French Tipton Papers, 1780-1901 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Neil Kasiak

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: French Tipton Papers, 1780-1901

Predominant Dates:1880-1895

Primary Creator: Tipton, French (1848-1900)

Extent: 3.42 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 07/30/1932

Subjects: Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820., Civil War, 1861-1865., Clay, Cassius Marcellus, 1810-1903., Fee, John Gregg, 1816-1901--Correspondence., Fremont, Jessie Benton, 1824-1902--Correspondence., Kentucky--History--To 1792., Land titles--Kentucky., Madison County (Ky.)--History--18th century., Madison County (Ky.)--History--19th century., Richmond, Battle of, Richmond, Ky., 1862, Smith, Z. F. (Zachariah Frederick), 1827-1911--Correspondence., Tipton, French, 1848-1900--Correspondence., Young, Bennett Henderson, 1843-1919.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The French Tipton Papers include correspondence, scrapbooks, and personal notes by French Tipton of Madison County, Kentucky. Overall, the collection captures Tipton's interests in history, journalism and local and regional events, as well as, to a lesser extent, national and global affairs. In particular, the collection contains the remaining notes and correspondence that Tipton had compiled while researching Madison County for his unpublished History of Madison County Kentucky. The scrapbooks that are included in the collection contain enough information to reconstruct the public identity that Tipton maintained, whereas the surviving correspondence can be used to unravel Tipton's research methods and personal interests. French Tipton's tragic end during an altercation in downtown Richmond terminated his research and left many questions about his personal and professional life unanswered.

Collection Historical Note

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.

Biographical Note

Tipton was a newspaper editor in Richmond and was writing a book on the history of Madison County.

Subject/Index Terms

Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820.
Civil War, 1861-1865.
Clay, Cassius Marcellus, 1810-1903.
Fee, John Gregg, 1816-1901--Correspondence.
Fremont, Jessie Benton, 1824-1902--Correspondence.
Kentucky--History--To 1792.
Land titles--Kentucky.
Madison County (Ky.)--History--18th century.
Madison County (Ky.)--History--19th century.
Richmond, Battle of, Richmond, Ky., 1862
Smith, Z. F. (Zachariah Frederick), 1827-1911--Correspondence.
Tipton, French, 1848-1900--Correspondence.
Young, Bennett Henderson, 1843-1919.

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Acquisition Source: Tipton, Nachie Stuart (through her sister Susie Gay Stuart)

Acquisition Method: gift

Processing Information: Most letters are missing envelopes.

Other Note: Photographs were initially numbered with the accession number; however, a decision was made to change to collection number. The database was changed, but the numbers written on the images were not changed.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence],
[Series 2: Documents, Clippings and Notes],
[Series 3: Daniel Boone Research Materials],
[Series 4: Notebooks],
[Series 5: Photographs],
[Series 6: Scrapbooks],
[Series 7: Oversize],
[Series 8: Reading Room Access Copies],
[All]

Series 5: Photographs

Box 5

Barcode: 31234013796451

Folder 1: Letters and Drawings

Item 2: Squire Boone Rock Drawing
Item 3: Fort Boonesborough, 1897 Nov: Site of Boone's Fort; Creator: Burton, H.C.
Item 4: Daniel Boone Letter, 1780 Feb 4
Item 5: Fort Boonesborough Drawing
Item 6: Daniel Boone Letter, 1811 Nov 22: Photo of a letter by Daniel Boone; Creator: Moss, J.T.
Item 7: "Daniel Boone- Charles Rice farm on lower Taylors Fork"
Item 8: Charles Rice Letter

Folder 2: Indian Mounds

Item 9: Round Hill-Indian Mound, 1890s: Near Kirksville, Madison County
Item 10: Round Hill-Indian Mound, 1890s: Near Kirksville, Madison County
Item 11: Unidentified Indian burial ground, 1890s
Item 12: Unidentified river and bridge, 1890s
Item 13: Unidentified Indian Burial Mound, 1890s
Item 14: Unidentified Indian Burial Mound, 1890s
Item 15: Unidentified Indian Burial Mound, 1890s
Item 16: Unidentified Indian Burial Mound, 1890s
Item 17: Unidentified Indian Burial Mound, 1890s
Item 18: Unidentified Indian Burial Mound, 1890s

Folder 3: Churches

Item 19: Waco Baptist Church, 1890s
Item 20: White Oak Pond Church, 1890s
Item 21: Old College Hill Methodist Church, 1890s
Item 22: Brick College Hill Methodist Church, 1890s
Item 23: Christian Church, 1890s
Item 24: Old Cane Springs Church, 1890s
Item 25: Old Cane Springs Church, 1890s
Item 26: Christian Church at Kirksville, 1890s
Item 27: Church at Cottonburg, 1890s
Item 28: Presbyterian Church in Kirksville, 1890s
Item 29: Church at Kirksville, 1890s
Item 103: Viney Fork Baptist Church at Speedwell, KY, 1900ca: Creator: Tipton, French; Physical Description: 4x5

