Individual Details
James M. GIBBONS
(1 Feb 1824 - 16 Jun 1899)
James was born near Hillham, Tennessee. James enlisted in Captain D. S. Hagler's Co. and served with Colonel M. T. Johnson's 14th Texas Cavalry , CSA. He served as a farrier-blacksmith and when that unit was dismounted, he enlisted in the lst Reft. 21st Brigade, Texas State Troops. The last two units were stationed in Montague Co. for frontier protection from Indians renegades. As was the case with all Confederate soldiers, James lost the rights of citizenship until pardoned by congressional action. On October 18, 1865, he took the Oath of Amnesty and was placed on the register of the county once more as a voter. It is said that he was the first to pay a poll tax in Montague Co . James has a Civil War headstone inscribed, "Co. I, 14 Tex Cav. CSA"
Marker Title: Montague Cemetery
Address: SH 175, N side of Montague
City: Montague
Year Marker Erected: 1985
Marker Location: One block east of SH 175, north side of town, Montague.
Marker Text: The first known settlers in Montague County arrived in 1849. After the county was formed in 1857, the City of Montague was created a year later to serve as county seat. The town grew slowly at first, but by 1871 was developing rapidly and experiencing an influx of new settlers. James M. Gibbons, one of the early pioneers, came to this area from Tennessee. Family history indicates that Gibbons donated the first plot of land in this cemetery for the burial of his wife, Elizabeth Lankford Gibbons, upon her death in 1862. He later married Nancy Elizabeth Furr, who also is buried here. Gibbons died in 1899 and is interred in the cemetery, as are several other family members and numerous other early settlers. The Montague Cemetery contains both unmarked and marked graves. About 60 of the legible tombstones bear dates from the 1800s. Several Confederate veterans and a few early Texas Rangers also are buried here. With ties to the early settlement of Montague, this graveyard is an important part of the area's history. Care for the burial sites is provided by the Montague Cemetery Association. (1985)
Marker Title: Montague Cemetery
Address: SH 175, N side of Montague
City: Montague
Year Marker Erected: 1985
Marker Location: One block east of SH 175, north side of town, Montague.
Marker Text: The first known settlers in Montague County arrived in 1849. After the county was formed in 1857, the City of Montague was created a year later to serve as county seat. The town grew slowly at first, but by 1871 was developing rapidly and experiencing an influx of new settlers. James M. Gibbons, one of the early pioneers, came to this area from Tennessee. Family history indicates that Gibbons donated the first plot of land in this cemetery for the burial of his wife, Elizabeth Lankford Gibbons, upon her death in 1862. He later married Nancy Elizabeth Furr, who also is buried here. Gibbons died in 1899 and is interred in the cemetery, as are several other family members and numerous other early settlers. The Montague Cemetery contains both unmarked and marked graves. About 60 of the legible tombstones bear dates from the 1800s. Several Confederate veterans and a few early Texas Rangers also are buried here. With ties to the early settlement of Montague, this graveyard is an important part of the area's history. Care for the burial sites is provided by the Montague Cemetery Association. (1985)
Events
| Birth | 1 Feb 1824 | Hillham, Overton County, TN | |||
| Marriage | 5 Nov 1873 | Nancy Elizabeth FURR | |||
| Death | 16 Jun 1899 | Montague, Montague County, TX | |||
| Burial | Montague Cemetery, Montague, Montague County, TX |  |
Families
| Spouse | Nancy Elizabeth FURR (1842 - 1930) |
| Child | Florence Lula GIBBONS (1874 - 1961) |
| Child | James Monroe GIBBONS (1877 - 1948) |
| Father | Edmond GIBBONS (1779 - 1862) |
| Mother | Margaret "Peggy" MASON (1795 - 1855) |
Endnotes
1. findagrave.com.