My Genealogy Hound

JOHN W. TIPTON, attorney-at-law, Minden, Kearney county, is a native of Westminster, Md., and was born October 11, 1830. He comes of Southern parentage, his father, mother and grandparents having been natives also of Maryland, but his stock came originally from Virginia. Ammon Tipton, his father, lived always in his native state, dying there in 1863, and being buried in the city of Baltimore. His mother survived her husband some years, died in 1875 at the home of her son, the subject of this sketch, in Northfield, Ind., and was there buried. Only two children survive of this union. These are Mrs. Emily J. Knotts, a widow of Richmond, Va., and John W., the subject of this biographical notice.

John W. Tipton was reared in his native place, getting what education he received from his attendance at an old log school house near the old home place. He began the active pursuits of life as a blacksmith’s apprentice and followed the trade for a number of years after reaching maturity. He came West in 1849, located in Indiana, and in 1851 married Miss Betsy Ann Hickson, daughter of Wesley and Marquette Hickson, of Northfield, Ind. He lost his estimable wife in 1856, she leaving surviving her three children — Melissa (now deceased); Edward P., and Anna, now wife of Frank Vance, of Jasper county, Ill. He married again in 1860 — his second wife being Miss Elmira Caldwell, of Kokomo, Ind. Eight children have been born to this union — Ida, Dora, John W., Jessie, Henry, Burt, Roy and Claude.

Judge Tipton came to Nebraska in 1880 and settled in Kearney county. Taking a homestead at that date, he began farming and was so engaged for some years. Having read law in Indiana and been admitted to the bar, he moved into Minden after he had proved up on his homestead and entered upon the practice of his profession. He retains his farming interests, still owning the homestead where he settled, which he now has in a splendid state of cultivation. He takes much interest in agricultural pursuits, being thoroughly in sympathy with every movement looking to the improvement of the condition of the farmer. He is also identified with the best interests of the town of Minden, where he lives, entering zealously into every enterprise of a public nature, and giving liberally in proportion to his means for the encouragement of them all. In recent years he has given his time and attention mainly to the practice of his profession, having built up a large and lucrative practice. He is a hard worker, and watchful of the interest of his clients. As a lawyer,his main forte lies in his strong common sense and the practical methods he brings to bear in the management of his cases. He is a searching examiner of witnesses and an effective speaker before a jury. Having been born, reared and passed the most of his life among the great body of the common people, he knows their wants thoroughly and understands the motives by which they are actuated, being in full sympathy with them in all things. As a gentleman he is pleasant, genial and affable, and has a host of friends. The only public position of any consequence that he ever held was that of postmaster at Northfield, Ind., some years before he moved to Nebraska. In politics he is a republican, a stanch supporter of the principles of his party, and an able expounder of its principles.