Susan said: November 13, 2011 7:35 pm PST
Feel free to write me privately, Kelly. I'm happy to help, no strings. My email should be accessible to you through your site tools (if not, tell me and I'll post it). I'm not related at all, just a genealogist and historical researcher in my other life. I enjoy researching people of this era greatly, particularly in Western States. I live in NYC, have a normal job, so I do mostly internet research, databases, etc. And four women in my family, of the Gibson son's era, were institutionalized in WA and IA. One had a political husband associated with the railroad (not nearly as prominent as Gibson!), and I believe she became inconvenient for a few reasons. 1880s-1890s, that couple was in MT, before going to WA Lots of things I can never "prove" with the entire family. Back to Valeria, women could be on deeds in the 19th Century, even original land patents. Were Valeria's in her married or maiden name? If the latter, was she already married? And, Jessie became Dean of Women at the University of Minnesota, saw it while doing newspaper research. I think everyone is interesting, but I do like these families.