Abraham William Gibson, editor and owner of the "Greensburg Progressive," was born on a farm in Sumner county, Kansas, April 5, 1882. He is the son of Abraham and Emeline (Hawes) Gibson. Abraham Gibson was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1820, of German and Irish ancestry. He came to Kansas in 1869, locating at Lawrence, where he was a contractor. He assisted in the organization of the First Christian church of that city. He later became one of the first settlers of Sumner county, where he engaged in farming for sixteen years. In 1885 he removed to Kiowa county, locating on government land three miles from Greensburg. Here he was a successful farmer and stock grower for twenty years, retiring at the age of eighty-five. His death occurred at Greensburg, March 20, 1908. He was married in 1860 to Emeline (Hawes) Gibson, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1836. Her father was a native of France, and her mother was of English ancestry. She died August 24, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Gibson were the parents of seven children, Francis M., deceased; Hiram, deceased; Anna, deceased; Sylvia; May; Effie, deceased, and Abrahm W.

Abraham W. Gibson was educated in the public schools of Kiowa county, his parents having located there when he was four years of age. He graduated in the Greensburg high school with the class of 1899. After teaching school for one year he attended the State Normal at Emporia for one year, taking English and oratory. He then taught school for three years in Kiowa county, after which he attended Henry Reed Art College in Denver, graduating in pen and ink work as a cartoonist. He also took a special course in journalism, equipping himself for newspaper work. In 1905 he became associated with the "Greensburg Republican" as cartoonist and business manager, which position he held for five years, making an enviable record. September 12, 1912, he founded the "Greensburg Progressive," the first paper to be published bearing the exclusive name of the new party. It started with a new plant and has already become a strong local county paper.

Mr. Gibson was married January 9, 1910, at Greensburg, to Miss Elizabeth Amy Wilder, daughter of John H. and Amy (Fisher) Wilder. Mrs. Gibson was born at Lawrence, Kan., October 30, 1884. Mr. Wilder came from Massachusetts with the Massachusetts colony about 1854 and died in Lawrence in 1888. Mrs. Amy (Fisher) Wilder came from New York to Lawrence in 1876 and died at that place in 1887. Mr. Wilder assisted in the organization of the First Unitarian church in Lawrence.