Ouachita-Calhoun County ArArchives Biographies.....Tibbits, J. J. 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 18, 2009, 2:59 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

PROFESSOR J. J. TIBBITS.
    The standard of public education in Arkansas is being constantly raised and
men of marked ability are being called to serve as teachers and as directors of
the educational work of the state. Well known in this connection is Professor J.
J. Tibbits, now county superintendent of schools of Ouachita county and a
resident of Camden. He is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occurred in
Calhoun county, August 26, 1874, his parents being J. T. and Martha (Moore)
Tibbits. The father was born near Atlanta, Georgia, while the mother is a native
of Calhoun county, Arkansas. The grandfather, Moses Moore, came to this state
from Alabama some time in the early '40s, settling in Calhoun county, while Job
W. Tibbits, the grandfather in the paternal line, came from Georgia and
established his home in Calhoun county in the early '50s. He was killed by one
of the marauding bands that infested the neighborhood during the Civil war. J.
T. Tibbits served with the Confederate army during the period of hostilities
between the north and the south under General Joseph E. Johnston, remaining at
the front throughout the war period. He is now living retired in Fordyce. His
wife departed this life in May, 1900.

    Professor J. J. Tibbits obtained his early education in the public schools
of Fordyce and afterward attended the Clary Training School at that place. Later
he became a student in Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa, and also
attended four summer sessions at the Peabody Normal School in Nashville,
Tennessee. Throughout his life he has remained a student of men and events and
has also read most widely along the line which brings well rounded mental
development. He became a teacher prior to his eighteenth year, taking up the
work of the profession in the spring of 1892. For five years he filled the
position of principal of the Fordyce schools and was also principal of the
Millville schools for a similar period. He then returned to Fordyce, where he
was again principal of school for one year. He was then called to take the
supervision of the Bearden schools and remained principal at that place for
eight years, after which he was a teacher at Eagle Mills, Chidester, Buena Vista
and other points. His ability constantly increased as the result of his
broadening experience and wide study and he became recognized as one of the able
educators in connection with the public school system of Arkansas. His
exposition of any question before the students is always clear and he has the
faculty of largely winning their cooperation in connection with his purposes as
a teacher. Professor Tibbits was first called to public office when in 1916 he
was elected county treasurer of Ouachita county and so capably did he serve in
that position that he was reelected in 1918, remaining the incumbent iu the
office for four years. He also held the office of county examiner from 1910
until 1914 and in 1920 he was elected superintendent of schools of Ouachita
county, taking the office on the 1st of January, 1921. He belongs to the State
Educational Association, also to the Ouachita County Educational Association and
is constantly alert to every opportunity that will promote his efficiency and
advance his powers in the educational field.

    On the 13th of August, 1902, Professor Tibbits was married to Miss Grace
Weaver of Millville, and they have become parents of four children: Prances
Louisa, now a student in the Arkansas State University; Lloyd Weaver, attending
the Camden high school, in which he is a senior; Jefferson Dobb and Marian
Elizabeth, both attending school. Professor Tibbits and his wife are members of
the Methodist Episcopal church and he is serving on its board of stewards. He
takes a most active and helpful part in all the church work and is now district
lay leader and also superintendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally he is
connected with Abana Lodge, No. 271, A. F. & A. M., of Bearden, Arkansas, and is
a faithful follower of the teachings and high purposes of the craft. He is ever
interested in all of those projects which are looking to the benefit and
upbuilding of community and commonwealth and is a loyal supporter of every
project that promises advancement along intellectual and moral lines.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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