AMONG the pioneers of Indiana few did a grander work than John Tipton. He was a great man in the council and in the field, and no history of the State can be written without honorable mention of his name. Many of his leading characteristics were inherited from his father, Joshua Tipton, who, born in Maryland, emigrated to East Tennessee, where he became a man of note and influence. He was well acquainted with Indian character, and led many a foray against the hostile Cherokees. He thus became an object of hatred to the wily savages, and on the 18th of April, 1793, was waylaid and murdered by them. It was from the loins of such a man that John Tipton sprang.

John Tipton, the subject of this sketch, was born in Sevier county, Tennessee, August 14, 1786. From a child he was used to the ways of the Indian. He knew his habits, his treachery, and his savageness. He could trail him like Chingachgook or circumvent him like Pathfinder. The Indian murdered Joshua Tipton, and John Tipton felt it his duty to avenge his father's death. And inexorably he did it. Many an Indian bit the dust at the command of John Tipton's rifle, and many a pioneer's home was saved from savage incursion by a healthy dread of the same terrible weapon.

When John Tipton had reached his majority he was known in the section where he lived as a man of untiring industry and of unquestioned courage. He became dissatisfied with his condition and opportunities, and determined to leave Tennessee and find a home in the territory northwest of the river Ohio. With him to determine was to act, so in the fall of 1807 he left Tennessee with his mother and her family, and came to Indiana. He settled in Harrison county, near Brinley's Ferry, on the Ohio river, and for many years made that place his home. Buying fifty acres of land, which he mainly paid for with money earned by splitting rails and clearing ground-for his neighbors, he commenced the battle of life anew. In a short time he was the acknowledged leader of his neighborhood when leadership was required, and when it became necessary to organize the good people to drive out the horse-thieves and counterfeiters with which it was infested he was put in the van. They left the neighborhood without a fight, for when he told them they must go or take the consequences, they well knew what it meant.

In the summer of 1809 a military company called the " Yellow Jackets " was formed near young Tipton's home, of which -he became a member. It was commanded by Captain -Spier Spencer, and was designed for active service should the necessity occur. On the 10th of September, 181l, the company entered upon the campaign that culminated in the battle of Tippecanoe and the rout of the army under the Shawanee prophet. The young soldier kept a journal of this campaign, and it, with a journal of his trip to Indianapolis to locate the State capital, is in the possession of Mr. John H. Holliday, of Indianapolis. These journals are written upon common writing paper, folded and stitched, and are yellow with age. On the front page of that giving an account of the Tippecanoe campaign are these words:

“Steal Not this Book for fear of Shame, for here you see the Owner's Name."

At the end of the journal is this certificate of its authenticity, written in General Tipton's own hand:

"This Day Book kept During the Campane in the year wherein His Excellency Governor Harrison was Commander in Chief and Col. J. B. Boyd of the 4th United States Regiment was Second in Command Everything therein Stated the Subscriber holds himself Ready to make appear to Bee fact from the Best information could be Had as it was duly kept by himself.

JOHN TIPTON.”

On a page at the back of the journal are these lines:

“Young major Dark received a wound,            Just by his father's side, Those feebIe hands shall be Revenged            For my son's death he cry'd And like a man distracted            Out of the lines he flew And like a bold Virgin-i-an            A savage there he Slew.”

      The journal begins as follows:

      “An acompt of the march and encampment of the riflemen of harrison County I. T. Commanded by Capt Spencer, consisting of 47 men, besides officers in Company with Capt. R. M. heath, with 22 men.”

      It commences Thursday, September 12, 1811, and ends Sunday, November 24, 1811, a period of seventy-three days. It gives a minute and particular account of everything that occurred under his notice during the time it covers, and is, perhaps, the fullest narrative in existence of the campaign it describes.
      The battle of Tippecanoe was fought November 7, 1811, and I copy the entries in General Tipton's journal narrating the events of the day preceding the battle, the day of the battle and the day after. They are as follows:

