This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Tibbet, Hoke, Larsen Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/7392.4 Message Board Post: TIBBET, BERTON M. spouse: F age: 64 Yrs county: 15 date: 6/9/1939 requested by: CMGregg@aol.com The Bakersfield Californian, June 10, 1939 BERT TIBBET, KERN PIONEER, TAKEN BY DEATH Bert Tibbet, member of one of Bakersfield's oldest families and with a historic record as a peace officer in Kern County, passed away at the family residence, 416 I street, this morning after a 10 months illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 o'clock Monday morning at the Flickinger-Digler Chapel and interment will take place in the family plot in Union Cemetery. Berton Mills Tibbet was a native of Bakersfield, born in 1876 at the original Tibbet homesite, just south of this city. He was educated in the public schools of Bakersfield and when he grew to manhood became associated with the sheriff's office and with the constabulary of the sixth township, which included the City of Bakersfield. It was in that connection that he played a prominent and heroic part in the slaying of McKinney, the outlaw who a few moments before had shot to death his brother, W. E. Tibbet, the father of Lawrence Tibbet, famous Metropolitan baritone. On K Street The tragedy occurred at a joss house on K street near Twenty-first in Old Chinatown. mcKinney had recently been acquitted on a murder charge in Bakersfield and made his way to his old home in Porterville, where he killed another man and escaped to Arizona. But after two years and the commission of a third crime he returened to California and officers here heard of him as being in the South Fork country. Aposse was sent on his trail. McKinney made his way down the Kern River canyon into Bakersfield and was hidden in the joss house by a friend, Al Hulse, whose life later came to a tragic end in the county jail. Bert Tibbet was one of the posse that surrounded the hoss house and his brother, Will, in company with City Marshal T. J. Packard, went into the back entrance seeking the hunted man. McKinney shot them both ot death and was in turn killed by Bert Tibbet who was stationed in the rear of the house. Elected Marshal Following this tragedy, Mr. Tibbet was elected City Marshal of Bakersfield and subsequently was a deputy under different law enforcement administrations, both in this city and upon the West Side. In later years the deceased maintained a detective office, first on the West Side and later in this city and became widely known throughout the state. An interesting feature in connection with this tragedy had to do with the recent visit of Lawrence Tibbet to this city. At his Uncle Bert's home the latter produced the gun which had been used to slay his father's slayer and the baritone carried the gift with him to his home in New York. Besides his widow, Mrs. Florence Tibbet, Mr. Tibbet is survived by three sons, Berton Tibbet, Jr., of Pasadena; Jack Tibbet of Taft, and Harry Tibbet of this city. He also is survived by two sisters and a brother, Mrs. Eliza Hoke of Venice; Mrs Emma Larsen of Bakersfield and Edward Tibbet, Bakersfield. Surviving grandchildren are Betty and Donald Tibbet, children of Jack Tibbet; Nancy, Gloria, Berton III, Marjorie Ann and Alberta Tibbet, children of Berton Tibbet, Jr., and Neville Lynn, the daughter of Harry Tibbet. Mr. Tibbet's parents, the late Edward and Rebekah Tibbet came over the plains by oxcart in 1863 from Ohio. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Tibbet became connected with the development of mining and oil lands. The Reverend Grover Ralston will deliver the eulogy. FUNERALS TIBBETT - Funeral services for Berton Mills Tibbett, 63, prominent Kern County pioneer, who died Friday at his residence, 416 I street will be held Monday morning at 10;30 o'clock in the Flickinger-Digler chapel with the Reverend Grover Ralston officiating. Burial will be in Bakersfield Memorial Park. Sharon Kern Co. Volunteer