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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