      “wednesday the 6 a verry Cold day we moved earley a Scout sent out they Came back had seed indian sines. We marched as usel till 12. Our Spies caught four horses and seed some indians. Stopt in a prairie the foot throwd all their napsacks in the waggons. we formed in order for Battle -- marched 2 miles then formed the line of Battle we marched in 5 lines on the extreme Right. went into a Cornfield then up to the above town and surrounded it they met us Pled for Peace they said they would give us satisfaction in the morning. All the time we ware there they kept hollowing. This town is on the west side of wabash--miles above Vincinnis on the Second Bank neat built about 2 hundred yards from the river. This is the main town, but it is scattering a mile long all the way a fine Cornfield, after the above moovement we mooved one mile farther up. Campd in timber between a Creek and Prairie after crossing a fine Creek and marching 11 miles.
      “Thursday the 7 agreeble to their promised. Last night we ware answered by the firing of guns and the Shawnies Breaking into our tents a blood Combat Took Place at Precisely 15 minutes before five in the morning which lasted two hours and 20 minutes of a continewel firing while many times mixed among fhe Indians so that we Could not tell the indians and our men apart. they kept up a firing on three sides of us took our tent from the gueard fire. Our men fought Brave and By the timely help of Capt Cook with a company of infantry we maid a charge and drove them out of the timber across the prairie. Our Loost in killed and wounded was 179 and theirs graiter than ours, among the Dead was our Capt Spier Spencer and first Lieutenant mcmahan and Captain Berry that had been attached to our company and 5 more killed Dead and 15 wounded. after the indians gave ground we Burned our Dead. Among the Kentuckians was killed mayj Owen and mayj Davis badly wounded and a number of others in all killed and wounded was 179 but no company suffered like ours, we then held an Election for officers. I was Elected Capt, Saml. Flanagan first Lieut and Jacob Zenor second Lieut and Philip Bell Ensign. we then built Breastworks our men in much confusion, our flower been too small and all our beeve lost. Last night onley half Rations of whisky and no corn for our horses, my horse killed I got mcmahans to Ride. 37 of them had been killed wounded and lost last night. I had one quart of whisky.
      “Friday the 8th a cloudy Day and last night was also wet and cold, we Lay all night at our Breastwork fire in the morning Spies sent out found the indians had Left their town, the horsemen was all sent to burn the town. We went and found grait Deal of Corn and Some Dead indians in the houses, loaded 6 waggons with Corn and Burnt what was Estimated at 2 thousand Bushels and 9 of our men Died last night.”

The journal closes on the 24th of November, the day General Tipton reached his home. He describes that event in these words.

      “Sunday the 24th a Cloudy and Rainy morning we moved Early Came to Corrydon at half past ten. I staid two hours and half tobk Breakfast mooved up to Coonrod's found my Lt and sick man. Staid 2 hours had my horses fed got some whisky, met one of my neighbors, mooved again and at 2 o'clock got safe Home after a campaign of 74 days. John Tipton.”

      It was reported by a member of General Harrison's staff that while the battle of Tippecanoe was raging, and after the death of Captain Spencer and his lieutenants, General Harrison rode up, and, addressing Ensign Tipton, asked where was his captain. “Dead, sir,” replied the ensign. “' Your first lieutenant?” “Dead, sir.” “Your second lieutenant?' 'Dead, sir. “Your ensign!” “He stands before you.” “Hold your position, my brave lad, a little longer, and I will send you assistance.” General Tipton says nothing, about this incident in his journal, but nevertheless it may be true, as his modesty might have prevented him from recording it; but I think the probabilities are that it rests on no better foundation than the current gossip of the camp.
      After the Tippecanoe campaign had ended General Tipton arose, by regular gradation, until he became a brigadier-general in the military service of the State. It may be mentioned that in 1813 he piloted Captain Dunn's company of rangers through the wilderness and in the same year acted as officer of the spies during the campaign to the Indian town on the West Fork of White river.
      At the first election under the State constitution General Tipton was elected Sheriff of Harrison county. He was afterward re-elected, and continued to discharge the duties of the office until August, 1819, when he was elected a representative to the State Legislature.
      On the 11th of January, 1820, the Legislature appointed George Hunt, John Conner, John Gilliland, Stephen Ludlow, Joseph Bartholomew, John Tipton, Jesse B. Durham, Frederick Rapp, William Prince and Thomas Emerson, commissioners to select and locate a new capital for the State. In General Tipton's journal, giving an account of his trip for this purpose, he says:

      “On Wednesday, the 17th of May, 1820, I set out from Corydon, in company with Governor Jennings. I had been appointed by the last Legislature one of the commissioners to select and locate a Site for the permanent seat of government of the State of Indiana. We took with us Bill, a black boy,” etc.

