne Powers, who is a younger and a smaller man, was next seen. He too, spoke without excitement. He said he was guilty, and he believed his punishment was just. He felt that he was forgiven and hoped for a blessed immortality beyond the grave. He also said he desired to make a statement from the gallows, but he did say that he should make a statement exculpating his brother Jonas . . . The old father and mother of the two Powers boys came in the hall, as they have done for days past. The poor old Mother, crushed by the weight of years and this terrible sorrow, sat on the stairs weeping as if her heart was breaking. They are certainly objects of deep sympathy, and they have the sympathy of this entire community. The parting between the prisoners and Mrs. H.J. Beverly was one of the most affecting scenes of the morning of the execution. In his address Gibson referred to the treatment they had received at the hands of Mr. Beverly and his excellent wife, and he thanked them both in this public manner for their kindness and trusted he should meet them in Heaven”

The Last Morning

“The morning of Friday, the day appointed for the execution dawned cool and clear. The night previous a large number of citizens had arrived, and the streets presented a somewhat animated appearance. From early dawn of morning until ten o’clock people on horseback, in wagons and on foot, kept pouring into town from all directions, and by that hour there must have been in the Village and in its vicinity at least 3000 visitors - many of them ladies. The jail, as a matter of course, was the point of attraction, and crowds lined the walks and vacant places, all eager to see everything taking place. At about ten thirty the crowd serged toward the courthouse, and the cry was taken up that the prisoners were being brought out to the hack. Very soon afterward, Sheriff Strong with Wayne Powers, and Dept. Sheriff R.H. Cowden with Geo. Gibson, took their seats in the hack. The guards were stationed under the direction of J.S. King and Martin Godsey, and the cavalcade took up its solemn march to the place of execution at the cedars. The prisoners were neatly dressed in well fashioned suits. Gibson wore slippers and Powers had on shoes. Gibson smoked almost constantly from the starting from the jail up to mounting the scaffold. It was a sight never before seen in Estillville. The streets were densely packed with horsemen and people on foot from the Village to the grounds. The place selected for the execution was a little north from the Cedar Schoolhouse, in a hollow. As the hack neared the Scaffold, the hills surrounding the box were covered with faces, all watching with breathless interests the entire proceedings. The hack reached its destination, and the prisoners, officers, guards and a few spectators took their positions inside of the guard rope, but outside of the building in which the scaffold was erected.

