Samuel W. Gibson, admitted to the bar in Troy, Friday, is the first colored lawyer in Rensselaer county.
“State News.” Watertown Daily Times. January 30, 1882: 2 col 3.
Among the strangers who have been in our midst, […] Samuel W. Gibson, the legal light of Troy
“Saratoga Gossip.” New York Globe. August 25, 1883: 1.
Samuel W. Gibson, who left Troy to dwell in Gotham, has returned. Troy must have an attraction for him.
N.J.S. “Troy Items.” New York Globe. December 15, 1883: 4.
The colored Republicans held one of the most successful political meetings in the history of the city last evening at the rooms of the Hebrew Republican Club in Wotkyns block, Congress street. The speeches were received with great enthusiasm, and it was clearly shown that the colored Republican voters would as usual throw their support on the side of Republicanism. James H. Davis called the meeting to order. Joseph P. Smith and J. R. Chew acted as secretaries. Ringing addresses were made by Samuel W. Gibson, E. Evans, Frederick A. Chew, District Attorney W. O. Howard and Coroner Thompson. The district attorney and coroner were visitors at the meeting. Resolutions endorsing the state and county nominations were adopted. The committee on resolutions consisted of E. Evans, R. B. Jackson and L. E. Latham.
Troy Daily Times. November 1, 1898: 3 col 3.
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Stirring Addresses to Voters—The Campaign Issues.
The United Colored Republican Club held an enthusiastic rally last evening at the Boys in Blue Hall on River Street. There was a large attendance, and the speakers were heartily applauded. Richard Kelly called the meeting to order. Mr. Kelly named Frederick A. Chew for Chairman. Ethelbert Evans nominated James H. Davis for Secretary. Both officers were unanimously chosen.
The following list of Vice Presidents and Secretaries was read and adopted:
Vice Presidents—Lewis E. Latham, E. Evans, James P. Harden, Garrett Jefferson, William Rice, Archer Bolden, Peter Azier, Richard Kelly, R. G. LaTuer, Henry Johnson, Robert A. Taylor, William Kemp, Joseph S. Williams, William A. Lewis, D. C. Chew, David Jones, George Davis, R. J. H. McDougall, J. L. Bain, John F. Price, Levi Bond, Samuel W. Gibson, Rev. J. M. Boddy.
Secretaries—R. B. Jackson, John E. Berry, Joseph P. Smith, George B. Kelly, J. C. Davis, Archie Bolden, jr., Nicholas Moore, John Mead, Charles Hegamin, William Kemp, jr., R. H. Davis, John R. Chew and James Smalley.
The principal speech of the evening was delivered by George E. Wibecan of Brooklyn. Charles H. Anderson of New York city was to be present, but owing to a failure to catch a train he could not attend. Mr. Wibecan treated the audience to an intelligent discussion of the great issues of the campaign. He spoke of the falsity of Democratic claims and flayed the demagogues who would lead the people away from prosperous conditions and safe management.
Samuel W. Gibson of Lansingburgh was also heard in a forcible address, in which he advised the colored citizens to vote for McKinley and Sound Money [the Gold Standard].
Chairman Chew responded to a request for a speech, and although wearied somewhat from his labors on the stump for the Republican party this fall he gave an excellent address. He showed the colored citizens that their interests were bound up in the success of the Republican party, which had ever been friendly to the negro. During the evening Koninsky’s Orchestra discoursed music.
Troy Daily Times. November 1 1900: 3 col 5.
[The 1900 City Directory shows Samuel W. Gibson to have been living at 613 Fifth Avenue, Lansingburgh.]
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Republican Candidate at Bolton Hall.
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ROUSING RECEPTION.
[…] The party reached the Union Station [in Troy] at 11:25 o’clock.
Here Mr. Taft was greeted by a delegation of forty of the colored Republicans of the city. Fred A. Chew, in behalf of the gathering, presented an address. Mr. Taft was much pleased and said he would answer it. The address is appended:
Honored Judge: We, representatives of a numerous element of the varied population of the United States, the land of our birth and devotion, come before you with gratification and delight. We recognize the immense demands which are being made upon your time and energy, but we dare not permit to pass unused this opportunity for assuring you of our most cordial congratulations and support.
We have studied your magnificent career, both as a Judge above reproach and as an administrative officer, unimpeachable, sagacious and efficient; but the greatest benefit which we hope to derive from your administration as chief magistrate of this great republic, when you are elected (as elected you will be), will probably find its source, neither in your legal nor in your administrative conduct of affairs solely, but will proceed from [?] of a great compassionate heart, [a?] sympathy with the oppressed. The public mind and heart, while sometimes misled and cruel, ever respond to the example and influence of the great and noble. We confidently hope that during your occupancy of the greatest official position in the world you will, out of the nobility of your generous nature and through the influence of your exalted position, continue the stupendous task of guaranteeing, in the face of opposition, sympathetic relationship and a square deal to all citizens of this great republic, “regardless of race, color or previous servitude.” We therefore pledge you our most loyal personal fidelity, and earnestly wish for you the undivided support of those to whom we are bound by ties of race.
REV. JAMES G. CARLILE,
FREDERICK A. CHEW,
ETHELBERT EVANS,
SAMUEL W. GIBSON,
REV. H. W. ALLEN,
JOHN F. PRICE,
J. E. S. WILLIAMS,
JOHN EPPS,
L. E. LATHAM,
Committee.
Troy Times. October 28, 1908: 5 cols 4-5.
Troy, N. Y.—Samuel W. Gibson, born in Cincinnati, O., but for many years a Trojan, died November 16, aged 57 years. Mr. Gibson received his early education in the old William Rich School, later attending the Seventh street grammar school and the Union College Law School at Albany. He was admitted to the bar and worked many years as an expert accountant for the E. O. Howser Collar Co., later the United Shirt & Collar Co. of Troy. In 1909 Mr. Gibson accepted a position with the State department of public buildings in Albany, which he held until this death. Mr. Gibson had been connected with the Liberty Street Presbyterian Church of Troy. He is survived by his wife, a son, William Gibson of Troy, and a daughter, Miss Edith Gibson of Philadelphia. Funeral was held at 2:30 Monday afternoon from the A.M.E. Zion Church, the Revs. C. Fairfax, James C. Carlisle and John A. Taylor officiating. Interment in Oakwood Cemetery.
New York Age. November 22, 1917: 3 col 3.