My Genealogy Hound

J. T. O. Tibbits. Among the many enterprising and successful farmers of Dallas Township is Mr. Tibbits. He was born in Georgia, in 1837, the second in a family of eight children born to Job W. and Sarah (Somerville) Tibbits. His father followed farming in Georgia until 1858, when he came to Arkansas, and settled in Calhoun County, Dallas Township. Here he entered 440 acres, all wild, uncultivated land, and at once commenced clearing and improving it. He died in 1862, after making good improvements. The mother went to Louisiana, where she became ill; her son, our subject brought her to his home, where she died in 1873. Our subject was reared to farm labor, and attended school but very little. He came to Arkansas with his father. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, and was in the battle of Pea Ridge. Ark. He was sick for some six months, mostly in the hospital at Memphis; he joined the regiment at West Point, Miss., and was in the battles of Richmond, (Ky.), Murfreesboro, and down through the Georgia campaign. He surrendered with Gen. Johnson, at Greensboro, N. C. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, at Peach Tree, Ga., and again while on his way to meet a cavalry raid at Lovejoy Station. July 3, 1865, he returned home, after making a short visit to friends in Georgia, and began farming on his father’s farm; he was almost destitute on his arrival in Arkansas. In 1867 he married Mrs. Martha L. Cross. In 1886 he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, to which he has since added 900 acres, and has 200 acres under cultivation. Here he does general farming, and raises all his own provisions, and is engaged quite extensively in stock-raising. He has not been active, politically, and votes with the Democratic party. He is an earnest advocate of public schools, and has served as school director for some years. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Tibbits have been born nine children, one of whom died in infancy, viz.: Henry Greston, Ellen Frances, John Morgan (deceased), Joe Johnston, Mollie Bell, Laura Jennie, Hattie Pearl and Price Etta. Mr. Tibbits is a member of Wheel No. 1227, and is one of the active and enterprising citizens of the county.