History Of Tipton, KS


History of Tipton, Kansas One hundred years have come and gone since our forefathers built their first homes and businesses here. Let us pause and look back to some of ‘our’ beginnings. A letter published in the Beloit Gazette in August 1872 states that the town of Tipton, then called Pittsburg, had the town laid out, 4 or 5 residents and a large storehouse of “dry goods and groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, queens ware, hats and clothing, while farmers can buy all the implements they need, from a wagon or reaper to a sewing machine” and was run by the Sternberg Bros. Also “Through the public spirit of Messers Mackley, Pitt and McCreery and others a neat $1,000 school house will soon go up in Pittsburg.” William Augustus Pitt, with his family, emigrated to Mitchell County, Kansas, where he homesteaded the quarter section lying just east of Tipton in 1871. This place is the present Herman Hake place. He was appointed postmaster in 1872. Early in 1872 Peter Jacobs came to inspect the territory and returned to Caledonia, Minnesota, with a favorable report.
	During the summer a group of folks with 10 covered wagons lumbered in from Iowa. Names of some of the men were: Chris Reinking, Fred Sackhoff, J.F. Stunberg, Hans Paulson, Chas. Brinkman, Claus Guhn, Albert Lonville, Fritz Witte, Fred Seavy, John Doyle, Bill Paddy, Fredrick Ahlvers and C.M. Siedel. Later in the fall the group from Minnesota came with Peter Jacobs. They included: Nick Arnoldy, Sr., Frank Mergen, Matt Ellenz, William Swinden, Nick Gasper (single), Philip Schroeder, John Beck, John Elser, Mike Cordel, John Cordel, and Mrs. Catherine Reinert. Also here from the start: Hubert Konzem, Andrew Seright, Charles. Fass, Matt and Pete Lutgen, Arnoldy Bros. and Urban Steichen. The first store was on the farm now occupied by the Edmund Cordels east of Tipton, then called the old Porter homestead, and later known as the Mergen place. In November 1872, the original town company was organized with Fred Sackhoff as president; W.A. Pitt as treasurer; and J.F. Stunberg as secretary. The Platt was not recorded until May 5, 1877; although named in 1872.
	NEXT>>

Thursday, August 9, 200111:33:54 AM