+ LIFE OF GEORGE DUGGAN GIBBS
George
Duggan Gibbs was born April 11, 1820, at Haverfordwest,
Pembroke, South Wales. He was the
third son of Francis Gibbs and Martha Duggan. There were five boys
and one girl in this family. He was a tailor by trade and it was
after his wife Ellen Phillips and his oldest brother, John Duggan Gibbs had
both joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that he was
baptized July 14, 1851. He was married to Ellen Phillips December
17, 1843, in St. Thomas Church in Pembroke,Wales. He was born of faithful, religious
parents. They were thrifty, hard working
people. His father was a saddler. They had hands that
were able to mold and make things. They were so capable.
After
joining the church he was called to act as a missionary to open the Gospel in a
small town called Sutton. At their meeting they met a man by the
name of John Roberts, a farmer, grandmother
Ellen Phillips knew when she was a small girl. He later joined the church
too. There was a man in the village who attended
meeting every Sabbath afternoon and made a disturbance. He was an
enemy to the truth. One Sunday he was there as usual and threw
rotten eggs and broke up the gathering. George Duggan Gibbs had walked
seven miles to preside and returning he felt thoroughly discouraged. As
he waled along he resolved to report to the mission
headquarters recommending that they give it up, for the present at least. When
he reached home grandmother persuaded him to try just once more, telling him of
seeing Brother Roberts come into the church. From then he went again
and again. The man was there and did his annoyances
repeatedly. Grandfather again returned more crushed than ever in his
feelings. Just then the hedge lit up and a voice spoke out of it
saying, “Vengence is mine in my own due time, I will
repay.” On the following Wednesday the man took sick with cholera,
rolled up and died in great agony. His body was twisted out of
shape. After that a number joined the church, first among them being
Brother Roberts. George was then sent to Pembroke where he opened up
a branch. He presided at each, alternating one Sunday at one place
and then the next at the other. He did this until he was later
called to preside over the conference known as Pembrokeshire
Conference. He continued in this position until he and his family
emigrated in 1866. The people who made up that branch were very faithful
saints, all continuing staunch in the faith until death. They were
greatly favored of the Lord; He making His power known unto them in many ways.
His
children all had a good education except the first who worked. His
eldest son labored as a missionary in the Liverpool office for seven
years when he died still a very young man from overwork. His
youngest son was a teacher and gave his life while on a mission to the Southern
States. He helped to care for the dead as his wife helped care for
the sick living. They served their fellowmen whenever called. He
died at Paradise, Utah, October 14, 1894, and was buried at that
place.
