JOHN HENRY GIBBS
John Henry Gibbs, one
of the martyrs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born
July 18, 1853, in the town of Haverford, West Pembrokeshire,
South Wales, son of George Duggan and Ellen Phillips Gibbs. He was baptized a
member of the Church, August 28, 1860. He immigrated to Utah with his parents
in 1866, and on November 2, 1874, he married Louisa Obray,
daughter of Thomas L. Obray and Martha Shelton. He
was ordained a Deacon in January 1862 and ordained an Elder in March 1871. He
was secretary of the Elders' Quorum of Paradise, for several years. He served
as president of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA) in
1879-1880.
John was a pleasant,
easy-going, marble playing, Welch schoolteacher. He commenced teaching school
at Richmond in the winter of 1879-1880 and filled that position every winter
until he was called to serve a mission to the Southern States. He was set apart
February 23, 1883, and left for the Southern States Mission on February 26,
1883. Fluent in speech and prayerful he left behind a wife and children when he
left Paradise. He never saw home, hearth, wife, or children again. Kissing him
goodbye, Louisa little realized that she would live more than forty-three years
a widow. He departed from Salt Lake City on February 27th. He received his
appointment at Chattanooga, Tennessee, to labor in the West Tennessee
conference.
John had been in the
South only a short time when a Salt Lake City reporter concocted a plan to
further discredit the Latter-day Saints, which tragically affected the southern
missionaries. The crusade against Mormon polygamy was almost at full throttle
and the nation's non-Mormon populace was willing to believe almost anything
negative about Utah's predominant religion. The enterprising reporter pieced
together a sermon composed of only parts of several church leaders' speeches
taken out of context and wove a tapestry exuding anti-American, unpatriotic,
seditious sentiment. [End Page 306]
This inflammatory
sermon, credited to a Juab bishop named West was
headlined "A Red-Hot Address." Only after the damage was done did the
nation learn that Juab had no Bishop West and the non-existent leader had never
delivered such a sermon. However, this talk appeared in many Southern
newspapers, and tragically most people found it believable. Thus, a new surge
of anti-Mormon feeling, powerful enough to knock out any of today's computers
engulfed that region resulting in the beatings of Mormon missionaries and even
the murder of some.
John H. Gibbs and his
companion, William H. Jones, traveled to prominent cities and county capitals
in Tennessee attempting to defuse the violence that threatened to blow the
Mormon ship from the water to mix metaphors. On the morning of Sunday, August
10, 1884, Elder Gibbs and two other missionaries, Elders Berry and Thompson,
were preparing to hold a Church meeting at the Cane Creek home of James Condor.
It was a little gathering of Saints, which consisted of the Elders, James
Condor, his wife, daughters, and several neighbors. Elder Jones had remained
behind at their boarding place to ready a copy of the Deseret News. Just
outside the back door of the Condor home were several young men, among them
Martin Condor, nineteen years of age and formerly one of the hardest cases in
the whole country but a recent convert of Elder Gibbs. James Hutson, a half brother of
Martin's was with him.
It was about 11:00
A.M. when a dozen desperadoes under the leadership of one David Hinson, a
dangerous character whose record as a bushwhacker in the war was most unsavory,
rode up to the gate and dismounted. Three took charge of the horses while
others went to the front door and knocked. It was opened and Condor was seized.
Hinson then stepped inside, crossed the room, took down a shotgun from its hook
over the back door, and took deliberate aim at Elder Gibbs who was considerably
excited.
When the volley came
Elder Gibbs fell with a charge of buckshot in his side, under the arm. Young
Condor and Hutson rushed in but the former was
brained by the mob. Hutson got his own gun from the
loft and shot the leader of the outlaws, but almost immediately the brave young
man was killed. Elder Berry clutched the gun that was pointed at Elder
Thompson, which enabled him to escape out the back door. But Elder Berry fell
under a volley, the victim of his generous interference.
The mob then drew off,
taking Hinson's body with them. But none of them were ever discovered or
brought to justice. Whether their identity remained a mystery due to their own
cunning or to the indifference of the officers is an open question. Whether it
was fear or sympathy that protected the outlaws is unknown.
The scene at the
Condor house was horrible according to the story of the mailman who took the
word to Centerville, Tennessee, whence it was telegraphed to the Nashville
World. Mrs. Condor was wounded in the hip but did not die. She
remained crippled the rest of her life. Her two brave sons lay dead on the
floor and the two missionaries, Elders Gibbs and Berry, murdered before her
eyes. [End Page 307]
The martyrs were
buried in deep graves near the Condor home. B. H. Roberts, the acting mission
president, upon learning of the killings donned an old suit, a hat with holes,
and rough cowhide boots. He then rubbed his pale face and hands with soot, and,
risking his own life, drove a team and wagon to Cane Creek.
After arriving, he
exhumed the bodies whose stench caused him to become ill. The remains of Elders
Gibbs and Berry were placed in steel coffins. Roberts luckily escaped detection
and traveled with his cargo to a railroad station. The bodies were placed on a
railroad car, destination Salt Lake City. Elder Gibbs's remains were then sent
to Logan where members of both Mutual Improvement Associations went in a body
to the depot and met the train, Friday at 11:45 P.M., August 22, 1884. The
Logan Brass Band and another band from Plain City headed the solemn procession
that escorted the body from the depot up Second Street and down Main as far as
the canal where a long line of vehicles from Paradise and other places
continued south following the corpse to Paradise. Elder Berry's home was in Kanarra. His remains were sent via Milford.
