Washington Dorsey Gibbs facts for kids

Washington Dorsey Gibbs (born August 6, 1839 – died September 7, 1915) was an American lawyer and politician from Mississippi. People often called him Wash Gibbs. He served as a state senator and a state representative for Yazoo City.

Growing Up and Learning

Wash Gibbs was born on August 6, 1839, near Yazoo City. His parents were Quesney Dibrell Gibbs and Sarah Dorsey Gibbs. He went to the University of Virginia for his college degree. After that, he studied law in his father's office. He then went to law school in Lebanon, Tennessee. He worked as a lawyer for a short time. In 1860, he married Miss Louise Johnson. They moved to a farm called Woodbine plantation near Bentonia, Mississippi. They had eight children together, but sadly, three of them died when they were young.

Serving in the Civil War

In September 1861, when the American Civil War began, Wash Gibbs joined the army. He was part of a group called the "Anding Hussars." They were connected to the William Wirt Adams brigade. He was praised for his bravery and service in many battles. Later, he was captured during a scouting mission. He was then held as a prisoner at Camp Morton. After the war, he returned to Yazoo. He found that his mother, father, and sister had passed away. Many other close family members were also very sick.

Life After the War and Politics

After the war, Gibbs went back to his farm. He worked as a lawyer and rebuilt his life. He also took care of his large family. By 1875, he was well-known and often gave public speeches. He became a candidate for presidential elector for the Democratic Party. He played a big part in changing the political situation in Yazoo County after the war. He worked to bring back local control to the area. His wife, Louise, died in July 1879. In 1879, he was elected as a state senator for Yazoo County. However, he chose not to run for the next term. In 1886, he was elected as the Floater-Representative for Yazoo and Holmes counties. Then, in 1907, he was elected again as a Senator for Yazoo County. His grandson was named after him. This grandson later joined the U.S. Marines.

Later Years and Passing

Wash Gibbs passed away on Tuesday, September 7, 1915, in Yazoo City. Only two of his children were still alive: Mrs. Lulu Kirk and Mr. Lee Gibbs. He had been dealing with heart disease for several months. This made him very weak. He suffered a lot in his last few weeks.