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The location of a county seat for Cedar County was a matter of so much general interest in the history of this county, that this subject has been given a special chapter. Suffice it to say here, that Tipton was located as the seat of justice in March, 1840, on the northwest quarter of Section 6, Township 80 north, Range 2. The northwest corner of the original plat, being the center of the county, is situated near the elevator on the railroad. The plat was surveyed May 20, 1840, by John J. Tomlinson, Surveyor, with streets eighty feet wide, alleys sixteen feet, and lots fifty by one hundred and forty-two feet in size. Wm. M. Knott was one of the chain bearers on this survey.
From the Commissioner’s Record the following is taken. April 18, 1840, it was
Ordered, That J. J. Tomlinson proceed to lay out the town of Tipton agreeable to the plans submitted by him forthwith, and make return of the same to the Clerk of the Board as soon as finished.
Ordered, That the surveyors lay out the public square on the most eligible site near the center of the quarter section.
Tipton was named by Henry W. Wiggins, one of the locating commissioners, in honor of Gen. Tipton, of Indiana, a warm personal friend of Mr. Higgins.
The claim ownership of the site has been noted in the General History.
The only building on the town site at that time, was a log cabin which had been built by Wm. M. Knott in 1839 for Henry S. Chase, near Robert Collar’s present residence.
This cabin was first used as the County Clerk’s office, by Wm. K. Whittelsey, who moved there from Rochester. The County Commissioners also met here in 1840. When the removal of the county seat occurred all the county were contained in one candle box.
In the Spring of 1840, Charles M. Jennings built a cabin near the southwest corner of Section 31, afterward in Jenning’s Addition to Tipton. This was used as the first public house at Tipton, and was called the “Petriksen” building; afterward, in 1846, it was used for church purposes.
John Culbertson and wife and William Cummins came to Tipton in 1840, and the former boarded with George Carl, two miles southwest, until his house was built in June (?) on the site of the City Hall. Here Mr. Culbertson kept hotel for many years. He afterward engaged in the mercantile business with Preston J. Friend. Among the residents who came soon after were John F. Cook, Ninian Y. Walker, a carpenter, Daniel Davis, a carpenter, and John R. McCurdy—all single men. John P. Cook built the first storeroom in Tipton in . . .
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. . . June, 1840, on the corner now occupied by J. W. Tuthill’s drug store, where he opened a general stock of goods—the first to be sold in the village.
John R. McCurdy was the first tailor, and built a shop near the site of Whan & Adam’s store. Dollarhyde was a tailor of Tipton soon after.
Preston J. Friend built a log cabin near the same place, and William R. Rankin, Tipton’s first lawyer, soon after married and moved to a house built just north of the Palmer House. Jacob A. Haight built a frame house on the site of Mrs. Cynthia Sharp’s residence. Davison Lee, remembered for his peach brandy, built near and east of Michael Shaffer’s present residence, just east of town.
William Cummins soon separated from partnership with John Culbertson, and built a frame house near the site of Perrien Dean’s store, on the north side of Court Square, third door east from the corner. There he opened a saloon, which was afterward sold to Wm. M. Knott.
In March, 1841, William H. Tuthill came to Tipton, and soon after purchased the store of John P. Cook, which he continued for about two years.
The next general store was that of Friend & Culbertson.
The following is a copy of the census of Tipton, taken by Edward M MacGraw, March, 1842, there then being thirty voters and ninety-four souls.
| John Culberston, wife, child and two hired girls | 5 |
| John P. Cook, Wm. K. Whittelsey, John McElroy, Dan’l Davis, P. M. Vickeer | 5 |
| Wm. H. Tuthill, John S. Tuthill, O.C. Ward, John R. McCurdy | 4 |
| Preston J. Friend, wife and three children | 5 |
| William R. Rankin, wife, child and Laura Kilborn | 4 |
| Charles M. Jennings, wife and three children | 5 |
| Davison Lee, wife and four children | 6 |
| John Finch, wife and eight children | 10 |
| Abraham Lett* and five children, Mrs. Abraham Lett and five children | 12 |
| Eleazer Huff, wife and Charles S. Ovett | 3 |
| Jacob A. Haight, wife and four children | 6 |
| George McCoy (Sheriff), wife and two children | 4 |
| William M. Knott, John Fleming, Bob Guinee, Jack Wink | 4 |
| Samuel Akers, wife and four children | 6 |
| Harvey G. Whitlock, wife and seven children | 9 |
| William A. Doty, wife and child | 3 |
| Dan Reed, Franklin Heywood and Doty’s other man | 3 |
| | 94 |
Harvey G. Whitlock was the first among the disciples of Galen to make his home at Tipton. He built a house on the site of Judge Tuthill’s office, and afterward moved to California.
