Paris Gibson
Encyclopedia
Paris Gibson was an American entrepreneur and politician.
Gibson was born in Brownfield, Maine
. An 1851 graduate of Bowdoin College
, he served as a member of the Montana State Senate and as a Democratic member of the United States Senate
between 1901 and 1905.
legislature. After moving to Minnesota, he served on the University of Minnesota
Board of Regents from 1871 through 1879. He abandoned his failed business interests in Minnesota to try his luck out West and, in 1880, paid a visit to the Great Falls of the Missouri River
and quickly recognized their potential for producing hydroelectric power.
Gibson convinced his friend, railroad magnate James J. Hill
, to invest in a townsite at the falls and urged that Hill extend his railroad through the new city. In 1883 the city of Great Falls, Montana
had been founded.
By 1887 Hill rail lines linked Great Falls to Butte, Montana
and Helena, Montana
. However, the main line of Hill's Great Northern Railway bypassed Great Falls to the north. Despite this setback, Great Falls became a major center of trade for area farmers and ranchers, and its dams on the Missouri River contributed power for ore processing and grain milling industries.
When William A. Clark resigned from the United States Senate, Gibson, a Democrat, was elected to fill the seat, and he served from March 7, 1901 until March 3, 1905. He did not seek re-election. He died in Great Falls and is buried there in in Highland Cemetery.
In 1912, Philip was sent to Warm Springs, a state mental hospital in Warm Springs, Montana
for "exhaustion of paresis", a mental disorder, where he died. Some time later, Theodore suffered a similar mental problem and was also sent to Warm Springs and he died there as well.
where pychic medium Amy Allen
sensed that Valeria Gibson's death was "not natural, it was a murder". The current owner of the house says Valeria was transported from the underground tunnels of this house to the Park Hotel and her body was dumped off.
Also on the show, it was stated that there was a history of mental problems with the whole Gibson family. NYPD homicide detective Steve DiSchiavi interviewed a neighbor who was born and raised in the house who said the Gibson House was turned into a boarding house and the people who were renting there were mentally challenged; people who were out of the mental institution. He remembers the previous owner of the house went insane while living there and was taken out in a straight jacket and taken to Warm Springs mental hospitial.
Gibson was born in Brownfield, Maine
Brownfield, Maine
Brownfield is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,251 at the 2000 census. Brownfield is home to the Stone Mountain Arts Center.-History:...
. An 1851 graduate of Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
, he served as a member of the Montana State Senate and as a Democratic member of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
between 1901 and 1905.
Career
In 1853 he was elected to the MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
legislature. After moving to Minnesota, he served on the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
Board of Regents from 1871 through 1879. He abandoned his failed business interests in Minnesota to try his luck out West and, in 1880, paid a visit to the Great Falls of the Missouri River
Great Falls of the Missouri River
The Great Falls of the Missouri River are a series of waterfalls on the Missouri River in north-central Montana in the United States. The five falls, which are located in a area of the river, are:*Black Eagle Falls ;*Colter Falls ;*Rainbow Falls ;...
and quickly recognized their potential for producing hydroelectric power.
Gibson convinced his friend, railroad magnate James J. Hill
James J. Hill
James Jerome Hill , was a Canadian-American railroad executive. He was the chief executive officer of a family of lines headed by the Great Northern Railway, which served a substantial area of the Upper Midwest, the northern Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest...
, to invest in a townsite at the falls and urged that Hill extend his railroad through the new city. In 1883 the city of Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
had been founded.
By 1887 Hill rail lines linked Great Falls to Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
and Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
. However, the main line of Hill's Great Northern Railway bypassed Great Falls to the north. Despite this setback, Great Falls became a major center of trade for area farmers and ranchers, and its dams on the Missouri River contributed power for ore processing and grain milling industries.
When William A. Clark resigned from the United States Senate, Gibson, a Democrat, was elected to fill the seat, and he served from March 7, 1901 until March 3, 1905. He did not seek re-election. He died in Great Falls and is buried there in in Highland Cemetery.
Personal Life
Paris was married to Valeria Gibson, Paris and his wife had four children; two died at an early age at 1 and 2-years-old. They also had two sons who lived to an older age, Philip and Theodore.In 1912, Philip was sent to Warm Springs, a state mental hospital in Warm Springs, Montana
Warm Springs, Montana
Warm Springs is a town in Deer Lodge County, Montana, United States. It is the site of the state psychiatric hospital, Montana State Hospital. The hospital was founded by the Territorial Government of Montana in 1877. The "warm springs" are located on the hospital campus. Hot water seeps from a...
for "exhaustion of paresis", a mental disorder, where he died. Some time later, Theodore suffered a similar mental problem and was also sent to Warm Springs and he died there as well.
Tragedy
Valeria Gibson might have been killed in her own home in Great Falls, but all the records supporting this are gone. There are three newspaper articles in the Great Falls area about this incident, however one states she died from an accidental fall, (belived to be a cover-up, it was actually signed off by her brother-in-law, her sister's husband), the second states she just died, and the third states that she fell off the Park Hotel and her body was dumped off there. A fourth and fifth theory is that she may have comitted suicide in her home and supposedly one of her sons pushed her down the stairs.Gibson House Haunting
It is believed that the former Paris Gibson House which was built in 1890, is haunted by Valeria Gibson's ghost who is said to haunt the house in which she died long ago.New Evidence
The Gibson House was featured on the paranormal tv series, The Dead FilesThe Dead Files
The Dead Files is an American paranormal television series that premiered on September 23, 2011 on the Travel Channel. The program features psychic medium Amy Allan and former NYPD homicide detective Steve DiSchiavi as they investigate locations that are reported to be haunted...
where pychic medium Amy Allen
Amy Allen
Amy Allen is an American actress and film crew member who is best known for portraying the character Aayla Secura in the Star Wars films. She worked behind the scenes on many different movies, including A.I...
sensed that Valeria Gibson's death was "not natural, it was a murder". The current owner of the house says Valeria was transported from the underground tunnels of this house to the Park Hotel and her body was dumped off.
Also on the show, it was stated that there was a history of mental problems with the whole Gibson family. NYPD homicide detective Steve DiSchiavi interviewed a neighbor who was born and raised in the house who said the Gibson House was turned into a boarding house and the people who were renting there were mentally challenged; people who were out of the mental institution. He remembers the previous owner of the house went insane while living there and was taken out in a straight jacket and taken to Warm Springs mental hospitial.