The Prisoners’ Statements

 “Silence being commanded, Geo. W. Gibson, with great coolness and nerve, stepped upon a box to address the vast multitude before him. As far as appearances indicated, he was the most collected person present, and he spoke in a clear distinct tone, using excellent language and well-worded sentences, and for twenty minutes he addressed the crowd. We shall not attempt to give the address in full, but only the most salient points. He said: ‘My fellow men, and fellow women, you see before you a man, who in a very short time will be suspended between Heaven and earth, and his spirit will soon take its flight to the God that gave it. In this the last time I shall ever address you, I want to say some things that will be a warning, and I want you to prepare to meet me in Heaven. I shall know you then as I know you now. I am ready and willing to go, for I shall meet dear friends over there. I have a father there, whose bones lay in Alabama; a mother is there whose body lies in Missouri, and I expect to meet these there, and dwell with them through a never-ending Eternity. I am not afraid to die. We all have to meet this fate, and what difference does a few years of toil and sorrow here make, compared with Eternity. I have repented of my crime, and believe I am forgiven. I feel this assurance of pardon, and that through the blood of Jesus, all my sins are washed away. This is why I can meet my fate like a man, for I believe I am going to see Jesus. I say to this vast concourse of people to let my sad fate be a warning to you all. It was bad company and whisky that has brought me here today. I had no mothers’ counsels, and drifted through life all alone, and it was evil companions and whisky that led to my ruin. Oh, the curse of whisky. Will you not, old men and young men, shun it, and vote it out of the land! As a dying man I make this appeal for you to avoid whisky and seek religion, love God and meet me in Heaven. I acknowledge my crime, I killed Will Gibson. Wayne shot him first, and I shot and killed him. I then helped to burn his body. I had nothing against him. It was not for nine dollars and twenty cents and his clothing that I did the deed, but it was because I was drunk and did not know what I was doing, until it was too late. I want to say that Jonas Powers was not with us when we did the killing. He knew nothing of it, and is as innocent of that crime as any man or woman I see before me, and in God’s name I ask you all to assist in setting Jonas Powers at liberty, for he is an innocent man. I have a wife and two children, whom I love, and who will suffer for this terrible crime. I commend her and my children to the sympathy of all Christian people. I have two papers. This one is to be given to my wife, and this one, I wish to be buried with me, although my wife can see it if she wants to, but no one else must look upon it. I want my funeral preached at 11 o'clock on Sunday by Bro. Forest Kennedy. I want my children to look upon my face, so that they may remember how I looked, and I pray God that my terrible fate may prove a warning to them, and that they will shun my example. I have never committed but this one crime, nor have I ever been arrested before this. Now I must draw my talk to a close but permit me to warn all, old and young, to shun whisky and prepare to die. I feel that in a short time I shall pass over the waters of death, and there see Jesus and walk the golden streets. I again say I am willing to die, and believe that my sins are all forgiven through the blood of the blessed Jesus, and now one and all, farewell.’ While Gibson was talking, the silence was painful, and many a man and woman shed tears of sympathy, and all felt impressed with the fact that he was speaking the truth, and his remarks sank into many a heart, and gave one and all a better conception of what religion is able to do in the moment of death. Wayne Powers, while showing great nerve, was apparently more affected than Gibson. He talked in a low voice, and with some resolution. He said: ‘I am about to die, and I want my fate to be a warning to others to shun bad company, cards, and whisky. For one so young as I am, I have seen a good deal, and I can attribute my fate to bad companions, cards, and whisky. I have a poor old father and mother, who with tears and prayers plead with me not to drink. I would not heed their warning nor follow their advice. They told me if I continued in my course of drinking it would lead to my being killed, or brought to the gallows, and here I am. I had no control of myself when in liquor. When I had my hand shot off in a drunken quarrel, I made up my mind to quit it, but I did not. I want to say to you all, to shun whisky, vote it out of the United States, for whisky and pistols are the curse of the land. I feel that I am prepared to die, and that my sins are forgiven. We all have to pass through the ordeal of death, and while it is hard for me, so young, to die, yet I feel that it was just as hard for Will Gibson to die, for he too was young. I admit the shooting of him. There was no arrangement made between any of us to kill him. I had a grudge against Gibson when sober, but not a grudge I would have killed him for when sober. We were all three drunk, and I got into a quarrel with Will Gibson, and the old grudge came up and while in that condition I shot him. It was not for his money or clothing I did this crime. I want to say to you as a dying man, not that I am dying now but soon shall be, that Jonas Powers who lies up there in that old jail, had no hand in the killing of Will Gibson, and knew nothing about it until after the deed was done. He left us near Horn’s house and it was my friend who is to die with me, and myself who did the murder, and if you hang Jonas you will hang an innocent man for he is as innocent of that crime as anyone I see before me. I ask you all to assist in setting my brother free. And in conclusion I want again to say that I am ready and willing to die, for I am guilty, but I believe that my sins are forgiven, and that I shall be happy through a never-ending eternity. With the exception of this murder I think the greatest sin I ever committed was disobeying my parents. Had I listened to their words and obeyed them, I should now be happy with them, and not here to meet my terrible fate. Again let me warn you all to shun bad company, whisky, cards and pistols, for these are what have brought me here, and praying that I may meet you in heaven, I bid you all farewell.’ During his address Wayne, at times, was deeply affected and paused, but he held up wonderfully well and exhibited great nerve."

Inside the Box

“There were probably 75 persons in the building. The prisoners took their positions at the steps leading to the scaffold, surrounded by the clergy and friends. The religious exercises were conducted by Revs. Walker, Pannel and Bellomy. Rev. Mr. Pannel made a short and affecting address. He then read the following hymn, selected by Gibson and Powers to be sung:

