|
|
The 19th Century Ends...In 1891, the residents of Tipton were thinking of future generations as this report from The Tipton Times of September 24 shows: FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS On Friday last a tin box containing a variety of documents was sealed up in the iron column that supports the southeast corner of the Bank of Tipton building, that will be interesting to those who open it in the future. The following is a list of its contents: History of the Bank of Tipton; history of the Christian, Catholic, Presbyterian and Baptist churches, of the City of Tipton and of the Tipton public school with a list of the pupils enrolled this term, a communication to the citizens of the city when the box is opened, list of train men on the Boonville branch, the saloons of Tipton; a bird's eye view of Tipton in 1869; communications from the following people: Bluford Woodrum, A.E. Znkschwerdt, W.M. Ferguson, Maclay & Co., W.H. Henritz, S.W. Hurst, A.C. Orrick of St. Louis, C.F. Bauer, H.H. Bauer, Mrs. Adela G. Douthitt, S. Cohn, Gus. Dueber, Allen Thomas, J. Wilbur Jones, G.L. Hoehn, L.M. Culler, Geo. R. Kiester and Co., Annan, Burg & Co., W.T. Redmon, Chas. Steinkraus, Adam Roth Grocery Co., of St. Louis, Green Martin, Drumm & Gayman, Alex Mutchier, Joseph Evans; Bane & Rucker, Chas. Biggs, Ed. Hardin, T.S. Moore, I.S. Ferguson, Sr., Louis Sunkel, Fry & Cole, Judge J.M. Boyd, Renshaw &t Hermann, W.P. Tooley, Mrs. Ellen Brown, Otto Presser, A.P. Fitschen, Jno. P. Fisher, Oscar H. Machine Co., Hazes & Tracy Importers, St. Louis Fair of 1891, Sligo Iron, Co., Cen. Mo. Fair Association for 1891, and the Mo. Pacific Railroad Company. Also copies of the following papers: The Elite News of Chicago, Marshall Democrat-News, The Tipton Times, California Democrat, Newspaper and Herald, St. Louis Republic and Globe-Democrat, Versailles Leader and Democrat, Boonville Advertiser, Democrat, Republican, Item and Star, Sedalia Gazette and Bazoo, Pilot Grove Leader, Columbia Herald, and several lithographs. There were no ceremonies, but the box was securely covered with brick and it is interesting to speculate upon the conditions that will exist when these archives are again brought to light of day. How many who read this will be on the earth? (Editor's note: As far as anyone knows, this box has never been located and opened.) In August 1899, William Jennings Bran, a three-time candidate for President of the United States, came to Tipton. He appeared in front of the school building on East Morgan Street and addressed "The largest audience ever seen in Tipton." The Times reported, "People came in on excursion trains, rode horseback, drove in wagons and buggies, crowding all the streets in town with these vehicles." William Jennings Bryan was the Democratic candidate for President in 1896, 1900 and 1908. In 1900, P.F. Ross, a Tipton photographer, captured the citizens, homes, and businesses of Tipton with his camera and published the "Illustrated Book of the City of Tipton, Missouri, 1900." The inside cover of the front page reads: CITY OF TIPTON "Tipton is a city of 1,750 inhabitants situated in the central part of Missouri, County of Moniteau, on the Missouri Pacific railroad. Tipton has a graded public school which articulates with the State University. It has seven churches. A number of general stores, two good hotels, two livery stables, four drug stores, two restaurants, three millinery stores, two papers, one harness shop and one butcher shop. Tipton has a telephone exchange of 75 phones connected with all the surrounding towns. It has the best railroad facilities of any town of its size in the state, the J.C.B. and L. and the main line passing through it. For an up to date town you will find Tipton one in every way. The country around it is good, this being shown by the great number of prosperous farmers." One of the advertisements carried by this book was for the New York Racket Store, the "Greatest Bargain House In Central, Mo." The ad stated, "We don't keep anything but sell everything. OUR MOTTO: 'Under buy, Under sell. Spot Cash.' J.W. Dawkins, Manager, Tipton, Mo. Some of the other advertisers were: C.H. Snorgrass, a dealer in harness, saddles, and saddlery goods; Hickman & Hirst, General Merchandise: "Highest Market Price Paid for Country Produce"; J.W. Cole, a veterinary surgeon who "Treats diseased stock in a scientific manner"; W.M. Jonson, Lawyer and Notary Public; Alva White, the Butcher who had "Fresh and Salted Meats, Fresh Fish on Fridays"; Mrs. H.M. Ellis, Exclusive Millinery; the Tipton Missouri Mail, J.M. Norris: "It's job work is unexcelled"; and the West End Bazaar, Miss Cora Stinger, who had... "the most fashionable millinery goods, up to date hats and trimmings..." Several Sedalia stores also advertised including Cannon's Grand Central which paid railroad fare round trip to anyone from Moniteau County who purchased $10 and over. In 1910 Tipton built a municipal light plant. Bonds in the amount of $17,500 were voted for its construction. The plant operated only from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily except on Thursdays. On Thursday, the plant continued operation until noon so people with electric irons could the family's ironing.01n 1920, the citizens voted to sell the plant to H.K. Porter of California who began operating the plant on a 24-hour basis. World War I did not affect Tipton so directly as World War II 20 years later. Still, young men from Tipton were sent to Europe "to make the world safe for democracy." Edgar Cole was this area's first casualty. He died November, 1918 at St. Naxire Hospital in France. The American Legion Post was named in his honor. |
|