[phelps2185.FTW]
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 16, Ed. 1, Tree #2185, Date of Import: Jun 23, 1999]
James' parents came to the United States from Ireland at the time of the "Potato Famine" in the mid 1800s. Their destination was to have been Chicago, but because of a storm on Lake Michigan blowing them off course, they came into Spring Lake near Muskegon, Michigan and later settled at Nunica, Michigan, where they were a farm family.
James was born at Nunica. As a young man he worked for a lumbering company during the winter months, then back to farming in the summer. Before long, he went to Valparizo University in Valparizo, Indiana, where he met Ada Steele. After graduating he taught country school, where he was very successful, especially with the older boys. He was admired and emulated, so his discipline, a large part of the evaluations at that time, was superior. Math was his special interest.
Their oldest daughter Mildred was born in Grand Rapids, where James worked on the Interurban Street Car Line. When Mildred was four, James, Ada and Mildred moved from Grand Rapids to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They moved to Albion, Michigan at the invitation of a cousin (?? Steele??) to be his bookkeeper.
James started a successful feed and fuel business, which survived until after his death. He was careful with his business, extending credit during hard times, for he was a very kindly, compassionate person, and couldn't see anyone suffer.
James had a good sense of humor; he laughed easily; he loved his grandchildren and taught them to do an "Irish Jig." His eyes had a twinkle. His coming home after a day's work was a true highlight of his granddaughter's visits.
James' wife, Ada, was in poor health in her later days, and James always got up in the night to get her a glass of warm milk with honey so she could go back to sleep. He knew many homeopathic remedies, for his mother had brought them from Ireland, and had shared them with Indian friends. She had been taught many of the Pottawatami Indian health remedies.
James was a fountain of knowledge. When visiting them and coughing in the night, their granddaughter, Helen Liddicoat, was often cured by a hot fried-onion poultice in a sugar sack. Helen can still smell the onions - Ugh!
James was a pillar in the Albion Presbyterian Church. He held all the offices in the church except pastor.
(Source: Helen Liddicoat Miller)
James Alexander Gibbs 