A son of Jacob A. Haight—named Jacob Tipton Haight—was the first child born in Tipton, in 1841. John Tipton Culbertson, son of John Culbertson, was born soon after. Sallie Friend was the first girl born in the village.
In 1841, Charles M. Jennings built the hotel known as the Fleming House. Several other small buildings were put up as residences about that time, and the village began to assume form.
In 1841, John J. Tomlinson built a small house on the site of Mrs. H. M. Dowd’s residence. Eleazer Huff built a house in the same year on the site of Perrien Dean’s residence.
The building of the Jail and Court house is referred to in another place.
In 1840, George McCoy built a house and planted a cottonwood tree on the east side, in the dooryard, in the same year. This tree is now of gigantic size, and well known by all. It is located at the corner of Sixth and Cedar streets, near S. D. Casad’s office.
*Abraham Lett’s first wife died Oct. 9, 1841, being the first death occurring in Tipton, and he married the widow Southern on the 20th of January, 1842.
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In 1841, John S. Tuthill built a house for Wm. H. Tuthill, near his present residence.
Addison I. Gillett opened a store, about 1843, in the room built by William Cummins. He remained here until his death, a number of years later.
Those in Tipton at that time will remember “Bob Guinee,” the fiddler who came in 1838, and, later, delighted to ‘tend saloon while Bill Knott, then Deputy Sheriff, would be absent on business. There he would sit and drink and fiddle, and fiddle and drink, until he was powerless to watch the saloon, when customers would help themselves without price.
The first harness maker in Tipton was John A. Sangston, who came in 1842, and left after a short time; and, in 1848, Austin Parsons came and has continued in the harness business from that to the present time. He and John Godden, the plasterer and stone mason, are among Tipton’s oldest mechanics.
E. M. MacGraw was the first wagon maker in Tipton. He was followed in that trade by John S. Tuthill, in 1841, by Robert Evans and by S. A. Bagley, who settled near the south county line, in 1838; moved to Center Township in 1844, and to Tipton, as wagon maker, five years later.
The “Tonine” was a small building put up by John Culbertson as a bar room, and afterward used as the Clerk’s office when Culbertson was appointed District Clerk, and as post office when J. C. Betts was Postmaster.
Dr. Richard Hall opened his drug store in 1847, having been in practice there since 1844, and continued until the California fever.
In 1845, A. I. Gillett had the only general store in Tipton. Two years later, Friend & Culberston opened their store.
In 1847, Alonzo Shaw, who came in 1845, and Col. Lockwood Smith bought the hotel of John Culbertson, and carried it on until 1850, when it was sold to Samuel Tomlinson.
William Morton, brother of A. P. Morton, now of Center Township, opened a store, about 1847, in a two-story building built by Tuthill & Cook, the upper story of which was used as their office. This building was afterward used for many years as a store room, and torn down by John Whan to make room for Whan & Adams new brick store, in 1876. Morton sold to Alonzo Shaw and George Bagley, in 1852.
In 1849, Willard Hammond, who had been at Cedar Bluffs, came to Tipton and opened a general store. This he continued until his death, February 21, 1864. His family are now prominent citizens of Tipton and elsewhere.
About 1851, Friend & Culbertson built the first brick store building in Tipton, the long building on the northeast corner of the block west of Court square.
In 1837, Charley Swetland came to Cedar County and first settled at Rochester. He went to California in 1853, and returned the same year. Immediately after, he built Virgin Block, on the northwest corner of the block, south of Court square. The firm of Kizer, Crew & Turner began business in this building with a general stock.
