Macoupin County
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Biography - GEORGE LINCOLN TIPTON

Among the self-educated men of affairs of Macoupin county, who availed themselves of the wonderful opportunities afforded in America to all who have the patience, industry and perseverance to seek them, must be mentioned George Lincoln Tipton, who became self-supporting at the age of twelve years.

He was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 22d of June, 1857, and is a son of John P. and Jane (Moore) Tipton, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Illinois.' His elementary education was acquired in the day sessions of the schools of Springfield, until he began his career as a bootblack and newsboy in 1869, following which he went to night school. He was an ambitious and industrious youth and aspired to make something of himself. Early recognizing that in order to accomplish this it was necessary to know how to do something that afforded opportunities of promotion, he apprenticed himself to the printer’s trade in 1870. His days were devoted to the mastery of the craft in the office of the Illinois State Register, while in the evenings he worked in a lunch room, where often times his duties were very taxing after the long arduous hours of the day. He made rapid advance and in 1875 undertook the publication of a paper for the Greenback party of Sangamon county. Three years later he became associated with Wilson Stuve and together they came to Girard where in 1879 they established the office of the Gazette. Before the end of the year Mr. Tipton had acquired his partner’s interest in the paper of which he was sole proprietor until 1905, when he turned the management of the publication over to his son, Fred L. Tipton. Without question the fact of his having to make his own way from boyhood had much to do with the development of those qualities which made of Mr. Tipton the fine business man he has proven himself to be. He possesses the determination of purpose that ever goads him on to renewed effort despite the apparent likelihood of failure; his confidence in his own powers bringing him the success he seeks. His paper flourished, and he became interested in various other enterprises in the village. He established an electric lighting plant, which he controlled for seven years, and then sold to the municipality. He was also financially interested in the John C. Beeby Furniture Company for years, and he has been with the Mutual Protective League, a fraternal insurance company, since 1897, four years of which time he was a director, while he has been supreme treasurer since 1901.

In Girard on the 19th of December, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Tipton and Miss Alice M. Beeby, a daughter of John C. and Catherine (Howeston) Beeby, the father a native of England and the mother of Illinois. There are two children living, Fred L. Tipton and Howeston M.

The religious views of the family coincide with those of the Universalist church with which they are affiliated, Mr. Tipton being moderator at the present time. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, being a member of Girard Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M., also of Girard Lodge, No. 132, R. A. M.; the Modern Woodmen of America; Knights of Pythias; Mutual Protective League, being supreme treasurer of the Supreme Council; and the Order of the Eastern Star. He maintains very pleasant connections with the press of the state through the medium of his membership in the Illinois Press Association. His political allegiance Mr. Tipton has ever given to the republican party, whose measures and candidates his paper always valiantly supported. He has been called to different positions of public trust, having served as justice of the peace for four years and supervisor of the township for two. In 1904 he was the successful candidate for circuit clerk, which position he retained for one term, being the first republican circuit clerk of Macoupin county. Under Joseph Pfeffer he was public guardian of Macoupin county and assistant state printer’s expert under Governor Yates. His incumbency of any office has been marked by efficiency and a rigid and conscientious adherence to the policy and principles of the party he represented. Mr. Tipton is now living practically retired, enjoying the ease and comfort made possible by the constant and unremitting labor of his younger years.


Extracted 17 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 579-580.


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