Pulaski County ArArchives Biographies.....Dobyns, J. R. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 August 3, 2009, 3:39 pm Source: See Full Citation Below Biography Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922) J. R. DOBYNS, LL. D. Dr. John R. Dobyns, superintendent of the Deaf Mute Institute at Little Rock, Arkansas, has been spoken of as one of the most conspicuous educators of the deaf in the country and a man whose private character is above reproach. For more than a third of a century he served as superintendent of the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb at Jackson, Mississippi, and later was called to his present position. Dr. Dobyns is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred at Columbus, Johnson county, March 31, 1850, his parents being Benjamin F. and Margaret Ruth (Morrow) Dobyns. His father was born in Mays Lick, Kentucky, in 1807, and the mother's birth occurred in Columbus, Missouri, in 1827. They were married in Columbus in 1849 and became parents of four sons and a daughter, of whom three sons survive. Leaving his native state, Benjamin F. Dobyns removed to Columbus, Missouri, and for many years engaged in the practice of medicine in that state, for he was a physician who was graduated from the Louisville Medical College. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he remained an honored and respected resident of Columbus until his death, which occurred in 1867, while his wife died in 1878 near Marshall, Missouri. Dr. Dobyns of this review began his education in one of the old-time log school-houses at Columbus, Missouri, and in 1874 he was graduated from the Westminster College, a Presbyterian institution of learning at Fulton, Missouri, winning the degree of Bachelor of Arts, while later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him and eventually that of Doctor of Laws. In 1881 he became superintendent of the Mississippi School for the Deaf at Jackson, Mississippi, and remained there until 1914, or for a period of a third of a century. His work there was one of the greatest possible value to the institution and when he left the board of trustees issued a booklet, telling of his good work as compiled from the reports of trustees and of investigation boards from time to time. In 1896 he was tendered the position of superintendent of the Missouri Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and thinking to accept sent in his resignation to the governor of Mississippi, who replied as follows: State of Mississippi, Executive Department. Jackson. Miss., April 27, 1896. Prof. J. R. Dobyns, Jackson, Miss. My Dear Sir:—I am in receipt of your resignation of the superintendency of the Deaf and Dumb Institute. If you have no reason for my immediate action I will take no action on the resignation as long as 1 can delay it consistent with my official duty, in the hope that you may see your .way clear to withdraw your resignation. I have given very careful thought and attention to the institution, and to the ascertainment of what would redound most to its advantage, and of course I have thoroughly canvassed the subject of its superintendency, and I am sure no man could be found anywhere, under whose superintendency it would be safer. Therefore my great solicitude for the unfortunate people who are compelled by their infirmities to seek the beneficent hand of the institution makes me hope as well as desire that you will continue to occupy the position which I feel you have so long adorned. Faithfully, etc., A. J. McLaurin, Governor. After carefully considering every phase of the question Mr. Dobyns decided to remain and the governor, in order to secure his release from his promise to go to the Missouri institution, sent a letter to the board of managers and a personal representative to present the letter to that board. On one occasion charges were made against Dr. Dobyns as to extravagance and the management of the institution. At Mr. Dobyns' request the governor immediately appointed an investigating committee and after receiving the report of that committee wrote to Dr. Dobyns as follows: March 8, 1912. Dr. J. R. Dobyns, Jackson, Miss. Dear Dr. Dobyns: Your favor of the 7th inst. received. There is no question but what the institution has prospered for many years under your management, and I feel sure that it will continue to do so. I knew that there was nothing in the fight being made against you, and am certainly glad that the closest scrutiny verified the investigation as reported to me before I sent your name to the Senate. Yours very sincerely, Earl Brewer, Governor. The auditors' report on the institution contained the following: "During the 1912 session of the legislature charges were preferred by a sub-committee of the appropriations committee of the house of representatives, that the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb was being extravagantly managed. When we started our audit at this institution we were apprised of these charges by you, the state investigating committee, and were asked to investigate, among other things, whether too high prices were paid for supplies during the period, from October 1, 1911, to August 31, 1913, that we were to audit. Instead of finding anything to confirm the charges, the exact antithesis of each suspected set was shown in everything we examined, and our examination was thorough, for we looked into everything and from every conceivable angle. In fact, we found the real condition of things at the institution to be so diametrically