In 1854, Charley Swetland began the brick building just south of the old Friend & Culbertson building, now Fleming & Van Ness’ store, but sold to Shaw & Bagley who completed it. Swetland then built the “Block & Wallace” building on the southwest corner of the block, north of Court square.
Charley Swetland started the Advertiser in November, 1853.
A plain, unvarnished statement of occurrences is sufficient to show what activity and enterprise this well-known man displayed. He afterward failed and went to Corinne, Utah, where he died. One old friend says: “He was a whole-souled, rattle-brained, jolly, go-ahead man—the friend of every one.”
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The Cedar County Advertiser was issued first, November 12, 1853. A notice of it will appear in the Press chapter.
In its first number the following business cards and items, illustrative of Tipton at that date, were found:
Attorneys at Law—Wm. H. Tuthill, S. A. Bissell, Wells Spicer, H. C. Piatt, S. S. Daniels, John Huber, A. F. Brown (Rochester). Justice of the Peace—Robert M. Long. Physicians—(Dr. S. B. Grubbs had been here previously), Reynolds & Turner, C. L. Chambers (who came June 6, 1850, and has practiced to the present date), H. W. Ross (Rochester, now in Oregon), Dr. N. Green (Rochester), W. A. Piatt, J. W. Creese (Eclectic), D. S. Martin (Botanic). General Merchants –Friend & Culbertson, W. Hammond & Co., Shaw & Bagley, Addison I. Gillett, C. D. Davis (Rochester), Green & McNaughton (Rochester), Wm. Baker (Rochester), N. C. Swank (Rochester), Elias Shawber (Cedar Bluff), David Platner (Pioneer, now Peets’ Mill). Grocers—Thomas W. Harrass, John Weaver. Druggists—Aaron Gilbert, Mustoe Chambers & Son, Nathaniel Baker (Rochester). Hardware and Tin Shop—S. P. Daniels. Tailors—I. N. Magee, M. Lyon (Rochester). Boots and Shoes—John H. Dickson, C. F. Breithaupt (Rochester). Wagon Makers—Robert Evans, S. A. Bagley. Blacksmiths—Aaron Peabody, Robt. H. Adams.
An article in the Advertiser of Nov. 19, 1853, says:
Tipton is a village containing between 600 and 700 inhabitants, situated in the geographical center of the county. Its citizens are moral and industrious. It can boast of one select school, by Miss Kate Bissell, and two public schools with competent and experienced teachers. It can further boast of three churches, three hotels, eleven stores, a steam mill, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one saddler’s shop, two shoe shops, a tin shop, etc.
The following are the market reports:
Wheat, 55 to 60 cents; Rye, 40; Corn, 20; Oats, 18 ¾; Potatoes, 15; Beans, 50; Onions, 40; Hams, 8; Bacon, 10; Eggs, 10; Butter, 15; Tallow, 10; Lard, 10; Flour, per barrel, $5.00; Buckwheat, $2.00; Salt, per bushel, 60; Corn Meal, 40; Dried Peaches, $2.50; Dried Apples, $1.25; Green Apples, $1.25; Hay, per ton, $2.50; Beef, per pound, 5 to 6; Pork, per pound, 5 to 6; Hides, dry 7, green 3.
The following Justices are named:
Polk Township—Wm. P. Dillon, David Sloper. Pioneer township—Nelson Rathbun, David Platner. Cass Township—J. Baldwin, R. P. McCurdy. Linn Township—W. A. Rigby, A. Thompson. Center Township—R. M. Long, R. N. Taylor. Springfield Township—J. B. Huff, W. C. Hoskins. Rochester Township—J. Lindsey, J. D. Walker. Sugar Creek Township—B. W. Wall, A. C. Barrick. Iowa Township—D. W. Hoy, E. Schooley. Springdale Township—Thos. James.
In August, 1854, W. H. Hammond, known as “the tinner”, opened a hardware store, while Crees & Starr occupied the old frame Friend & Culbertson building with a stock of drugs and groceries. Much general improvement was made in this year, the size of Tipton having increased one-fourth.
