William D. Gibson was a cattle driver, explorer, wagon master, farmer, and soldier born in Lee County, Virginia about 1796. As a youth, William D., with his brothers Robert B. and James A. traveled extensively driving herds to North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and "out West."

William D. (age 16) served as a soldier in the War of 1812 in the Lucas and Wills Regiment (previously known as 4th Virginia Regiment, same regiment as his father George Gibson) from August 1, 1812 to January 31, 1813. This command was organized under authority of General Orders on June 22, 1812, issued by the Virginia Adjutant General. This was in response to a request from the Secretary of War on July 18, 1812, directing that Virginia provide a force of 500 militia to serve for a six month tour at Norfolk, Virginia. The regiment was stationed at Fort Norfolk for the entire period. The regiment rendezvoused at Smithfield in early August and arrived at Portsmouth on August 8, 1812.

A new 4th Virginia Regiment was formed under authority of General Orders issued by the Adjutant General on March 24, 1813, and continued as a unit from April 1, 1813 to February 22, 1815 under six successive regimental commanders. General Orders issued by the 5th Military District on May 5, 1813, organized the regiment at Portsmouth and Norfolk. The unit served in the areas of Fort Norfolk in March 1814 at the Peach Orchard in the rear of Fort Norfolk. From June 1814 - August 18, 1814, they were directed that the 4th Regiment occupy the lines from Lindsay's Garden to the Peach Orchard and the nearby bridge. It occupied Armistead's Rope Walk until discharged.

In 1810 and 1820, William D. Gibson is listed in the Clay County, Kentucky census. In 1811, he is listed on the Clay County, Kentucky tax roles so apparently William D. had been in Clay County long before he married Margaret in 1825. Additional land was obtained in Clay County, Kentucky as William's service land grant from the War of 1812. He received 50 acres along Gardner's Fork and 50 acres along Shop Hollow Greasy Creek. William D. and Margaret engaged in the stock business, using this land as a cattle and hog raising location. This stock business was run by Margaret as William drove the stock to markets in the east (Pennsylvania and Virginia) and south (North and South Carolina).

In 1840 "As many in his family were "imbued with the Western spirit", William D. Gibson, his wife, Margaret, their two children, Thomas and Elizabeth, William's brothers, and cousins with all their household effects set out for Missouri, driving in wagons through Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri." Thus, it is recorded that William D. and Margaret Gibson moved their family to Grundy County, Missouri. They lived in Section 11, St. Louis District, near present Trenton, Grundy County, Missouri. William D. was a member (there was 289 members) of the "Citizens of the Territory" that petitioned the President of the United States to protest the appointment of General Wilkinson as Governor of Missouri in 1840.

In 1841, several of the Gibson families moved from Grundy County to Buchanan County, Missouri. Records show that William D. bought 40 acres at $1.25 per acre (0290N/0170E/001). This tract was heavily timbered, and William D. "proceeded with characteristic energy to the work of clearing and developing the place. He constructed a log cabin, which he later weather boarded." They used this land for their cattle and hog raising location, and Margaret continued to keep the home base while William and his 13 year old son, Thomas J, drove the stock to markets in the west, east and south. In 1842, the tax roles show that William D. Gibson owned a slave. This slave probably helped Margaret at home since the only other living child in 1841 was Elizabeth, age 6. It should be noted that William took his son Thomas J. with him on many trips and to war, but his son Henry E (born 1842) always stayed home with his mother and when old enough, worked the farm.

William D. Gibson went several times to Santa Fe, New Mexico and was one of seven Santa Fe traders who "made the tedious winter journey across the (Kansas) prairies, and arrived at Independence, Missouri in the fore part of March, 1846. He and Thomas had left Santa Fe in early January, and traveled by the way of Bent's Fort, Colorado." They returned in March 1846, just in time in time to join the Doniphan military campaign in the Mexican?American War in June 1846.

On May 11, 1846, President Polk sent a message to congress stating that Mexican troops had passed our boundary and had "shed American blood upon the American soil". He declared that war existed "by the act of Mexico herself," and called upon the people "to vindicate with decision the honor, the rights, and the interests" of their country. On May 13, 1846, congress passed a law providing for the prosecution of the "existing war" between the United States and Mexico.

From Fort Leavenworth, on June 25 1846, Kearney issued orders for infantry companies B, C, F, and G, First regiment of Missouri mounted volunteers, to begin their march under the command of Lieutenant-colonel Charles F. Ruff. George R. Gibson was a member of Infantry Company B. Departing from the post on June 26 and 27, 1846 these companies proceeded a short distance and on June 29 organized themselves into a battalion.

On June 27, 1846 Kearney directed Doniphan to start Companies E and H with the rest of the volunteer regiment, Major William Gilpin as commander. This order was executed two days later, when Gilpin and his troops, as well as Colonel Doniphan, left Fort Leavenworth. On the same day, June 29, three other detachments marched from Fort Leavenworth: 1. the Laclede Rangers, led by Captain Thomas B. Hudson, 2. an independent company of mounted volunteers from St. Louis; and 3. Companies D and I, infantry battalions of Missouri volunteers under the command of Colonel Doniphan and Captain William Z. Angney. Second Lieutenant William D. Gibson and Private Thomas J. Gibson were in I company, 3rd Regiment, Missouri Infantry.

William D. and his son Thomas J. Gibson returned home to Buchanan County, Missouri in 1847 after the war. Of their nine children, only four lived to maturity: Thomas J. (November 13, 1828), William (1831 - died in infancy), Elizabeth (1835 - married A. D. Read), Margaret (1837 - died in infancy), Alexander (1840 - died in infancy), Henry E. (September 20, 1842 - married Mary Cress), Mary (1843 ? died in infancy), Susan, (about 1845 - married. Z. D. Washburn). Their youngest child (born about 1847) died in infancy.

According to the 1860 census, William D. Gibson owned 17 slaves.

According to Henry E. Gibson, (youngest son of William D. and Margaret Gibson) "William D. Gibson returned to his farm after the war and was "an extensive land owner" and owned 160 acres. William D. and Margaret were Democrats and "consistent" members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South." Henry E. Gibson served General Price in the Arkansas Confederate Army. As a recruiter for the Confederate Army, Henry E. was captured four miles south of St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri and was kept under guard in St. Joseph for three weeks when his father (William D.) succeeded in obtaining his parole under bond. Henry E. Gibson claimed his father died in 1864.

Margaret Gibson applied for and received a War of 1812 widow pension claiming William D. Gibson died March 29, 1865. Court records and probate records state that William D. Gibson died January 10, 1871. Probate records show William D. Gibson owed $251.00 at his death. He owned only 40 acres on the East side of the South East Quarter of the Section 21, Township 57, Range 35 in Buchanan County, Missouri. At his death, 15 acres from the east side was sold to a neighbor, Louis Stigens. Margaret Gibson died in 1886.

--Source-- Karl Gibson