Huntsville in Walker County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Sallie E. Gibbs

Photographed By James Hulse, August 21, 2021

1. Sallie E. Gibbs Marker

Inscription. Successful businesswoman Sallie E. Gibbs was born Sarah Elizabeth Smith in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on October 18, 1844 to Mary Washington (Ledbetter) and Thomas Jefferson Smith. Her parents operated a large plantation, and she received tutoring from age four until she went to the Greensboro College for Young Ladies at the age of fifteen. There, she received a general liberal arts education and a strong Methodist Episcopal spiritual foundation.

In 1859, Sallie's parents moved their household goods and slaves to Texas. She accompanied them on the journey before returning to Greensboro to complete her studies. She graduated in 1863 as valedictorian of her class and moved to Texas after the Civil War in 1865. By that time, her parents operated a prosperous plantation near Plantersville, Montgomery County. Shortly after her return to Texas, Sallie met Sandford St. John Gibbs, a widower and successful Huntsville merchant, and the two wed in January 1866. During the next twelve years, Sallie gave birth to six children: three sons and three daughters.

After Sandford's death in 1886, Sallie assumed control of his assets and over the next 32 years transformed S. Gibbs & Co. (later Gibbs Bros. & Co.) from a mercantile business into one of East Texas leading financial, land and timber enterprises. With son Wilbourn and

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businessman Adair Wynne, Sallie established Gibbs National Bank in 1890. Until retiring in 1917, she played an active role on the bank's board of directors. Sallie died on May 27, 1918 and was buried in Oakwood cemetery. During her life, she was active in the Methodist Church and in area educational institutions. Her success in business was for many years reflected in the large Queen Anne-style home she and son Wilbourn built on this site in 1895.

Erected 2006 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13422.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1866.

Location. 30° 43.385′ N, 95° 33.14′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Texas, in Walker County. Marker is on 12th Street, 0.1 miles west of Sam Houston Avenue (State Highway 75), on the right when traveling west. The marker is located along the sidewalk on 12th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Huntsville TX 77340, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Seven Hills of Huntsville (within shouting distance of this marker); Gibbs-Powell House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Walker County (about 400 feet away); Sam Houston Whittling Site (about 400 feet away); Old Gibbs Store

The Sallie E. Gibbs Marker and an old entrance to Gibbs house site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, August 21, 2021

2. The Sallie E. Gibbs Marker and an old entrance to Gibbs house site

(about 500 feet away); Cornerstone of the Fourth Courthouse (about 500 feet away); First United Methodist Church of Huntsville (about 500 feet away); Site of First Masonic Lodge Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

Also see . . . Gibbs, Sarah Elizabeth Smith (1844–1918).

The beginnings of her control over the Gibbs lands coincided closely with the advent of commercial lumbering in the East Texas forests. Most of her lands had dense stands of trees, and Gibbs was able to realize handsome profits from the sale of timber, especially pine, to the lumber companies. In addition, she worked out several arrangements by which she would locate and purchase timberlands and sell the pine to the lumber companies at modest, though profitable, prices, while retaining possession of the land itself, all the hardwood timber, and all the mineral rights. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on August 28, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Sallie E. Gibbs Marker from the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, August 21, 2021

3. The view of the Sallie E. Gibbs Marker from the street

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 28, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.