In 1855 Shaw & Bagley sold out to Kiser, Crew & Turner, and bought the corner where now are located the buildings of J. L. Rowell and J. W. Tuthill. On the corner, in 1857, Harry and George Bagley and Alonzo Shaw built a three-story brick building, which was sold to McNamara, and subsequently destroyed by fire.
The Advertiser, January, 1855, contained the following notice:
I will present to any one about to be married by me, a valuable book. ~ ~ REV. WM. BAGLEY
The next week appears the following:
I will make a present of a young pointer pup to each groom about to be married by me after this date. ~ ~ WM. M. KNOTT, ESQ.
The latter was then Justice of the Peace and did not propose to let the ministry get ahead of him in the matrimonial trade.
Samuel Tomlinson built the brick store building east of Block & Wallace, in 1855, and the building three doors east now owned by the Co-operative Association, about the same time.
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In 1856, Orson Childs built the brick building owned by Perrien Dean, and it was occupied by E. Childs & Co., grocers.
The Dew Drop Lodge, I.O.G.T, was organized September 14, 1855.
Among the business men not yet mentioned, were L. B. Jones, blacksmith; George Harrass, “Railroad Bazaar;” John Weaver, grocer; I. N. McGee, tailor of 1854. Carter & Fell, dry goods; Mrs. Van Houton, milliner; Goewey, Dudley & Co., furniture; Pittenger & Wheeler, general stock; Warren Wate, baker; William Elliott, clothier and tailor, and James Myer, Jr. & Co., hardware, were business men of 1865.
In November, 1856, Manby & Ingman began as clothiers, in the new building built by Sam Tomlinson. Casad & Gilmore opened their “Great Western Clothing Emporium” in September, 1856; and in 1857, bought out Manby & Ingman, and entered their present business room, where they have remained in the same business to the present date—twenty-two years.
In 1857, William Bagley built the brick building on the south side of Court square, and opened a furniture store.
Soon after, J. L. Ray & Co., general merchants, with L. D. Durbin, built the brick building on the west side of the block north of Court square.
Those were the days of Tipton’s great prosperity, when hopes of rapid growth promised fair; but railroads to the right of them, railroads to the left of them, and everywhere except through Tipton, were a “damper” to the great expectations.
At that time, Tipton claimed as great a population as it now has. Then there were four hotels, and from the notice of business firms it will be seen that there was much business activity.
The new school house had been built and the Court House was in prospect. R. F. Carter had begun the millinery business in 1856; John H. Bierley and Henry C. Latham established a lumber business in the same year; George Tritch succeeded Samuel Tomlinson & Co. in the hardware business; James L. Rowell established the jewelry store, which he has continued to this time; Reigart & McNamara, druggists; F. P. & H. Dean, boots and shoes; C. H. Millhouse, harness dealer; Parsons & Muzzy, harness dealers—were all in business in 1857.
Many new and, then, elegant residences had been erected. The new jail was completed in 1857.
The Cedar County Mock Legislature was an institution of much prominence at this time. We find accounts of the staid and sober old citizens of to-day then mocking General Legislative proceedings with much mirth and hilarity.
A few years later, came the rumbling sounds of war.
The Tipton Guards had been organized in 1857; and the Union Home Guards were organized Saturday, July 18, 1863—J. W. Kynett, Captain; J. D. Mitchell, First Lieutenant; J. W. Casad, Second Lieutenant.
The Loyal League of Center Township was organized, and the “Hoss Marines” was the euphonic title under which an opposition company was organized, whose Captain does not at this time feel overpoweringly elated when reminded of the exploits and prowess of the “Hoss Company” then under this command.
Later, Post No. 8 of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Soldiers’ Aid Society and the “Union Glee Club” were prominent features of Tipton. A liberty pole, eighty feet in height, was erected in Court square, July 2, 1863.
Then came the news along the wires of the assassination of President Lincoln. Tipton was draped in mourning. The Advertiser appeared with black column and head rules.
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After peace was restored, the people of Tipton settled down to their stores and trades, and their prosperity since has been even and continuous, marked by but few occasions of special importance. Railroad matters—regarding which, Tipton folks are inclined to be cautious and skeptical—are referred to in another chapter.