Folder 4: Cemeteries

Item 31: Boone Cemetery, graves of Jeremiah and Joice Boone, 1890s
Item 32: Unidentified gravesite, 1890s
Item 33: Grave of George Masters, 1890s
Item 34: Grave on corner of Taylor Fork, 1797, 1890s

Folder 5: Landmarks

Item 1: Sycamore Trees, 1890s: Sycamore tree on Silver Creek just above the mouth of Hayes Fork and on Old Wilderness Road; Creator: Tipton, French; Physical Description: 3.25x4.75
Item 35: Grave of Hancock Taylor, 1890s
Item 36: Boone Corner Tree on Hart's Fork, 1890s

Folder 6: Farms and Landscapes

Item 38: Scene on Tates Creek Pike, 1890s
Item 39: View looking east down Red Lick in Madison County, 1890s
Item 40: View looking east down Red Lick in Madison County, 1890s
Item 41: Landscape Scene, 1890s
Item 42: Dudley Tribble Gate, 1890s
Item 43: Unidentified landscape, 1890s
Item 44: Scene at J.T. Estill's, 1890s
Item 45: Bear Wallow near Fort Estill, 1890s
Item 46: Tobacco Barn, 1890s: First in Madison County built by J.T. Estill
Item 47: Unidentified landscape, 1890s
Item 48: Unidentified Landscape, 1890s: Showing severe erosion on clear cut hills.

Folder 7: Waterways

Item 2: Falls of Muddy Creek at Elliston, 1890s: Creator: Tipton, French; Physical Description: 2.75x4
Item 49: Unidentified waterway, 1890s
Item 50: Cascades at Barnes Mill, 1890s
Item 51: Mouth of Red River, 1890s
Item 53: Wire Suspension Bridge on Paint Lick, 1890s
Item 54: Harts Fork, 1890s
Item 55: Junction of Harts Fork and Hayes Fork, 1890s

Folder 8: People

Item 56: Nolan-Embry, 1890s
Item 57: John Shell, Oldest man in the world, 131 years old, 1890s
Item 59: William Vohn, 1890s
Item 61: French Tipton's Dog, 1890s: Creator: Schlegel, J.L.
Item 62: Unidentified Man, 1890s: Creator: Moore, A.M.
Item 63: Unidentified woman at a creek, 1890s
Item 64: Unidentified woman at a creek, 1890s
Item 99: William M. Paxton, 1890s

Folder 9: Houses

Item 65: Old Ellison Stone House, 1890s
Item 66: Ross House, 1890s: On Paint Lick Creek, built before 1787
Item 67: Dr. Stephenson House at Kirksville, 1890s
Item 68: Moberly House, 1890s
Item 69: Unidentified House, 1890s
Item 70: Hagan House on Silver Creek, 1890s
Item 71: Unidentified House, 1890s
Item 72: Kendall House in Kirksville, 1890s
Item 73: Jack Martin House, 1890s: At the mouth of Red River
Item 74: Castlewood, 1890s

Folder 10: Landmarks

Item 75: Kit Carson's birthplace near Richmond., 1890s: French Tipton is shown standing at the site on the Tates Creek Pike
Item 76: U.S. Trachoma Hospital on Lancaster Ave., 1890s
Item 77: Unidentified Building, 1890s
Item 78: Old office on Second Street, 1890s
Item 79: Old Springhouse on Irvine Pike, 1890s
Item 80: Main Street with electric lines, 1901 Spring
Item 81: Richmond water supply at Lake Reba, ca. 1900
Item 82: Unidentified creek with people, 1890s
Item 83: Unidentified creek, 1890s
Item 84: Unidentified creek with people, 1890s
Item 85: Unidentified creek, 1890s
Item 86: Mill and waterwheel, 1890s
Item 87: Mill and waterwheel, 1890s
Item 88: Scene of Old Fort Twetty, 1890s
Item 89: Waco, 1890s
Item 90: Tates Creek Rd. at Goggins Lane, 1890s: Scene including train track, pond and field.
Item 91: Moberly Depot, 1890s
Item 92: Speedwell, 1890s

Folder 11: Miscellaneous

Item 93: Gentry Packsaddle, 1890s
Item 94: Sheep, 1890s
Item 95: Mexican War Canteen, 1890s
Item 96: Pistol where Boone Rock stood, 1890s
Item 97: Bandstand in old amphitheater in Richmond, 1890s
Item 98: Unidentified house with horses and men in front of it, 1890s: Creator: Townsley, O.P.
Item 100: Amphitheater, 1890s
Item 101: Nathan Williams Arithmetic, 1890s
Item 102: Jane McKay's Bell, 1890s

Folder 12: Photograph Case

The images in this folder were found in a wallet style photograph case. The woman is likely the same in all three images.

Item 104: French Tipton: Creator: Webster Photo, Louisville
Item 105: Unidentified Woman: Creator: R. Goebel, St. Charles, MO
Item 106: Unidentified Woman: Creator: R. Goebel, St. Charles, MO
Item 107: Unidentified Woman, 1877: Creator: R. Goebel, St. Charles, MO
Item 108: Writing: Photograph of a statue of a cherub with a tablet and pencil.