BOBBITT, R. E., Weakley County, TN., then De Soto Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 486-487. Edited by Alc‚e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. Bobbitt, R. E., president of Mansfield Female college, was born in Weakley county, Tenn., Nov. 2, 1872, a son of Alonzo D., and Sallie (Whitworth) Bobbitt, both natives of Tennessee. The Whitworths were originally from Kentucky, while the Bobbitt family were from North Carolina, moving to Tennessee in the early days. Both father and mother are now deceased, the former passing away in 1897, and the latter in 1884. Of the 4 children in the family, the subject of this biography is the eldest. After availing himself of the educational advantages afforded by the public schools of his locality, and the high school at Gleason, Tenn., Mr. Bobbitt entered the Southern normal at Huntingdon, Tenn., where he completed the scientific course. On leaving school he began teaching, first in his home community, remaining there one year, after which be taught at Attalla, Ala., and later in the Dyersburg District High school at Munford, Tenn. He then moved to Louisiana, locating at Jena, where he continued his pedagogic work for 4 years, then teaching in Mer Rouge for 2 years, and returning to Jena for 6 years more. From Jena he was called to the State normal at Natchitoches where he taught mathematics for 3 years, resigning to accept the presidency of Mansfield Female college, at Mansfield, where he has since remained. This institution was established in 1854 by Dr. Thweatt and Rev. William E. Doty. During the Civil war Mansfield was at one time the center of an extensive military campaign, and the college buildings were converted into hospitals. About this time the college was sold to pay a claim against it, but was later repurchased and again opened its doors in 1864, under the presidency of Dr. Charles B. Stuart. The following have been the succeeding presidents of the institution: Rev. Thomas Armstrong until 1880, J. Lane Borden till 1883, Rev. F. M. Grace till 1889, Rev. A. D. McVoy till 1896, Rev. T. 5. Sligh till 1907, O. S. Dean till 1909, A. S. Harrell, Dr. Weber, and A. B. Peters till 1911, since which time Mr. Bobbitt has had charge, and under his able -and efficient management the school has continued to grow and prosper. The school is under the control of the Annual Conference of the M. E. Church, South. Aug. 30, 1893, Mr. Bobbitt led to the altar Miss Lula May Falkner, of Huntingdon, Tenn. Three children have blessed this union, namely: Russell E., Mary Elizabeth, and Joseph Reuben.