Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/184

 h V

GOVERNOR ADDISON C. GIBBS

September 10, 1862—September 12, 1866.

The distinction of having been the first "War Governor" of Oregon belongs to Addison C. Gibbs, who was elected in June 1 862. He was born in Cattaraugus County, New York. July 9, 1825. After graduating at a state normal school. Mr. Gibbs became a teacher and was afterwards admitted to the bar. In 1849 he went to California, but the next year proceeded to the mouth of the Umpqua River, in Oregon, and located the town of Gardiner. In 1852 he was a member of the Territorial Legislature from Umpqua (now Douglas) County, and was appointed collector of customs of the port of entry of Gardiner. Mr. Gibbs moved to Portland in 1860, and became a member of the house of representatives from Multnomah County. In 1 862 he was elected Governor, serving the state in that capacity with distinction during the Civil War. Governor Gibbs was a firm defender of the Union cause and in 1864 did much to prevent a violent outbreak by sympathizers with the South in Oregon. OOVEBNOR ADDISON C. GIBBS iThe following incident will illustrate the bitterness of war feeling which existed in Oregon at that time: In 1863, the "Stars and Stripes" was not permitted at the Fourth of July celebration at Hendershott's Point, in Union County. As a sequel to this incident it may, however, be stated that some ladies, who determined to correct the situation, met at the home of Mrs. Harriet Lewis, of Union, to make a flag for the following celebration, which was to take place in that town. The flag was made—Miss Martha Koger