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Submitted by Cheryl Van Wormer.


				JONATHAN AND MARY ANN (DEXTER) TIBBITS.

JONATHAN TIBBITS.  American aristocracy like that of foreign lands is based upon birth, but 
unlike that of trans-Atlantic birth, its foundation is character, which has descended from 
father to son throughout generations.  Thousands of our sturdy, prosperous men throughout the 
State are descended from old families of New England, who have from the earliest settlement of 
the country upheld an honored reputation for sterling integrity and all the qualities which make 
good citizens.  Among these farmers of good descent we find Jonathan Tibbits, son of Stephen 
Tibbits a native of Rhode Island, born in 1768.  In this family were five brothers of remarkable 
longevity, who averaged ninety years of a worthy life.  Stephen Tibbits, while a farmer by 
occupation took some part in the War of 1812.  The mother of Jonathan was Sophia (Mason) Tibbits,
who was also a native of Rhode Island.
	The family of Tibbits during the Revolutionary War, removed from Rhode Island to 
Shaftsbury, Vt.  About 1790, they again removed to Oneida County, N. Y.  There the father and 
mother of our subject were married and resided during the continuance of their lives.  They were 
among the early pioneers of that splendid representative county of Central New York, which was 
early peopled by the best New England stock.  He owned and worked on of the magnificent farms of 
that county, until his death in 1864, at the advanced age of ninety-six years.  His wife had 
died in the year 1856.  they were the parents of ten children, three of whom are now living.
	Jonathan Tibbits was born January 21, 1809, in Oneida County, N. Y, where he grew to 
manhood.  He received a fair schooling for those times, as that region was considerably advanced 
educationally.  His bright memory still aids him to recall many of the incidents of the War 
of 1812 as they transpired in the Mohawk Valley.  At nineteen years of age he went to New York 
City and worked in a harness shop at No. 8 Wall Street, within sight of Trinity Church, and 
where now is the busy scene of wonderful financial enterprises.  Remaining there only a year 
and a half to learn his trade, he returned home and settled in Frankfort, Herkimer County, near 
Utica, where for a few years he had a shop and worked at his trade.
	In 1836 our subject emigrated to Michigan and on September 21, arrived in Ionia County, 
where he was settled in what was then the little village of Ionia, composed of a few scattering 
houses.  For twenty years he lived in town and followed his business of a harness-maker, after 
which he removed with his family to the present homestead on section 27. There were but few 
improvements upon that section.  His farm was originally a part of the Sessions' farm.  Of his 
one hundred and twenty acres of land he has seventy under cultivation and although now over 
four-score years of age he still actively carries on his farm.  His experience in this country 
has been a long one and he has seen it grow from a wild state to its present condition of 
cultivation, physical and social. His wife is quite feeble, having lately fallen and hurt 
herself and is in consequence confined to her bed.  They were married March 1, 1832, she being 
Mary Ann Dexter, a daughter of Samuel and Anna (Fargo) Dexter.
	Mr. Dexter was the first settler in Ionia County, and was throughout his life the most 
notable man there.  He was born December 5, 1787, in Rhode Island, removing when quite young to
Herkimer County, N. Y., where he lived until 1823. His wife was a native of Herkimer County.  
After this marriage he continued to carry on his business of farming and at the same time served 
the State during 1824 and 1825 as a member of the State Legislature at Albany.  In 1833 they 
removed to Michigan and settled in Ionia County.  He was the leader of the original colony of 
thirty-six people which settled in Ionia.  He was a broad-minded and practical man, looking to 
the upbuilding of the colony in every way and providing his enterprise for their convenience 
in many directions.  He built the gristmill at Ionia, the first one in the county, also the 
sawmill two miles northwest of Ionia.  A sawmill was evidently a stern necessity, for until 
boards could be obtained frame houses could not be erected, and this colony did not hesitate to 
live in Indian wigwams until they could build permanent homes.  As was the case with most 
colonies of character, they were able to live peacably with the Indians and established friendly
relations with them.
	Mr. Dexter bought a large quantity of land and sold much of it to others.  He also 
purchased considerable land where Grand Rapids now stands.  His first house was of logs and 
situated near the gristmill in Ionia.  His character and enterprise gave him the confidence of 
his neighbors and he received many tributes of their respect as he was often placed in positions
of trust.  He occupied at different times the offices of Justice of the Peace, and County Judge.
He was also Receiver of the United States land office.  He belonged to the old-line Whig party 
in politics, and was a member of the Baptist Church during his early years, but later became a 
Spiritualist.  He died in 1855, his wife following him to the other world in 1874.  They were 
the parents of nine children three of whom are now living.
	Mrs. Tibbits was the second child of this notable couple and was born March 16, 1815, 
in Herkimer County, N. Y., where she married Mr. Tibbits just before coming to Michigan in 1835.
This marriage has been blessed with nine children:  Newton D., was born January 21, 1833, and 
died January 1, 1862; Charles S., was born March 16, 1835, and died August 23, 1890.  He was 
employed at one time for two years by Gilmore & Salisbury, of star Route fame, Julius S. was 
born September 26, 1838, in Ionia and married Marilla T. Mattison.  They live in Lyons Township.
Arthur H. was born July 20, 1842, and married Elizabeth Overhiser; they make their home in 
Greenville and have two children.  Anna Z., who was born June 18, 1844, is the wife of William 
Gleason, living at Savanna, Ill., and has three children.  Emma N., born November 29, 1847, and 
wife of Dr. T. M. Benedict, lives at Greenville and has two children.  James H., born April 28, 
1850, married Lillie Brooks; he is a Fifth Auditor in the Treasury Department and makes his 
home in Washington, D. C.  He has one daughter.  Elizabeth M., was born September 19, 1852.  
Jennie M. born August 2, 1855, is taking a special course in preparation for kindergarten work 
in Washington, D. C.
	Mr. Tibbits has always been a good Republican in politics and has occupied many 
prominent positions of public responsibility.  He has taken an active interest in school matters 
and has been one of the Directors of the district.  Under President Millard Fillmore, he was 
Postmaster at Ionia.  He was long a member of the Sons of Temperance, and he and his sons have 
ever been strong advocates of temperance, both in word and deed.  The families are Unitarians 
in faith.  Two of his sons, Arthur and Charles did noble service during the Civil War.  The 
former enlisted in Berdan's Sharp-Shooters for six months.  He then re-enlisted in Battery D, 
Fifth United States Light Artillery and served his term in that.  He was active in eighteen
battles, and during the battle of Gettysburg he was at one time the only living man to stand 
at his gun.  Charles was living in Wisconsin during the war and enlisted first in the Third 
Wisconsin Infantry.  This regiment raised in 1861 for a short time only.  In 1863 he re-enlisted 
in the Fifth Wisconsin Infantry.  His service of three years shows a fine war record.  Joseph 
was drafted once and paid $300 to be released.



This biography is taken from "PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, 
MICHIGAN."  Chapman Brothers.  Chicago, Illinois.  1891.  Pages 415-417.