Robert and Jane Gibson and Descendants

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career. He made several visits back to his old home, his wife accompanying him, as has his daughter—in— law, Merle Gibson Floyd, widow of Creighton Gibson.

Margaret “Mae” Gibson also moved to Boston where she worked for many years. She married Donal [sic] Tibbitts and they drove to PEI on their honeymoon. After her husband’s death when she became elderly, she returned to the Island where she was cared for by her sister, Florence and husband Major MacRae. Sadie worked for a short time in Boston, returning to marry John Drake.

Helena (Lena), Elizabeth (Lizzie), Wylie, Florence and Sadie married and raised families on Prince Edward Island. Lizzie died at the birth of her first child - Sadie died at the age of 49 of cancer.

Lena Gibson Crawford’s home at 56 Fitzroy Street, Charlottetown was the gathering place for family members who visited the city on business or pleasure. In early years, a small barn at the back of her property was used to stable a horse - whether travelling by sleigh in winter or wagon in summer. Later, cars were parked in her driveway and the visitors always had a cup of tea, etc. before returning home.

Florence Gibson MacRae’s husband, Major, and his father Andrew (later his son Arthur) owned a 100 acre farm at Central Royalty (now Sherwood) where they bred Registered Ayrshire Cattle. These cattle were successfully shown at Maritime Exhibitions and at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.

Florence and her family were frequent and welcome visitors to Springbrook Farm while her parents were living. Their strong support during the illness and death of her brother, Wylie, was very much appreciated by his family.

In the 1930’s when William J. Gibson and his wife wished to spend Christmas with their daughter, Sadie Drake, and family they would go by horse and sleigh to Charlottetown, then by train to Hazelbrook, where the Drakes lived. In those days, cars with their wheels removed were put on blocks over the winter months. The first car that the Gibsons owned was a 1928 Chevrolet. In summer, visits to Hazelbrook were easier by car and more frequent.

William J. and his son, Wylie, operated a mixed farm at Marshfield - Registered Holstein cattle, Clydesdale horses, Yorkshire pigs, sheep,

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hens, geese and they grew Irish Cobbler potatoes, grain, turnips, etc. Over the years, cows, horses, and pigs were shown successfully at the Provincial Exhibition at Charlottetown and the Amherst Winter Fair, Amherst, Nova Scotia. It is not known when the farm was named “Springbrook Farm”.

In politics, the Gibsons were supporters of the Conservative Party. In fact, Wylie ran, unsuccessfully, in a Provincial election in the early forties. The family attended St. Columba Presbyterian Church in Marshfield until Church Union in 1925 when they became members of the United Church of Canada. William J. was an elder and Sunday School teacher for many years at Central United Church, a new building erected in Dunstaffnage on land donated by Almon Boswell and family. Wylie was a strong supporter of his church, being a choir member, elder and treasurer for many years. In 1955, he became the founding President of the United Church Men’s Club of the York—Covehead Pastoral Charge of which Central United Church, Dunstaffnage is a part. This club is still active today.

Wylie Gibson had quite a sense of humour and was a great storyteller — very friendly and hospitable, a good father and friend. At his death, his widow, Lila Boswall Gibson, sold Springbook Farm to her brother, Ledwell Boswall. Later, the farm was owned by another brother, Albert J. Boswall, and is presently, owned by Albert’s son, Wayne.

NOTE: It is not known when the Gibsons moved from Scotland to Ireland, nor how many generations lived there before Robert and Jane Gibson came to Canada in 1819.

Submitted by Dorothy Gibson