Sheriff William Gibson

William (Billy) Gibson was born in April 1845 in Scotland. He came to America in 1842. When he was nineteen he married Mry Lambert and they had three children. He and Pardon Dodds were considered the first white men to settle here in 1877. When Uintah County was first formed in February 1880, Billy was appointed constable and acting sheriff. In November 1895 he was elected to the first legislature and participated in Utah becoming a State. He conceived the idea of painting "Remember the Maine" on the face of a 500 foot high cliff in Dry Fork Canyon. A rugged, honest and determined stand for the right was his ruling characteristic. He passed away in December 1932 and was burind in a cement vault on the brow of a rocky ridge in Steinaker Draw. When Steinaker Dam was built his body was moved to the Vernal Cemetery.