MRS. DRUSILLA HIBBS, widow of the late William Hibbs, was born in that part of Jefferson County now known as Loudon Township, Carroll County, March 6, 1822, a daughter of Conrad Slates, of whom mention is made in the sketch of Mrs. Catharine Colar, Our subject in her girlhood days attended the district school about six months, the greater part of her time being spent in the many domestic duties of the house and farm On December 15, 1830, she married William Hibbs, who was born in Salem, Ohio, September 10, 1816, a son of Isaac Hibbs, a native of Maryland, born (it is believed) in 1758, Isaac's father, also named Isaac, who was of English parentage, reared a family of seven children, Isaac being the third in order of birth. About the year 1506 (as near as can be ascertained) Isaac (first) came to Obio and entered a tract of land on Section 16, in Loudon Township, Jefferson County, where he put up a rude cabin, in which he lived the remainder of his days. Game of all kinds was plentiful, and he spent much of his time in hunting. His son Issac (second) grew up to manhood in Loudon Township, and here married Miss Mary Lucas, who bore him seven children, of whom the following is a record: Nancy, Elizabeth and William are deceased; Mrs. Susan Slates resides in Germano, Harrison Co., Ohio, and Mahlan, Mary and Isaac, in Carroll County. The father of these continued to make his home in Loudon Township till 1850, in which year he removed to Tuscarawas County, same State, where he died. About 1823 be entered the land in Loudon Township, now owned by Mrs. Drusilla Hibbs.
William Hibbs spent his early life in much the same way as other boys in his day—working hard on the farm in summers, and facing the stern pedagogue in the district school during a few weeks in wintor time. In 1816 he purchased of his father the farm place now in the possession of his widow, and here resided until his death, which occurred December 25, 1889. At the time of his marriage he did not own one dollar's worth of property, and at his decease he was worth fifteen thousand dollars. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church; in politics a firm Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs were never blessed with any children of their own, but tbey reared to manhood and womanhood the following, giving to each a good education and means wherewith to commence life: Oliver Harding, a carpenter, who resides in Florida; Sarah Davis, deceased; William Slates, a farmer in Loudon Township; Drusilla Shawver, wife of Grant Maynard, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio; Mary J. Salmon and John B. Salmon, now married and living with Mrs. Hibbs. Our subject has been a member of the Lutheran Church since she was fifteen years of age. Mr. Hibbs left a will, making disposal of his property after his death; he left fourteen bundred dollars to Mary J. Salmon, fourteen bundred dullars to W. H. Slates, one thousand dollars to Drusilla Shawver, fourteen hundred dollars to Oliver Harding. and the balance of his estate was willed to thirty-eight different persons, some of whom were not related to him, but were poor.
John B. Salmon, one of the adopted sons of Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, March 18, 1853. His parents having died when he was a small boy, he was left with his grandfather to be turned out of a home by him when he was but fifteen years of age. He then came, a stranger, to Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs, who took him and reared him. Mrs. Salmon was born December 23, 1857. They have had the following named children: Mary M., Maggie B., Annie O., William Hibbs and Jesse T.
