1900 Census Precinct #8, Laurel, Cedar Co., NE 5 children/5 living.
-William Gibsons father Lewis purchased land northwest of Laurel, NE and in the spring of 1881. Young William and his wife and son Fred started out with team and wagon to Nebraska from Marion, IA. Bad weather and ice held them up at Sioux City for two weeks. The spent their first night in Nebraska at the Michael McCoy home in the Logan Center vicinity. Their first home was on the land, later known as the Heutig farm, west of the Lon Dennis Home. Mr. Gibson bought the J.H. Coburn store in 1918 and moved to Laurel. He operated it a few months, then sold it and bought other Laurel property...from the History of Cedar County, Nebraska State Historical Society.

OBITUARY
From Obituary, Hartington, NE: When two years old, William Gibson came with his parents to Springville, IA, where he lived until manhood. In 1881 he and Mrs. Gibson moved to Cedar County and settled on a farm 5 miles north of Laurel. Mr. Gibson was a member of the United Brethern Faith, having joined that religious organization in 1883.

From his Death Certificate State of Nebraska William died of Pneumonia Bronchitis and Artereo Sclerosis.

1910 Census Precinct #15, Cedar Co., NE., with daughter Ethel Rankin, and grandsons Lee and LaVerne.

Catherine Stevens moved to Marion IA with her parents when she was 7 years old in 1867. In the spring of 1881 with their one year old son Fred, Catherine, and her husband William Gibson came to Cedar Co., NE where they purchased a farm 5 1/2 miles north of the present site of Laurel. The farm was recently sold after having been in the family more than 62 years (1943). When the Gibsons came to Nebraska, they ferried the Missouri river at what was then Covington and traveled the remainder of the way by wagon through deep snow drifts. The Gibsons moved to Laurel in 1919. (From Catherines Obituary, Hartington, NE March 25, 1943.) 13 grandchildren, 11 great, grandchildren. Obit states her maiden name was Smith.

Death Certificate State of Nebraska. Cause of death Chronic Myocarditis for 6 years due to Bronchial Asthma and Artereosclerosis.

Laurel, Cedar Co., NE Postcard (Courtesy of Mike Wieneman.)

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