French Tipton was born in 1848 and died during a relatively tragic incident on September 1, 1900, when he sustained a gun-shot wound during an altercation in downtown Richmond, Kentucky. Tipton's life and public career was one that left lasting impressions on Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky and the national newspaper culture. Tipton was not only an able editor, lawyer, judge, IRS Revenue Agent, and journalist during his lifetime, he was also an amateur archaeologist, a well-trained historian, and community leader who was either revered for his talents or despised for his facetious and sometimes insulting tones and attitude. Overall, Tipton was a well-rounded gentleman, who possessed genuine traits that emphasized honesty and sarcasm, alongside compassion, and, perhaps his most revealing trait, a sense of humor that was envied by most, despised by some, and too complicated to unravel by all.

Little is known about Tipton's early years. He was born to Mr. and Mrs. Darius B. Tipton of Richmond, KY. Based on the available records his family lineage can be traced through the Mitchells and Harfords. The narrative that the French Tipton Papers reveal begins with his respective graduation in 1875 from Central University with a law degree; the first to be awarded from Central University. After Tipton graduated he briefly practiced law before he found his calling in journalism and print media. Tipton had an incredible knack for creative and entertaining news reporting, however, he also demonstrated a genuine talent for objective and investigative journalism. He was a candid newspaper aficionado who either edited or reported, or, at certain times, performed both tasks, for a variety of Kentucky newspapers, including, but not limited to, the Kentucky Registry, Lancaster Letter, Lexington Courier Journal, Lexington Transcript, Midway Sun, Richmond Climax, Richmond Register, and the Pantagraph. He also wrote pieces for other well-known newspapers such as the New York Times. His continued migrations between the papers that he worked for can be traced within the scrapbook series in the French Tipton Papers, and is also testament to his talented contributions to local and regional newspaper circles. Tipton's journalism career took him all across Kentucky, the South and even across the Atlantic, where he attempted to report on the Russo-Turk conflict of the 1880s.

French Tipton was often described as being a "long lost" relative of Joe Mulhatton, an infamous journalist who often bent truths to the point that he had whole towns on edge with droll reporting and long lasting practical jokes. For instance, Tipton once reported egregiously about the interesting development of Kentucky bluegrass going to seed in the middle of a tough winter spell in February. Even though Tipton was often referred to as "the wittiest & most successful paragraphist in the State...a general favorite among his craft", and a "high toned clever fellow," his combative attitude, blunt honesty, and, somewhat offensive writings and opinions did place him in some rather threatening circumstances. In many ways, the French Tipton Papers underscore his tendencies to be a bit of a rabble rouser. When considering his involvement in political and personal mudslinging, researchers will uncover a confident and ardent political mind that was dead set on following through with his political convictions; and his personal feelings. His personal and political convictions often poured over into the columns that he wrote, leading to both personal and professional feuds. The feud that would eventually lead to his end took place during 1900 when he and Clarence E. Woods, who was later elected to the position of mayor in Richmond, had a public feud that first began in the lines of their respective newspapers. The volatile exchanges ended in the downtown streets of Richmond, with Tipton receiving a gunshot wound in the stomach that proved fatal.

Even though Tipton appeared rather arrogant and troublesome at times he did lead a productive life that contributed to his community in a variety of ways. In particular, Tipton was writing a History of Madison County Kentucky shortly before his death. In the months preceding the Woods incident Tipton had begun to introduce his findings in presentations and readings at such prestigious places as Berea College. His surviving papers and notes are most definitely incomplete and it appears they passed through many hands before being donated to EKU. However, the Scrapbook Series and the correspondence that remains highlight an intriguing mind that was dedicated to community. When all humor and facetious attitudes are set aside, a different side of Tipton's personality is revealed; a personality that would have potentially produced one of the finest and most complete histories of Madison county to date. The French Tipton collection represents a genuine Madison County leader who came from little, amounted to much and, unfortunately, died before his greatest contributions to his community could be understood.