      He gives a very particular account of the journey to the house of William Conner, where the commissioners were to meet and qualify. The commissioners were divided in judgment between Conner's farm, the mouth of Fall creek (Indianapolis), and the Bluffs near Waverly. The Fall creek site was chosen, upon General Tipton's motion, as will be seen from the following extract from his journal:

      “Wednesday, 7th (June). A fine, clear morning. We met at McCormick's, and on my motion, the commissioners came to a resolution to select and locate sections numbered 11 and 12, and east and west fractional Sections numbered 2, and east fractional section 11, and so much off the east side of the west fractional section number 3 to be divided by a north and south line running perelled to the west boundary of said section, as will equal in amount 4 entire sections in t. 15, n. of R. 3, E. We left our clerk making out his minuets and our report and went to camp to dine. Returned after dinner. Our paper not being ready B. (General Bartholemew), D. (Colonel Durham) and myself returned to camp at 4; they went to sleep, and me to writing. At 5 we decamped and went over to McCormick's. Our clerk having his writing ready, the commissioners met and signed their report, and certified the service of the clerk. At 6:45 the first boat landed that ever was seen at the seat of government. It was a small ferry flat with a canoe tied alongside both loaded with the household goods of two families moving to the mouth of Fall creek. They came in a keel boat as far as they could get it up the river, then reloaded the boat and brought up their goods in the flat and canoe. I paid for some corn and w (whisky?) 62½.”

      During the nine years between the Tippecanoe campaign and the location of the State capital General Tipton had very much improved in composition, as is attested by his journals. The one recording his trip to Indianapolis and return is much more correctly written than the one giving an account of the Wabash campaign. He was a growing man, and he grew in ability to write, as well as in other things.
      In August, 1821, General Tipton was re-elected to the Legislature from his county. At the session following he was chosen a commissioner on the part of Indiana to meet a similar commissioner from Illinois to fix and locate the boundary between these States. The work was done the ensuing Summer, and the action of the commissioners ratified by the Legislature during the session of 1822-3.
      In March, 1823, General Tipton was appointed by President Monroe general agent for the Pottawattomie and Miami Indians in Northern Indiana. He at once removed to Fort Wayne, where the agency was located. In the spring of 1828, at his suggestion, the agency was removed from Fort Wayne to Logansport. In 1826, two years before his removal to Logansport, he was mainly instrumental in securing from the Indians valuable lands for public settlement.
      On the death of United States Senator James Noble, in February, 1831, Governor Ray appointed Robert Hanna to the vacancy. Soon after this appointment was made a movement was started to have the Legislature, when it met, elect General Tipton to the place. For some time he declined to allow his name to be used, but finally he gave way and became a candidate. The following letter, written to Dr. Stewart, of Delphi, will be read with interest:

“AT HOME, July 23, 1831.

"Dear Sir -- Your note of yesterday has been received, and in reply I have to inform you that I would greatly prefer remaining in the situation I now hold, as Indian agent, to any other that could be given me. I have many letters on this same subject, and am of opinion we should weigh well this matter before we act. If, after the election, it is found best to use a name, and mine is best (strongest), I will go with my friends for the cause and for our country; but believe me, that I am not seeking office, and will esteem it a sacrifice of peace and property to do this. My talent is not of the kind that I wish to see in the United States Senate.

JOHN TIPTON.”

