Dr. - Mayor C. Ellsworth Gibson

1896 - 1955  (58 years)

• Name	C. Ellsworth Gibson
  Prefix	Dr. - Mayor
  Born	15 Jul 1896	Schomberg, York Co., Ontario   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1911	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Student
  Residence	1911	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Lutheran
  Elected Office	1946	Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Mayor of Elmira
  Military	WW1 - Canadian Air Force
  Name	C. E. Gibson
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-25612P
  Died	19 May 1955	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5, 6]
  Buried	Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  Person ID	I25612	Generations
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2025

  
  

  Father	Henry James Gibson,   b. 4 Mar 1859, Whitchurch Twp., York Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 26 Oct 1937, Gallup, McKinley, New Mexico, United States  (Age 78 years)
  Mother	Mary Mogk,   b. 16 Feb 1865, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 24 Oct 1937, Gallup, McKinley, New Mexico, United States  (Age 72 years)
  Family ID	F6662	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Hilda Fraser Small,   b. 13 Feb 1903, Fergus, Nichol Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1988  (Age 84 years)
  Married	1930  [5]
  	It appears that Ellsworth and Hilda married in St. Louis Co., Missouri.
  Last Modified	4 Mar 2025
  Family ID	F46861	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  C. Ellsworth Gibson

  
  

• Notes

  Tribute Paid to Dr. Gibson, Many Attend Last Rites Sun. People from all walks of life filled St. James Lutheran Church Sunday afternoon for the funeral of the late Dr. C. E. Gibson, Mayor of Elmira for the past nine and a half years. Dr. Gibson died Thursday night in K-W Hospital, following a heart seizure in his office earlier in the day. He had been in ill health for about two weeks and had several minor attacks prior to a serious attack late Thursday night. His attending physician was Dr. LeRoy Wagner of Elmira. A native of Schomberg, Ont., and son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry J. Gibson, Dr. Gibson attended Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and was a commissioned officer in the Canadian Air Force during World War I. Following the First Great War he attended the Royal College of Dental Surgeons, University of Toronto and after his graduation he set up practice in Elmira. His marriage to Hilda Fraser Small, who survives took place in 1930. Also surviving are one sister, Mrs. Charles (Irene) Woodhull of Windsor and one brother, Byrle H., of Toronto. He was a member of St. James Lutheran Church since he has resided in Elmira. He and his sister donated the amplifying system used for the chimes in memory of their parents. He was never on town council as a councillor but was elected to the mayoralty in 1946. He was returned by acclamation each succeeding year except in 1950 when he contested the election and won. An active sportsman, he was manager of the Elmira Polar Kings hockey team since their organization and accompanied them on nearly all their trips. He had just returned from a fishing trip in the North Bay area a week before his death. He was vice-president of the North Waterloo Liberal association for the past 30 years and was several times nominated as Liberal candidate but refrained from running. He was a member of the Elmira Public Utilities Commission, the Community Service Club, the Board of Trade and the Elmira Branch Canadian Legion. In 1948 he was vice-president of the Elmira Old Boys Reunion Association. Many hours of his own personal time were given during the building of the arena and he was chairman of the Elmira Memorial Arena Commission. The body was at the Dreisinger Funeral Parlor Saturday and Sunday morning when it was removed to St. James Church. Burial was in Elmira Cemetery. Rev. Lloyd Kalbfleisch of Neustadt conducted services Sunday. Rev. Kalbfleisch had been pastor of St. James for 26 years and a good friend of Dr. Gibson. The theme used by Rev. Kalbfleisch was Matthew 22: 21 "They say unto him, Caesar's then saith he, unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." Rev. Kalbfleisch traced Dr. Gibson's life and paid tribute to the services to the community the late mayor had rendered. Many floral tributes from residents of Elmira and district were displayed. Pallbearers were Alvin Brubacher, Clare Brubacher, Herbert Ainsworth, Otto Weppler, H. W. Fraser and C. Patterson. Honorary pallbearers included members of the Town Council; they were Reeve H. L. Weichel, deputy reeve A. J. Hoffer, Councillors R. J. Cousineau, O. W. Klinck, F. G. Howard, H. V. Howlett and R. J. Taylor. Elmira Signet, Thursday, May 26, 1955 _________________ Many Civic Leaders Pay Tribute to Late Dr. Gibson Tribute was paid the late Elmira Mayor, Dr. C. E. Gibson by members of the council and by members of the community as a whole after the hearing of his death. "In the passing of our esteemed Mayor, Dr. C. Ellsworth Gibson, I know that I am expressing the sentiments of the members of town council, all the citizens of Elmira and district, when I say that his death came as a distinct shock to the community," said Reeve H. L. Weichel. In his capacity as Chief Magistrate of this town he was devoted to the duties of his office and displayed a variety of gifts. The ability to meet many problems facing a man in his position during the past decade were recognized and deeply appreciated by all, said Reeve Weichel. The keen interest which he exercised in sport will be sadly missed. In short - his kindly counsel in municipal life - his outstanding service to the community will stand as a living tribute to his great zeal and energy put forth in our behalf, he said. "We thank God for having endowed him with so many fine talents and feel that Elmira and the community are much richer because Dr. Gibson lived and served in Elmira, Mr. Weichel said. Adding Dr. Gibson was a public spirited citizen in the true sense of the word and was held in high and affectionate esteem by all who were privileged to know him. Councillor W. A. Lichty said that Dr. Gibson's death was a great loss to the community and that he was one of the most qualified citizens for the position he held as chief magistrate of the town of Elmira. Councillor R. J. Cousineau said Elmira will not have a more qualified Mayor for some time to come than the late Dr. Gibson. "I can proudly say he was a very close personal friend," he said. H. A. Blair, chairman of the board of health said "We've never had a mayor like him for the work accomplished when he was in office." F. C. Forwell, vice-chairman of the Elmira District High School board said Elmira lost a very valuable citizen when Dr. Gibson died. "We never had a mayor that was so generous with his personal time devoted to civic projects," Mr. Forwell said. Owen Watt, president of the Elmira Junior Chamber of Commerce said that "Dr. Gibson was held in high esteem by the Jaycees, not only in Elmira but in the district." "He will be a hard man to replace," Mr. Watt said. Elmira Signet, Thursday, May 26, 1955

  
  

• Sources

  [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira pg 1. [S161] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1901, Elmira (Village) B. Page 1. [S176] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1911, Elmira / page 12. [S176] Census - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - 1911, Div. 48 Pg. 12. [S77] News - ON, Waterloo, Elmira - Elmira Signet (1893-1982), Obituary of C. Ellworth Gibeon - May 26, 1955. [S98] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Woolwich - Elmira Union CC#4578 Internet Link. Dr. C.E.Gibson, Mayor/ 1895 - 1955

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 15 Jul 1896 - Schomberg, York Co., Ontario Occupation - Student - 1911 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1911 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Mayor of Elmira - 1946 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 19 May 1955 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Elmira Union Cemetery, Elmira, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth