HARDEN-Samuel - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

"Northfield." References to Jacob Tipton Laid out 1834. Among early settlers were: George Shirts, Hiram McQuidy, Mr. Sanburn, Jacob Tipton. Harden, Samuel. Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana Lebanon, Ind.: Harden & Spahr, 1887, 566 pgs, p. 85 In 1832 Jamestown was laid out by James Matlock & John Gibson. First in - John Gibson -- Jacob Tipton 1st blacksmith.

Harden, Samuel. Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana Lebanon, Ind.: Harden & Spahr, 1887, 566 pgs, p. 86 Samuel Hughes and Jacob Tipton were both wanting the honor of being appointed postmaster. They agreed that the legal voters interested should decide by a vote who should be the one. A vote was taken, which resulted in a tie. I, then being quite a big, good-looking boy, beginning to notice, they agreed that they would impose the onerous task on me to settle the matter. Tipton, with evil intent, put about my person a beautiful six-pence handkerchief of many colors, which was enticing and I voted for him. Perhaps it was the first vote sold in Boone county but there was not trouble made about it and very little has been made since for selling votes, for I verily believe that when the votes of the parties are nearly evenly balnaced votes are about yet.

Harden, Samuel. Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana Lebanon, Ind.: Harden & Spahr, 1887, 566 pgs, p. 129 Jacob Tipton of Jamestown was the first elected sheriff of the county and was succeeded by Wm. Zion who held the office four years. I sometimes acted as turnkey and one night at the late hour of 12 o'clock went to the jail and let a relative of one of the prisoners out.

Harden, Samuel. Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana Lebanon, Ind.: Harden & Spahr, 1887, 566 pgs, p. 372 Jacob TIPTON, the subject of this sketch was born in Maryland in 1800. His parents died when he was very young. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith and learned that trade. When he attained his majority he emigrate to the state of PA, and worked at his trade about 3 years and from there came to Preble Co Oh and engaged to work at his trade with Daniel McCOY, whose son-in-law he afterwards became, marrying his daughter, Sarah, and in 1830, together with his father-in-law, came to Indiana, locating at Jamestown. Daniel McCoy settled on a farm in Hendricks Co, about 3 miles from Jamestown while Jacob put up a rude shop and worked at his trade for about one year. Daniel McCoy sold his farm and moved to Jamestown in 1831. He and TIpton formed a partnership adn sold goods under the firm name of Tipton & McCoy. They continued business about four year and selling out, Jacob moved to Northield in 1835 and went into the goods busines with Hiram McQuitty; but before he came to Northfield he was elected sheriff, succeeding Austin Davenport in that office; served in that office two terms and was succeeded by Wm. Zion. The first grand jury that ever convened in the county held their session at his house in Jamestown. One little incident that happened while he was sheriff, is perhaps worthy of notice; he had a warrant for the arrest of a notorious character for larceny, who had been a terror to the country for some time, and who declared that he would not be taken. When he went to arrest him he fortunately met him alone in the woods and told him to get into the path going to Lebanon, and if he made am ove to the right or left he would kill him, keeping his hand in his pocket all the time. He rode behind him all the way to Lebanon throught he woods, for there was nothing but a path in those days and safely deposited him inthe log jail, and then told him that he was unarmed did not even have a pocket knife. The fellow was very much chagrined when he found that out and that he could have escaped so easily if he had not been so cowardly. He also kept tavern in Northfield about 20 years. During that time there was an immense travel on the Michigan Road. He and McQuitty dissolved partnership, McQuitty retiring. He continued the business at intervals alone and in partnership with his son, John G. Tipson, till 1854. About 1838 he attached himself to the American Fur company and continued with that company 14 years, when the co. suspended, hauling all the furs he bought in wagons to Logansport. After that company suspended, about 1853 or '54 he bought fur for Denny & Co, Dayton Ohio until his death in 1860. WHile engaged in that business for a period of about 25 years, he was kept much away from home in the winter season, sometimes as long as 3 or 4 weeks at a time, his wife and boys looking after the affairs at home, managing both the farm & tavern. His wife's management of the tavern made it very profitable; she drew the largest custom of any of the many taverns on the Mich. Rd. Travelers that stopped there once would always make it a point to do so again when traveling that road. He was the father of 13 children, all attained majority. John G. Tipton, the eldest, who was associated with him at one time in the mercantile business at Northfield, and afterwards conducted the business alone, died in Marion Twp, Boone County 1871. Martha is living in Mo. William A. is a successful lawyer now at Winfield, KS; he has won distincution at the Lebanon, Covington and Indianapolis bars, and has a reputation second to none as a jurist. Mary J. died in Northfield in 1855; Sarah E. is living in Stockwell, Ind; Francis M. is at Winfield, KS, practicing law; Hulda L. died in Jefferson Twp, 1881; James H. is living in FOuntain Co also practicing law; he has filled several positions of trust in that county. George W. is living in Iowa; Rachel M is living in Boone Co; Tillman H is living in Fountain County; Rebecca D. is living in Fountain county; Amanda M. is living in Dakota. Sarah Tipton, his widow, still survives him and is living in Fountain County with her son, James H. Tipton. She is now 78. During the late war the family furnished the following volunteers for the Union: John G. 86th Indiana; James H, 10th and 154th Indiana served 4 years; George W, 40th Indiana served 3 years; Tillman H, 135th and 154th - one year; Francis M, captain home guards, had to stay at home and take care of the family.

Harden, Samuel. Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana Lebanon, Ind.: Harden & Spahr, 1887, 566 pgs, p. 376

Jacob Tipton was an energetic man, had an iron constitution, the weather never was too severe for him to venture out into it to attend to his business. He was possessed of a good, practical education, as good as the times could afford. He did much to develop the county and encourage emigration. HIs business brought him in contact with men from all parts of the country and it was through his influence and representations that induced many good men to settle in the county who would have went elsewhere. In poltics he was always a Democrat and took great interest in politcs, both state and national. He was one of those men who was peculiarly fitted to develop and advance the itnerests of a new country. He never had much sickness, was always on the move until his death which occured in October, 1860. He was buried in the Ross Cemetery, one mile north of Northfield.