      Such was General Tipton's hold upon the people of Indiana, and such their confidence in his integrity and wisdom, that, notwithstanding his opposition, he was elected in December, 1831, to fill out General Noble's term, and in 1833 he was elected for the full term of six years. Politically, he was a friend of General Jackson; but he opposed with all his power that great man in his warfare upon the Bank of the United States. He believed the bank a necessity, and its issues the best currency the people had ever had. When party stood in the way of conviction he put party aside.
      General Tipton took great interest in the material and educational affairs of Logansport, the town where he lived. On his removal there he took steps to organize the Eel River Seminary Society and to construct school-houses and raise money to pay teachers. He built saw and grist mills, and, in fact, was “the motive power that gave form and imparted energy to every movement calculated to improve society and induce progress toward the unfoldment and utilization of all the natural advantages with which Cass county has been and is so abundantly supplied.” He was the proprietor of additions to Logansport, and was interested with Mr. Carter in the original plat of the town. In 1838 he was given discretionary powers to remove the disaffected Indians west of the Mississippi river. He overcame many difficulties in this work and accomplished it with dispatch.
      General Tipton was twice married; the first time, about the year 1818, to Miss _______ Shields, who died in less than two years after their marriage. The second time was in April, 1825, to Matilda, daughter of Captain Spier Spencer, who was killed at the battle of Tippecanoe. The second Mrs. Tipton died at their residence in Logansport on the 14th of February, 1839, a few days prior to the close of her husband's senatorial career.
      The prestige of his name as a civilian and statesman, added to his fame as a military leader, did not completely fill his measure of honor. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and occupied a distinguished position in the order. He received the first degrees in Pisgah Lodge, No. 5, at Corydon, Indiana, in the year 1817. He was soon after elected Master, and as such represented that lodge at the first session of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, at which time he was elected Senior Grand Warden, holding that position until 1820, when he became Grand Master. Having served one term, he was again elected Grand Master in 1828. In 1822 he received the Chapter degrees at Louisville, Kentucky at the hands of Companion Snow, of Ohio. Subsequently he filled many important positions in the Grand Lodge, and was chiefly instrumental in the institution of Wayne Lodge, No. 25, at Fort Wayne, and Tipton Lodge, No. 33, at Logansport, Indiana, in 1828, and also of Logan Royal Arch Chapter, No. 2, at the latter place, in 1837, in all of which he achieved the highest honors.
      On the morning of April 5, 1839, having the day previous taken cold while superintending the proposed improvement of the extensive water privileges owned by him, after a few hours of apparently unconscious suffering, he died, in the meridian of life, honored and respected by all save the few who were unable to command his energies in behalf of what his judgment could not approve. He was buried with the honors of war and in accordance with the rites of his cherished order, on Sunday, April 7, 1839.
      General Tipton was an excellent judge of land, and .his opportunities were such that he was enabled to secure a large amount of the best in the State. He entered an extensive body in Bartholomew county, and donated sixty acres of it, where the city of Columbus now stands, to the county for the purpose of erecting public buildings. For awhile the county seat was called “Tiptonia,' in honor of General Tipton, but after awhile the county officers, who were not political friends of the General, changed the name to Columbus. This action of the officials of Bartholomew county was very ungenerous, and deeply touched General. Tipton. Afterward he took but little interest in the affairs of that county, and seldom or never visited its capital. He was entitled to the name, by reason of his public services and private liberality, and to take it from him after it had been bestowed was an insult not to be forgotten.
      There is an elevation on the bank of White river, at Columbus, probably one hundred feet high, which is known as “Tipton's Mound.” In early times it was called “Tipton's Knoll,” and the street leading to it was named Tipton street, but now “Knoll” has been changed to “Mound,” and Tipton street to Third street. General Tipton's name may be stricken from the map of Columbus, but his donation to Bartholomew county will stand as a memento of his public spirit and private munificence. It was he, also, who donated to the State the beautiful Battle Ground of Tippecanoe. (See journal of constitutional convention.)
      In a recent history of the Miami Indians, by Thad. Butler, Esq., it was stated that Samuel McClure, of Marion, was present at the Indian treaty of 1826. Desiring to know the facts in the case I addressed Mr. McClure a letter, and received the following reply:

“Marion, Ind. April 10, 1882

“WILLIAM W. WOOLLEN, Esq., Dear Sir -- Yours of the 7th inst. at hand and contents noted, and in answer I will say that Mr. Butler got his statement a little wrong when he said that I was at the treaty of the Miami Indians in 1826. I was at the payment which occurred in November, 1826, and my recollection is that General Tipton and Martin M. Ray were there and made the payment at that time. I was but a boy, about nineteen years old, and they were strangers to me. My father, Samuel McClure, came to Wabash in January, 1827, and settled at the spring where the treaty was made, and lived in the cabins built for that purpose.       “I knew General Tipton, but was not intimate with him. Knew him to be a shrewd, smart and very decided man; positive in having his orders obeyed, and he made a good agent for the government and also for the Indians. I was at every payment he made the Indians.       “General Tipton lived in the fort at Fort Wayne when I came to the State, but in the fall of 1827, or in the spring of 1828, he moved from Fort Wayne to the mouth of Eel river, on the east side of the Wabash, and lived in a two-story hewed log house built by a man named Chamberlin, who moved from there to Rochester, or where Rochester now is. I think it was before Logansport was laid off. The General bought lands on the same side of the river and made quite a nice improvement, and lived there until his death. Yours very respectfully,

“Samuel McClure.”

Oliver H. Smith, in his “Early Indiana Trials and Sketches,” thus speaks of General Tipton:

      “He was about the medium height, well set, short face, round head, low, wrinkled forehead, sunken gray eyes, stern countenance, good chest, stiff sandy hair standing erect from his forehead. He was not what is called an eloquent debater, still he was plain and strong as a speaker. He saw the question clearly, and marched directly at it without rhetorical flourishes. He was a strong, if not an eloquent debater, and was always formidable upon the subject he had in charge, and he seldom or never interfered with the business of others beyond a silent vote.”