Jonas March Tebbetts (1820 - 1913)

Born 5 Jan 1820 in Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Matilda Jane (Winlock) Tebbetts — married 19 Apr 1847 in Pope, Arkansas, United States

Died 16 Jan 1913 at age 93 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Jonas Tebbetts is Notable.

Jonas March Tebbetts, an American salesman, reporter, judge, lawyer, prosecutor, abolitionist, unionist, and politician, encompassed various roles in his life. Although he started as a slave owner, he eventually became a vocal opponent of slavery prior to the war. He was the first attorney general of Arkansas. His political journey led him to the Arkansas House of Representatives, where he served as an elected representative. Additionally, he served as prosecutor for the seventh circuit court and helped create the University of Arkansas. However, his pro-Unionist stance during the war led to his arrest and looming threat of hanging. Fortunately, he managed to secure his freedom and promptly fled the state, never to return.^[1]

Jonas March Tebbetts was born on January 5, 1820 in Rochester, Strafford County, New Hampshire. His father was Enoch Tebbetts, and his mother was Anna Roberts. He was educated at Philips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. After his education, he worked as a traveling salesman for the Doddrige's Family Expositor in New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. At age 17, he taught English literature, ancient history, Greek and Latin languages at Western University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He worked as a reporter for the Pittsburgh Gazette for a short time. While in Pennsylvania, he took work on a steamboat and sailed up the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers.^[2]

In 1840, he settled in Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas, where he met Judge George W. Paschall. Paschall helped Jonas prepare for the bar exam and established a law practice. In his practice, he specialized in helping Cherokee, Choctaw, and Creek Indians living in the Indian Territory. He was elected as a judge in Crawford County, and in 1844, he became prosecuting attorney for the Seventh Circuit Court in Arkansas. The first attorney general of Arkansas. His job as prosecuting attorney required him to travel to Washington County, where he met his wife Matilda Jane Winlock, who was a student at the Fayetteville Female Seminary.^[2] They married on April 19, 1847 in Pope County, Arkansas.^[3] In 1847, and from 1848 to 1849, he served as a clerk for the Arkansas General Assembly.^[2]

After his marriage, he moved to Fayetteville, Washington County. He continued to work as a prosecutor and operate a private practice.^[4] In 1850, he was a slave owner, having at least 4 slaves.^[5] In 1850, he was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives for Washington County. There he earned a reputation as a pro-Union, antislavery Democrat. Despite being a slave owner himself. It was during the time as a legislature that he traveled around Arkansas and spoke out against slavery. He continued to live in Fayetteville, and was one of the wealthiest individuals in northwest Arkansas.^[6] He build a large house in Fayetteville, that during the war would become Union Headquarters for the occupying army. The house has been preserved and was added to the National Register for Historical Places. Union forces defended Fayetteville from the home, and the front doors still have bullet holes from the battle.^[7][8]

After the Civil War started, he remained pro-Unionist and was arrested. He was imprisoned in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with the threat of execution by the Confederate General Ben McCulloch. He was waiting for hanging, when General McCulloch was killed in the Battle of Pea Ridge. After the general's death, the charges were dropped and he was released. He continued to be harassed by Confederate soldiers and threats made to his life, so he left Arkansas. He settled in Missouri, and only returned to Arkansas to dispose of and sell his property. He was given an Union escort back to Missouri for his safety.^[9]

In 1880, he lived in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky. He ran a private law practice to earn his living.^[10] In 1900, he was a widower, and lived in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Arkansas. He lived with his daughter Lillian and her family.^[11]

In 1910, he lived in Brighton, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He still lived with his daughter Lillian and her family.^[12] He died of influenza on January 16, 1913 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.^[13] He was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikpedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 16 Dec 2022. "Joans March Tebbetts." Accessed 28 May 2023.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Lewis, Todd E., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Encylopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 6 Oct 2021. "Jonas March Tebbetts (1820–1913)." Accessed 28 May 2023.
3. ↑ Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957: Ancestry.com. Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2011. "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957," database, FamilySearch; from Arkansas Courts of Common Pleas and County Clerks. Digital images of originals housed at various county courthouses in the State of Arkansas. Marriage records. Ancestry Record 2548 #726265
4. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census: The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas; Roll: 31; Page: 439b Ancestry Record 8054 #10041672
5. ↑ 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules. "Image of 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedule for Jonas Tebbetts." Accessed 28 May 2023.
6. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census: The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas; Roll: M653_52; Page: 625; Family History Library Film: 803052 Ancestry Record 7667 #13379256
7. ↑ Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 19 Sep 2022. "Headquarters House." Accessed 2023.
8. ↑ Arkansas, U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908: United States, Bureau of Land Management. Arkansas, U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997. Original data: United States, Bureau of Land Management. Arkansas Pre-1908 Homestead and Cash Entry Patents. General Land Office Automated Records Project, 1993. Ancestry Record 2070 #132664
9. ↑ Newspaper Clipping, The Springfield News-Leader, Springfield, Missouri, 29 Jun 1972, Thu. - Page 75. "Judge Jonas Tebbetts - Material for a Movie." Accessed 28 Mar 2023.
10. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census: Year: 1880; Census Place: Harrodsburg, Mercer, Kentucky; Roll: 434; Page: 133D; Enumeration District: 138 Ancestry Record 6742 #12112536
11. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census: Year: 1900; Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 20, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1362; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0236 Ancestry Record 7602 #51334549
12. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Brighton, Beaver, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1310; Page: 16a; Enumeration District: 0017; FHL microfilm: 1375323 Ancestry Record 7884 #102004668
13. ↑ Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1969: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pa; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 005421-009000 Ancestry Record 5164 #338892
14. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/237168974/jonas-march-tebbetts: accessed 28 May 2023), memorial page for Judge Jonas March Tebbetts (5 Jan 1820–16 Jan 1913), Find A Grave: Memorial #237168974, citing Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Yvonne~~~ (contributor 46818183).