J. L. Gibbs came to Mayfield, Paradise Township, 1872 and since that time has been a member of the Gibbs Bros. firm. In 1876, he was elected a representative to the legislature from the district composed of Grand Traverse and Wexford counties. J. L. had been postmaster one and one half years at that time.  He has been township clerk several years, also superintendent of schools, and is at present supervisor of the township of Paradise and a notary public.

Mr. Gibbs was born in Wisconsin in 1848 and married in the spring of 1867 to Mary A. Humphrey and had a family of four children.

Gibbs Bros Mill History

In 1868 Messrs, Neal, Gibbs and Knight, under the firm name of Neal, Gibbs & Co., commenced operations on Section 28, in Township 26 North, of Range 10 West.  Their location was about thirteen miles south from Traverse City and in the midst of the forest.  The site was selected because of the fine creek which afforded excellent facilities for milling purposes.  

A sawmill was built and lumbering operations on a small scale began, a business which was successfully continued.  Subsequently they built a grist-mill.

Source: The Traverse Region, published 1884.

@Created by Brenda K. Wolfgram Moore 18June2003