Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

SMITH, Gibson,
Building Contractor.
One of the leading business men of
South Norwalk, and a foremost citizen of
that place, Gibson Smith was born there
February lo, 1894, son of William and
Jennie (Gibson) Smith, and grandson of
Samuel and Anna (Gibbooney) Smith.
Samuel Smith, grandfather of Gibson
Smith, was born in Smithtown, Long
Island, March 12, 1812, and died in 1892.
He became an apprentice at the mason's
trade in New York City and worked on
Trinity Church. Early in his life he en-
tered the contracting business and was in
business for himself for about twenty-five
years. From New York City he went to
Northport, Long Island, and built a hos-
pital at St. Johnland, and remained for
four years, removing thence to Norwalk,
Connecticut. Samuel Smith married Anna
Gibbooney.
William Smith, father of Gibson Smith,
was born in New York City in June,
1854, and died July 5, 1915. When he
was a boy his parents removed to Smithtown,
Long Island, and for a time they
lived also at Northport. William Smith
learned the trade of mason with his father
and worked with him for several years.
When he was about twenty-four years of
age he started in business on his own account
as a contractor and builder and so
continued as long as he lived. He was
brought up in South Norwalk, Connecticut,
where his parents removed from
Long Island. He was the most important
mason builder in the Norwalks and
among those buildings constructed by
him were the Clififord Hotel, the R. & G.
Corset factory, Swartz & Corbett building,
the Masonic building in Norwalk,
the buildings of the Norwalk and South
Norwalk clubs, the Franklin school in
South Norwalk, the Ashe factory, Martin
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
33"
& Bates building, Hanford building, and
the South Norwalk Public Library. The
latter was the last important building
erected by Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith was not
a politician, but was actively interested in
all public matters. He served as street
commissioner of South Norwalk. Socially
he was a member of the South Nor-
walk Club. He married Jennie, daughter
of James Gibson, also a mason builder of
Danbury, Connecticut James Gibson
was born in America of Scotch parents,
and he was in charge of the construction
work on the Danbury Division of the
New York, New Haven & Hartford Rail-
road. The children of William and Jennie
(Gibson) Smith were: i. Jane, married
Jarvis Williams, Jr., general man-
ager of the Union Metallic Cartridge
Company of Bridgeport, and the mother
of a son, Jarvis, 3d. 2. Gibson, of whom
further. The Smith family attended the
Congregational church, and Mr. Smith
took an active interest in church work.
Gibson Smith was educated in the
South Norwalk grammar and high
schools and the Packard Commercial Col-
lege of New York City. During the in-
tervals between school seasons he learned
the trade of mason, a calling of his family
for three generations. His formal educa-
tion was completed with a course in ar-
chitectural construction at Pratt Institute,
Brooklyn, and as soon as he com-
pleted his apprenticeship, he started in
business for himself, being one of the
youngest mason contractors in the State.
Among his work may be mentioned the
masonry on La Dentelle Lace Mill in
East Norwalk, the additions to the May-
hofife plant in Norwalk, and his latest
work is the completion of a new unit of
the South Norwalk Electric Works. Mr.
Smith has about thirty-five men employed
on an average, and makes a specialty of