In 1882, he and a group of investors purchased the Knoxville Daily Chronicle from William Rule, and merged it with the Republican under the new name, Knoxville Republican-Chronicle (Rule would re-purchase this paper within a few years, however). Gibson served as a United States pension agent at Knoxville from June 22, 1883, until June 9, 1885.
Gibson's business career began in 1882 when he and investors bought the Knoxville Daily Chronicle from William Rule. They then combined it with the Republican to form a new newspaper, the Knoxville Republican-Chronicle (Rule would later re-purchase this paper). Gibson worked as a U.S. pension agent in Knoxville from June 22, 1883, until June 9, 1885.