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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
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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: Jeunie, who married Noah H. Cluster, and resides at Gary, lndiana; John A., unmarried, who is business manager of the Gazette and fraternally is connected with Jonesboro Lodge No. 111, 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.