Fourteen days after
the martyrdom's, the Church's wards and branches conducted memorial services in
the slain missionaries' honor. Appropriate services were held at the funeral in
Paradise. President John Taylor, Apostle Moses Thatcher, Elder George D. Gibbs,
and President George Q. Cannon were the speakers. Memorial services were also
held on Sunday, August 24th, in the Logan Tabernacle.
On May 23, 1896, the
YMMIA of the Cache Stake of Zion met in the Logan Tabernacle, Sunday morning,
afternoon, and night to do honor to the memory of John H. Gibbs, a victim to
the prejudice and intolerance to which mankind is heir. The organization purchased
a monument, designed to mark the grave of Elder Gibbs.
Elder B. H. Roberts
occupied the pulpit three times. The memorial services or dedication of the
monument erected by the YMMIA to the memory of Elder John H. Gibbs began at
2:00 P.M. Saturday. The monument, a neat white column of marble, stood in the
Tabernacle Square before the center gate and was viewed through the conference
by hundreds and hundreds of people. It was later moved to Paradise and placed
over the grave of Elder Gibbs.
In the afternoon, the
great Tabernacle was crowded to its utmost capacity. A large number of people
were unable to gain admittance. Scores went away disappointed and scores of
others stood about the entrance vainly endeavoring to catch a word now and
then.
After appropriate
music Elder B. H. Roberts took the stand. He gave a graphic recital of the
murder of Elder Gibbs and the others in the Tennessee massacre, of his
connection with the recovery and shipment of the bodies, and of experiences
among the rough class of people who infest certain portions of the South. Elder
William H. Jones occupied about twenty minutes of the time narrating the
circumstances and telling of his connection with the affair. [End Page
308]
On Memorial Day 1896,
memorial exercises were held in the Paradise meetinghouse in honor of the
martyred missionary, Elder John H. Gibbs. A newspaper article from The
Journal dated June 2, 1896, written by Robert Pearce related the
events:
Decoration Day was
duly celebrated in our little town. The principal feature of the day was the
dedication of the monument in honor of the martyr John H. Gibbs.
Notwithstanding the
very wet weather our meetinghouse was well filled.
The services commenced
at 11 a.m. On the wall back of the speaker's stand was a banner bearing the
following inscription: "Elders John H. Gibbs and William S. Berry, murdered by a mob for the word of truth, while
holding a meeting upon the Sabbath day, at Cane Creek, Tennessee, Aug. 10,
1884."
Hanging also on
the wall were pictures of the four martyrs, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, John H.
Gibbs, and William S. Berry. Tables on the stand were covered with beautiful
flowers.
We noticed among our
visitors President Orson Smith and Counselor Isaac Smith, Bishop John F.
Wright, Bishop George Davis, Elder William N. Thomas, Elders John H. Maughan and H. A. Pedersen, of the Presidency of the YMMIA
of Cache Stake, and Professor Hickman of the B. Y. College. President Maughan called the meeting to order.
The choir and
congregation sang, "Home Sweet Home." Bishop John F. Wright offered
prayer. Choir sang, "When shall we all meet again."
President Maughan made a few opening remarks. He was pleased to meet
with the people on this day. A day he had looked forward to with pleasure. He
also spoke words of praise of the one in whose honor this monument is reared.
Professor Hickman was
then introduced and delivered an eloquent address in which he spoke in glowing
terms of the heroes and martyrs who have laid down their lives in defense of
country and for promulgation of truth. He eulogized the martyr whose memory we
were perpetuating by the erection of this monument.
A quartet entitled,
"Flowers We Bring to Deck Each Grave," was sung by Robert Pearce and
company.
President Isaac Smith
read the sixth lecture on faith contained in the Doctrine and Covenants. The
speaker made a few appropriate remarks.
An original poem was
read by the author, Mrs. Ada Miles, in "Memory of John H. Gibbs."
President Orson Smith was the next speaker. He
considered the person who set in motion the idea for honoring the dead was a
wise one. While we pay this small tribute of respect to our beloved friend John
H. Gibbs, we will also remember others who have been near and dear to us—our
friends, companions, and relatives. Many have laid down their lives for truth's
sake, although they may not have been killed in cold blood. Many have suffered
everything but death—left homes, relatives, and have
suffered privations and poverty for the gospel's sake. Many have laid down
their lives in journeying to this country. Their histories will yet be read;
perhaps not by mortal man, but by those who are faithful. Several veterans have
laid down their lives here in Paradise. Their families survive them and
continue in the good work. Many of our little children have been laid away. Others blooming into womanhood and manhood, also the middle
aged, all lay side by side.
We are looking forward
in fond anticipation of the day when we shall meet again. When
we shall meet father, mother, wife, husband and little ones to part no more.
While we erect one
monument in marble to one noble son, let us erect in our hearts hundreds of monuments
for the worthy ones who have passed on before.
Bishop Samuel Oldham
named many of the good traits of Elder John H. Gibbs, from boyhood up to the
time of his death.
President Maughan invited all to participate in the dedication of the
monument after the close of the meeting.
The choir sang an
anthem.
Benediction by Elder
William N. Thomas.
At the close of the
meeting many went to the cemetery, where the monument stands at the head of the
grave of Elder Gibbs.
President John H. Maughan stated that the monument had been erected under the
auspices of the Mutual Improvement Association. Others had also contributed. He
sincerely thanked all who had assisted in this work.
President Orson Smith
pronounced the dedicatory prayer.
In looking over the
cemetery we noticed that the graves were tastefully decorated with flowers.
In connection with the
erection of this monument, Sister Louisa Gibbs, wife of John H. Gibbs, and her
family desire to thank all for this act of kindness and generosity.
We can truthfully say
that in performing this act we have cheered the widow's and the orphan's
hearts. [End Page 310]