opposite to the alleged conditions, that, if the subject had not been of a serious nature and actually coming from the legislature, we would have branded the charges as a huge joke. From all outward appearances, J. R. Dobyns, the superintendent, is the very highest type of man. Apparently, he possesses a nobleness of character rarely met in the world. In culture, education, business acumen, integrity of purpose in both material and ethical things, mastery of detail and progressiveness. Dr. J. R. Dobyns seems to us to be in a class where few follow. If our observations are correct, it seems like the gravest injustice to impugn a man of his character, and, the state really should be thankful that it has, as superintendent of the Institute for the Deaf and Dumh at the salary paid, a man who, if he entered the business world, would probably have an income five times as large." The Chicago Herald once wrote of Professor Dobyns as follows: "Governor McLaurin did a wise thing when he named Professor J. R. Dobyns as superintendent of the Deaf and Dumb Institute, at Jackson. Tender as a father to those under his charge. Professor Dobyns has won the love of all, and his ability as an instructor of the deaf and dumb has placed this institution among the leading schools of its kind in the south, and it is fortunate that Mississippi can retain his services." At length, however, Dr. Dobyns severed his relation with the school with which he had been identified for a third of a century and from September, 1914, until January, 1917, was president of the Southwest Presbyterian University at Clarksville, Tennessee. At the latter date he became president of the Stonewall Jackson College at Abingdon, Virginia, and from September, 1919, to the present time has been superintendent of the Deaf Mute Institute of Arkansas. He has also been the active head of the International Association of Instructors of the Deaf and held the vice presidency of that organization for two terms. In many ways Dr. Dobyns has been honored by the instructors of the deaf in the United States during the past few years, one of the notable occasions being in May, 1911. when he was chosen to deliver the address on the retirement of Dr. E. M. Gallaudet and the installation of Professor Percival Hall as president of Gallaudet College in Washington. In December, 1910, he was also chosen to deliver the address at the laying of the corner stone of the new building of the Oklahoma school for the deaf. The North Dakota Banner once wrote of him, "Superintendent J. R. Dobyns, vice president of the convention of American instructors for the deaf, was the live wire in the recent successful convention at Delavan. Wisconsin, which was held last summer, and which was probably the largest and, without reflection upon the others, perhaps the best convention ever held. Mr. Dobyns will have charge of the convention to be at the Virginia school in 1914, and has already started out on a campaign, the object of which is to make that convention the 'Best and Biggest ever.' Those who know Dr. Dobyns personally and his untiring zeal and strong executive ability, know that he will accomplish what he sets out to do." A most interesting indication of Dr. Dobyns' standing in Mississippi, where he so long resided, is indicated in an article which appeared in the Alabama Messenger: "In striking contrast to some of the appropriation fights that have been waged at this session was the action of the senate on Saturday in calling up, reading for the third time, and passing the deaf and dumb institute bill within a period of five minutes, and without a single dissenting vote. And yet this bill carried a very goodly sum in addition to the regular support fund, which is to he used in the erection of new buildings and making needed improvements, the sum total being almost equal to the cost of the new building now occupied by the institution. The action on this measure is a silent but effective demonstration of the high regard in which Dr. J. R. Dobyns, the superintendent, is held by the legislature. The members realize that the additional allowances would not have been asked by Superintendent Dobyns if not needed, and for this reason they granted the appropriation without question or debate." On the 26th of June, 1878, at Mineral Point, Missouri, Dr. Dobyns was married to Miss Eliza Roxanna Webster, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1850. They have become parents of three children: Ashbel Webster, an attorney: Richmond Smoot; and Robert Morrow. The eldest son, A. W. Dobyns, was in the service of the American army during the World war and was also on border service in the United States. The youngest son, Robert Morrow Dobyns, was with the Young Men's Christian Association in France for about two years. Dr. Dobyns has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is a member of the Beta Theta Psi but of no fraternal orders. He has membership in the First Presbyterian church of Little Rock, of which he is now an elder. He is making for himself a place in the life of Arkansas just as he did in that of Mississippi and is spoken of among his constantly increasing circle of friends and acquaintances as a generous, big-hearted Christian gentleman and prince of good fellows. Additional Comments: Citation: Centennial History of Arkansas Volume II Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1922 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/pulaski/bios/dobyns374bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/ File size: 11.7 Kb