The first house in Tipton was built by Elizabeth Charles Andrews. She purchased lot #83 from William Tipton Seely for $75 in March, 1858. During the Civil War, her house was used as a hospital. In later years, this house was moved and James Chamberland built a two-story house on the site at the corner of Morgan and Moreau Streets. Lary Petty now owns this Andrews house, which is located on West Cooper Street. In 1967, the Proctor Lumber Company had the Chamberland house razed and made lot #83 into a parking area.

The June 21, 1877 Tipton Times mentioned this first house: "The first attempt, it does not matter in what reference, generally causes interest from the step taken by the child to the first building built in countries new. The first dwelling with which Tipton was blest was that of Mrs. Andrews, who gave to horse and man rest and food.

by Susan Swarner Fischer

In north of Tipton stands a large brick house which for over 100 years has been an important landmark. In 1858 Rose Hill Seminary was established by Mr. and Mrs. Williams. The 17-room building was built by the Petty brothers with red bricks fired at Round Hill. Day pupils as well as boarding pupils attended the school. Several Tipton people have ancestors who studied at the seminary. Among the students at Rose Hill Seminary were Alice Howard Williams, Minerva Chism Hood, Seralda Pulley, Calpurnia Alexander McVean, Nan Robertson, and Annie Martin, one of the first primary teachers in Tipton. With the start of the Civil War, the Williams returned to their native south and the school was closed.

During the Civil War, General John C. Fremont established headquarters for the Union Army of Missouri in Tipton. For a brief time he made his own headquarters in the house.

In 1869 two brothers, John and Frailey Gleim, came to Tipton from St. Louis and purchased the house. They asked their widowed sister, Mrs. Anna Maclay, to come and set up housekeeping for them. In the next few years they were joined by their four widowed sisters and a bachelor brother, all of whom came to Tipton from Pennsylvania: Mrs. Elizabeth McCulloh Mrs. Ellen Brown, Mrs. Emma Adams, Mrs. Adela Douthitt, and Harrison A. Gleim. At this time the home became known as the "Gleim Mansion."

The Gleim sisters were affectionately known as the "Aunties" and were prominent in the religious, social, and civic life of the community. Each year the Aunties showed their love for the children of the town by giving them a Christmas party in their home's large dining room. A large decorated tree held gifts and cookies for all.

John and Frailey Gleim, along with their nephew, James B. Maclay, bad a small store near the site of Tipton, perhaps Round Hill. The Pacific Railroad (later known as the Missouri Pacific) was being built westward and it was believed that the little settlement known as Tipton would be a good location for a general merchandise store, so, they moved their store to the present-day location of Tipton. In 1863, they were joined by another nephew, Cyrus C. Maclay, and the business became known as Maclay and Co., one of the largest and most popular stores in Central Missouri. Maclay and Co. advertised that they carried everything from pins and needles to threshing machines.

In 188,0 a new building was built as a store by Maclay and Co. It was located where The Tipton Times office and the Rexall Drugstore are today. According to the May 6, 1880 Tipton Times, "It will be a commodious structure, 60' x 60', to which additions will be subsequently built facing Moniteau Street for 150 feet." And in the September 15, 1880 edition of The Tipton Times: "Maclay and Co.'s new brick block is going up with a hurrah. It is a credit alike to the firm, the town, and the Petty brothers, builders." The block on which the store was located soon became known as the Maclay Block.

After the older generation had died, Cyrus C. Maclay and his wife, Laura Isabel Miller Maclay of Tipton, returned to their ancestral home with their children, Martha, Laura, Edgar, Eleanor, William and Dorothy.

Fascinating tales have been told about the "Maclay Home." Among them is the story of the "bushwhackers" who set the house on fire during the Civil War. Another incident was when the female students at Rose Hill Seminary placed their slates on the stair steps at night to alert them to any soldiers who might be approaching. Of course, a false alarm was given and the girls ran down the steps breaking their own slates.

The fifth and sixth generations of Maclays now maintain the home and carry on the family traditions. Affectionately referred to as the "Old Home" by the family, its heritage is a cherished possession of each family member. In addition, the stately red brick home holds a significant place in the history and life of Tipton.

The Homfeldt Home

This 13-room, three story home was built in 1860 by a Mr. Burchard. In 1866 it was made into a "girls" boarding school called "Hackers". Mr. John Thompson Hirst bought the home from a Mr. Stearns in 1902. In 1908 John H. Homfeldt, Sr., bought the home and 62 acres of farmland with a 21/2 acre yard. The home is now owned by John H. Homfeldt, Jr., and family.