The following information is from an article regarding a nearby fruit stand. In it, the author ends the article by stating, "It is easy to look past history and other treasures as we speed to our immanent distinations But, sometimes, there are treasures hiddent off the side roads. Or in this case just off Exit 88." That's why I love Geocaching. I like how it takes us to places that we'd normally speed by.
"Exit 88 at Gibbons Road seems like any other exit, but in truth serves as a port hole into history. The Gibbon Train Junction, was a community as shared by former resident Lee Parson. "We called it a town, although there was actually very little there, but as kids all we knew was we were a part of a community. I recall stairs that ran from the houses down to the river and as children we used the often.
Gibbon, Washington, primarily a railroad switchyard, was founded as Bender by the Northern Pacific Railway Company in 1884, but re-named Gibbon in April of 1896 in honor of U.S. Army General John Gibbon.
History buffs might like to know that Army General John Gibbon served as commander of the Department of the Platte in 1884. He was promoted to brigadier general in the regular army in 1885 and took command of the Department of the Columbia, representing all posts in the Pacific Northwest. He placed Seattle, Washington under martial law durin gthe anti-Chinease riots of 1886.
John Gibbon died in Baltimore, Maryland and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to his famous and influential Artillerist's Manual of 1859, he is the author of Personal Recollections of the Civil War and Adventures on the Western Frontier along with many articles in magazines and journals, typically recounting his time in the West and providing his opinions on the government's policy toward Native Americans.
On July 3, 1988, the 125th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, a bronze statue of John Gibbon was dedicated in the Gettysburg National Military Park, near the site of his wounding in Pickett's Charge.
In addition to Gibbon, Washington, towns in Oregon, Nebraska, and Minnesota were names after him, as well as, The Gibbon River and Falls in Yellowstone National Park after his 1872 expedition there."
Source: Agri-Times NW, Produce Store Carries Generals Name: Owners Savor Rural Roots by Rene Groom.