Ben Gibson (politician)
American politician and lawyer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benjamin J. Gibson (November 13, 1882 – July 8, 1949) was the Attorney General of Iowa from 1921 to 1927.
John Hammill
Ben Gibson | |
|---|---|
| 17th Attorney General of Iowa | |
| In office 1921–1927 | |
| Governor | Nathan E. Kendall John Hammill |
| Preceded by | Horace M. Havner |
| Succeeded by | John Fletcher |
| Member of the Iowa Senate | |
| In office January 8, 1917 – 1917 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 13, 1882 |
| Died | July 8, 1949 (aged 66) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Anna Rolston (m. 1905) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Nebraska |
| Military service | |
Years of service | 1917-1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 168th Infantry Regiment 72nd Field Artillery Brigade |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Early life
Gibson was born in Adams County, Iowa one of six children to William Gibson and Virginia (Campbell) Gibson.[1] His maternal great-grandfather, James Campbell, was a veteran of the War of 1812.[1] His maternal grandfather was a veteran of the American Civil War.[1]
Gibson went to the public schools in Adams County. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1906 and was admitted to the Iowa bar.[1] Gibson practiced law in Corning, Iowa from 1906 until 1920.[1]
Politics and WWI
Iowa State Senate
He served in the Iowa State Senate in 1917 and was a Republican.[1]
World War I
Gibson enlisted in the United States Army and was commissioned captain during World War I.[1] He trained at Camp Meade and served until March 6, 1919.[1]
Attorney General
From 1921 to 1927, Gibson served as Iowa Attorney General.[1] In August 1921, he created a Bureau of Investigation to make it easier to connect police across the state and to get access to the federal records of the Department of Justice.[1][2] He moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and continued to practice law.[1]
Personal life
He married Anna Rolston on September 5, 1905.[1] Her father was a veteran of the Civil War, fighting for the Union, specifically fighting with the Army of the Potomac.[1] They had 3 sons, Wayne, Wendell and Benjamin Jr.[1] They attended the Central Presbyterian Church.[1]
Gibson died in Rochester, Minnesota, after having stomach surgery.[3][4]
