In February of 1884 a creamery was completed in Tipton a block north of the depot on low ground known as the Spring. The owners were Messrs. Holt & Hall of Osceola, Iowa.
A Tipton Times reporter was invited to witness the starting of the engine and machinery and wrote a report in the February 14, 1884 issue of the paper, which is excerpted here:
The creamery is a large one-story frame building 36 x 44 feet on the ground. It is provided with two sets of windows in order to preserve equally of temperature. The office, 9 x 14 is in the southwest corner of the building and is warmed by coils of steam pipes communicating with the boiler. Immediately adjoining the office, is the cream room, 14 x 25, where the cream '.5 emptied from the wagons into a large vat, This room is always kept at a temperature just sufficient to make the cream churn rapidly.
The churn room is 9 x 34 feet. In this room two large churns are drawn by belts. These churns are oblong boxes and will hold a hundred gallons each.
The churning of one filling can be done in less than 10 minutes.
After the butter "comes" the buttermilk is drawn off from the churns, and salt water introduced, when the churns are set revolving again till the butter is thoroughly washed.
Then it is placed upon the revolving butter worker and run under the fluted conical rollers till every particle of water is separated.
The butter is then stored in the refrigerators of which there are two, each large enough to store a carload of butter.
Each church can make 200 pounds of butter at one churning. 2,500 pounds of butter can be made in one day.
In the engine room are located the engine and boilers. Here, also is a large tank heated by steam where, cans and buckets can be rinsed after being thoroughly scalded by steam. Steam pipes, are arranged in every part of the creamery where an even temperature, is necessary to be preserved.
In short everything requisite for the manufacture of the great staple, is arranged with unparalleled perfection even to the minutest detail.
Everything about the place is kept scrupulously neat and clean, and no rubbish or bad smell will be allowed to contaminate the atmosphere and communicate a disagreeable odor to the butter.
The icehouse is 36 x 44 feet, the same size as the mechanical department. We have the good luck to have this building stored with good pure ice amounting to several hundred tons, sufficient to carry on the business for two years, even should the ice crop fail next winter.
Everything is now in readiness for business and naught remains but to gather up the cream and go to work. Our farmers will find it to their advantage and profit to dispose of their cream for ready cash, without the trouble and risk always attendant upon home butter making.
Another business begun in Tipton in this time period was the Grevillot's Bakery located two doors east of the then City Hotel (now Hotel Tipton). All kinds of breads, cakes, pastries, and candies were sold over the counter, and also house to house delivery was made daily. In the early 1900's a loaf of white bread sold for nine cents. Bread chips were also given and used much the same as bonus gifts and trading stamps of modern days.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Grevillot, Sr. and their children came to Tipton from Alsace Lorraine, France via Bowling Green, Missouri. The bakery was begun shortly after 1892. After the death of the Senior Grevillots, their son, Charles Jr. and his wife, the former Mary Helen Ketterlin, operated the bakery until about 1934.
Reports from several parties have recently reached this office that people have had chickens, lumber, wood, and other articles stolen from their premises during their absence from home.
Parties who prefer to steal rather than to engage in honorable work should be forced to face a firing squad. They'll visit the wrong home some night and be brought home for burial with their boots on and as a result, the town and community will be a made a safer place to live.
P.J. Claas Hardware Store
Mr. Claas often told the story of a young stranger who came to his store and inquired about a man who lived out in the country. This man came to town only once or twice a year so he was considered a hermit. Mr. Claas agreed to take the young man out to see the hermit. The young stranger turned out
to be Thomas Edison who was having trouble perfecting a durable phonograph needle. For some reason, he thought the "hermit" could help Shortly after his visit here, Thomas Edison marketed his phonograph. The "hermit's" name has been forgotten! (Photo courtesy of Geneva Hainen.)
Tipton Shoe Manufacturing Company
The Tipton Shoe Manufacturing Company was organized in 1894 by John Schmidt, William Schmidt, Joseph Sommerhauser, and William Franken. It faced the north-south branch line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad on the northeast corner of Morgan Street and Missouri Avenue. After operating only five years, the factory burned in October 1899.