Please e-mail me if you think you can provide any more
information on any of the people mentioned below or shown in the various photos.
1) William and Henry Gibbs in Chicago
William was born on the 27 March 1847 and Henry on the 4 May 1859 in London, their parents being William Gibbs and Eliza Britain. William appears in the 1851 & 1861 census records and Henry appears in the 1861 & 1871 census records. Neither of
them appear in later British census records, but it is known that William emigrated to America and Henry followed some years later. An entry in the 1880 American census for Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, shows a William and Henry Gibbs whose ages match their birth years:
Relation
Marital Status
Gender
Race
Age
Birthplace
Occupation
Father's Birthplace
Mother's Birthplace
William GIBBS
Self
M
Male
W
32
ENG
Keeps Restaurant
ENG
ENG
Ellen GIBBS
Wife
M
Female
W
46
ENG
Keeps Restaurant
ENG
ENG
William H. GIBBS
Son
S
Male
W
4M
IL
ENG
ENG
Mary REXROAD
Other
M
Female
W
25
IL
Servant
IRE
IRE
Henry GIBBS
Brother
S
Male
W
21
ENG
Brass Molder
ENG
ENG
They were both living in the same house, 11 Keith Street, Chicago, Cook, Illinois. The census was taken on 5th June 1880, so young William H Gibbs was probably born in February.
An entry in the Chicago Voter Registration for 1892 shows that
William probably emigrated in 1867 as he had been in the County and the State for 25 years:
Wm. GIBBS b. Eng./ 12 yr. in Prec./ 25 yrs in
Co./ 25 yrs in State/Naturalized/ 4th October 1892 Cook Co./ voted/ 18th October 1892/ lives at 11 Keith Street. 3 dist. 16 ward 3 prec.
An H Gibbs is mentioned in the Chicago Voter Registration for 1890:
H. GIBBS b. Eng. /white/ 2 mo in dist/ 11 yr in Co./11 yr in State/Naturalized/2nd April 1887 Cook County Court/ voted/ app.14th October 1890/ lived at 845 Taylow St. 3 dist. 12 ward 20 prec.
but it may not be the same person as that mentioned in the1892 entry:
Henry GIBBS b. Eng./ 1 yr in Prec./ 12 yr in Co./ 12 yr in State/Naturalized/ 1891 Cook Co./ voted/ 15th October 1892/ lives at
775 12th Street. 4 dist 24 ward 9 prec.
From these voter registration entries, Henry could have emigrated around 1879.
Henry is also mentioned in the 1920 American census for Chicago in Cook County, Illinois:
Owns home/ 5428 West Iowa/wife gave info.
Relation
Age
Birthplace
Father's Birthplace
Mother's Birthplace
Occupation
Henry GIBBS
60
Eng
Eng
Eng
Superintendent/Brass Factory
Mary
Wife
56
Ger
Ger
Ger
Elliot
Son
25
IL
Eng
Ger
Wire Worker/Belshier Elec.
Grace
Dau.
33
IL
Eng
Ger
Stenographer/Advertizing
Everett
Son
23
IL
Eng
Ger
Salesman/Tools & Machinery
The 1930 American census for Chicago in Cook County, Illinois shows that Elliot Gibbs has married Helen and his sister Grace has moved to live with him:
Rents home/ $25/ 8345 South Dresel Avenue/ has a radio set/ wife gave info/ he was a WWI veteran.
Relation
Age
Birthplace
Father's Birthplace
Mother's Birthplace
Occupation
Elliot F. GIBBS
35-27
IL
Eng
Ger
Insurance Agent
Helen R.
39-31
Sct
Sct
Sct
Grace E.
Sister
43
IL
Eng
Ger
Stenographer/ ? Factory
The second set of age numbers shown above is the age when they were married.
Does anyone have any more information on William and Henry Gibbs and their descendants in America?
2) Unknown Family Group
The two photos below were part of a collection of photos taken by George Earl (2nd from the left in the right hand picture), possibly in the late 1940's or early 1950's.
It is assumed that they are relatives of George Earl, but they could be just friends of the family. Any ideas?
3) Unknown Houses
The two photos below were part of a collection of photos belonging to George Earl.
a) The photo above had a name of a Bedford photographer on the rear so it is assumed that the house is somewhere in the county.
b) The photo above had no identification, but it may be Wierton House near Maidstone, Kent, where William Divers worked.
4) Unknown Fireman
The two photos below were part of a collection of photos belonging to George Earl. The fireman has the initials L.H. on his uniform top and is on the left hand side of the horse drawn tender. Although the photos were not identified, it is thought that they may have been taken in Luton, Bedfordshire.