THE END OF LIFE

At the conclusion of the singing Rev. Mr. Walker stepped in front of the condemned men and laying a hand on each, addressed the Throne of Mercy in their behalf, in a very appropriate and touching appeal. At the conclusion of the religious exercises the prisoners held conversation with the ministers and other friends that gathered around them, while Sheriff Strong and Deputy Cowden were engaged in adjusting the ropes. The scaffold was a simple one. It was about 6 x 10 feet, the floor rested on posts. The trap was fastened with hinges to the rear post, and the front sustained by a rope. The gallows was erected under the immediate supervision of Jailor Beverly. Patton Baker made the coffins. They were plain and neat. Drs. Morison and Patton, with assistants, were the surgeons in charge. The condemned men were led with unfaltering steps up the steps to the platform. Gibson on the west and Powers on the east side looking to the south. Their limbs were firmly pinioned. At this moment Colonel Richmond stepped to the front and said, ‘George Gibson and Wayne Powers: You are standing on the threshold of eternity - tell me and this audience if what you said in your addresses out there about Jonas Powers is true?’ Gibson: ‘Before God and the Angels in whose presence I stand, Jonas Powers is as innocent as any man I see before me.’ Powers: ‘I say the same.’ The caps were drawn over their faces - Gibson chose a white one and Powers a black one. As the white cap was drawn over Gibson’s face, he was wearing a radiant smile. Powers showed no cowardice, but his face wore a more serious aspect. Sheriff Strong and Deputy Cowden passed through the very trying ordeal with marked coolness. There was no excitement, no undue haste, no mistakes. They simply did their unpleasant duties well, and as men of nerve. All being in readiness, Sheriff Strong walked off the platform, raised the hatchet, and with a single stroke severed the cord that separated Life and Death! At 11 minutes to 1 the rope was cut and the two men fell with a dull thud. The bodies quivered with spasmodic action. Wayne ceased all apparent action in just one minute, but Gibson, who was a more powerful man, struggled terribly for two minutes before he hung still and limpid. At 12 minutes after the drop fell Power’s pulse had ceased to beat, but it was some time after when Gibson was pronounced dead. The body of Powers was cut down after hanging some minutes, and Gibson’s body was taken down ten minutes later. Mr. Creed Sallings took charge of Powers’ body. The body of Gibson was taken in charge by his brother-in-law, John Porter, who conveyed the body home. During the execution the crying of Gibson’s sister was heard above all other sounds. Her sobs mingled with those crying about her.”

(End of newspaper article)

GEORGE W. GIBSON'S IDENTITY ESTABLISHED

SARAH J. "SALLY" NICKELS (child of Allen Nickels and Lucinda Salyer) was born about 1838 in Scott Co., VA. She married SPENCER McGEE on December 13, 1855 in Scott Co., VA. Spencer was born about 1833. He was the son of Betsy McGee. On his marriage record, Spencer listed Scott Co., VA as his place of birth. There has been no record found of Spencer McGee nor is Spencer McGee listed on the 1850 census of Scott or Russell Counties. However, in the 1850 census of Scott Co., VA, Spencer "Gibson," age 16, is living in the household with Tivis Newberry. In the 1860 census of Russell Co., VA, there are a Spencer "Gibson" and wife, Sarah J., living six houses from Allen Nickels. (Allen Nickels was living in Scott Co., VA in 1850 but had moved to Russell Co., VA by 1860.) Their ages correspond with the ages of Spencer McGee and Sarah J. Nickels. This leads to the conclusion that Spencer McGee and Spencer Gibson are the same. Until I found, by looking through the 1860 census of Russell Co., VA, the family of Spencer and Sally J. Gibson with their sons, William and George, I had often wondered why ten-year-old George Gibson, with no apparent family connection, was living in the household with Allen Nickels at the time of the 1870 census of Scott Co., VA. The children of Sally Nickels and Spencer Gibson, as gathered from census records and primary source documents, are:

1. WILLIAM E. GIBSON

2. GEORGE W. GIBSON

3. ELIZA E. GIBSON

1. WILLIAM E. GIBSON (child of Sally Nickels and Spencer Gibson) was born about 1856 in Scott Co., VA and died April 19, 1884 in Scott Co., VA.

2. GEORGE W. GIBSON (child of Sally Nickels and Spencer Gibson) was born January 15, 1858 in Russell Co., VA and died February 6, 1885 in Scott Co., VA. George married MARTHA E. PORTER on August 23, 1879 in Scott Co., VA. Martha was born January 9, 1857 in Russell Co., VA. She was the daughter of Thomas M. Porter and Hannah M. Fugate.

The children of George W. Gibson and Martha E. Porter are:

a. ISAAC CLARENCE GIBSON, born about 1880. He married MYRTLE PORTER.

b. THOMAS M. GIBSON, born December 1882. He married CORA HAMMOND.

3. ELIZA E. GIBSON (child of Sally Nickels and Spencer Gibson) was born November 1861 in Russell Co., VA. Eliza was living with her mother's first cousin, Rosa (Nickels) Crabtree, in 1870.

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