ALBERT S. TIBBETS. Like many of the successful journalists of today,
Albert S. Tibbets, owner and editor of the Jonesboro Gazette, of Jonesboro,
Illinois, started his newspaper career in the humble position of "devil,"
and has devoted his whole life to the gathering and distributing of news,
gradually working his way up the ladder of success until he now stands in
the front rank of the men of his profession in Southern Illinois and is an
acknowledged power in the local political field. Mr. Tibbets is one of the
self-made men of his section, and the success which has finally rewarded his
efforts has come only after years of discouragements and disappointments.
Born at Auburn, Sangamon county, Illinois, in January, 1858, Mr. Tibbets is
a son of Hiram and Martha (Wilson) Tibbets. His father, who was a farmer and
fruit grower, came to Jonesboro in 1868 and died two years later, and his
widow survived until May, 1897, when she passed away in this city.
Albert S. Tibbets attended school until he was fourteen years of age, at
which time he began to contribute to the support of the family. He secured a
position in the office of the newspaper of which he is now the owner,
beginning as "devil" and rising from position to position until 1893, when
he purchased the journal from his father-in-law. The Jonesboro Gazette was
established in 1849, and is one of the oldest in Southern Illinois. It is
now published weekly and has a paid-up circulation of 1,200. It is a
Democratic organ, but aims to present to its readers a fair, unbiased
opinion on all matters of importance. A neat, well-printed sheet, its pages
are devoted to the interesting news of the day, together with all the local
happenings and terse, well-written editorials. It has endeavored to educate
the reading public into discouraging sensational matter, the management
believing that a clean, reliable newspaper will be the means of ultimately
developing the best interests of the community. Mr. Tibbets has been loyal
to the Democratic party, and was for many years secretary of the County
Democratic Central Committee. He has identified himself with various
business enterprises and is at present a stockholder in the Fruit Growers
Package Company of Jonesboro.
In 1887 Mr. Tibbets was united in marriage with Miss Esther Bouton, who was
born in 1860, at Jackson, Michigan, daughter of Thomas F. Bouton, a
well-known newspaper man of Southern Illinois, for twenty-five years editor
of the Jonesboro Gazette, and five children have been born to this union,
namely: Jennie, who married Noah R. Cluster, and resides at Gary, Indiana;
John A., unmarried, who is business manager of the Gazette and fraternally
is connected with Jonesboro Lodge No. Ill, A. F. & A. M., and the Order of
the Eastern Star, in both of which he is very popular; and Thomas, Esther
and Elizabeth, who live at home with their parents. The family is connected
with the Baptist church. Mr. Tibbets is widely known in newspaper circles
throughout this section of the county, and as a representative of the type
of men who have been the architects of their own fortunes has the respect
and esteem of all with whom he has come into contact.
Extracted 16 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 2, pages 757-758.
| Jackson | Williamson | |
| MO |
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Johnson |
| Alexander | Pulaski |
