Mary Augusta Gibson

Mary Augusta Gibson. March 19, 2020. , Mrs. Mary Augusta Baxter Gibson was born in neighboring Braxton County, West Virginia, on June 28, 1871, her parents being Felix J. Baxter and Sarah Duffy Baxter. Mrs. Baxter's father was a lawyer, who became Sutton's first mayor, and also was elected as state senator. She later married Charles W. Gibson of Buckhannon, and they resided just around the corner at 39 Meade Street. Mrs. Gibson was a devoted housewife., Mary Gibson lived in her husband's shadow here in Buckhannon for a good part of her life. Mr. Gibson was a substantial property owner who died on November 18, 1938. Mrs. Gibson died on December 31, 1939 at age 68, but prior to her death, Mrs. Gibson retained Buckhannon attorney James H. Coleman, Jr., then with the law firm of Young and Coleman, to draft her new will which she executed on March 17, 1939. Pursuant to the terms of her will, Mrs. Gibson provided the following -, "I do hereby devise and bequeath to the City of Buckhannon, a municipal corporation, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, the sum of $10,000, for the special and specific purpose of purchasing, erecting, or constructing a municipal or city library building, to be used as a library for the general use and benefit of the community at large, and to be named the 'Charles W. Gibson Library,' and providing for the care and supervision of the same, and further that the then mayor of said city, on behalf of said city, execute a proper instrument, duly acknowledged, with proper seal, agreeing that upon the payment to the city of the sum of $10,000, that this bequest will be carried out for the purposes herein stated.... I do [further] hereby devise and bequeath the entire residue and remainder of my estate to the City of Buckhannon, a municipal corporation, in trust, the annual income from which is to be used by said city maintaining and equipping said library and library building. And I hereby direct that my executor pay to the trustees hereinafter appointed for this purpose, the entire residue and remainder of my estate.", The City of Buckhannon through its library board of directors has long operated this wonderful facility since 1940. Mrs. Gibson chose to honor and recognize her late husband, forgoing any personal recognition. The facade of this building bears the name of "Charles W. Gibson Memorial Library," but it was exclusively through the gracious and giving spirit of Mary Gibson that this facility came tо be., Mary Gibson in her quiet way became a true heroine to the residents of our Buckhannon-Upshur community. She was a champion of literacy and culture, and generations of Buckhannon community members have benefitted from and enjoyed the books and archives housed within our city library. Our B-U citizenry will now and forever know about her impact and lasting legacy., The Mary A. Gibson Plaza was dedicated by the City of Buckhannon, the Gibson Library Board of Directors, and Buckhannon's diversity appreciation coalition during our city's celebration of women's history month.