Obituary of Rizpah Knight Gibbons, by her son, Andrew Vinson Gibbons

Rizpah Knight Gibbons

Rizpah Knight Gibbons, who died here March 17, 1895, was born May 13, 1829, in Perrysburg County, state of New York. She was the daughter of Martha McBride and Bishop Vinson Knight. Her parents united with the Church soon after its organization and in 1834 moved to Kirtland, Ohio. The deceased was present at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple March 27, 1836. From thence the family moved westward and located in the state of Missouri, and were expelled from the state with the Church in 1839, locating at Nauvoo, Ills. It was here that she formed the acquaintance of Andrew S. Gibbons (now deceased), and married him. They were permitted to enter the Temple at Nauvoo and receive their blessing. In 1846 they were driven from their home, going westward, she remaining with the Saints that were scattered along the way between Nauvoo and a place called Winter Quarters, while her husband went on with President Young's Pioneer company. In the fall of 1847 her husband returned; they immediately set themselves about to gather means to follow on. They were successful and arrived in Salt Lake valley in 1852 and located at Bountiful. In 1854 they were called to the Southern mission and located in Iron County. In 1858 her husband (with others) was called to labor as Indian missionary with a view of creating a more friendly feeling between them and the white people, that the settlement of the Saints might be extended father south. She labored with her husband in this direction for many years and consequently suffered much privation, but she never complained; there was nothing so dear to her as the faith she had accepted. She, with her husband, had the privilege of entering into holy places and receiving greater blessing and also did a good work for their dead. They were called to Arizona and located in St. Johns in February, 1880. Her husband preceded her to the other world nine years, having died February 9, 1886. She was the mother of fifteen children, eight of whom died in their infancy; the remainder have all settled in life and have families, and are members of the Church, which was a great satisfaction to her. In her later years she devoted much of her time to caring for the sick, and so general were her visits that there was scarcely a family in the neighborhood that had not been cared for by her; and as was said by some of the speakers at her funeral, "it seemed as though a dear relative had been taken from our midst." She was followed to her last resting place by many loving relatives and friends and laid beside her faithful husband. 


Andrew V. Gibbons


Source: Deseret News, 
6 April 1895, 
St. John, Apache County, Arizona, March 24, 1895.