Seventeenth Generation

67. John TIPTON¹ was born on 14 Aug 1786. He died on 5 Apr 1839. Sevier County Newspaper Article July 1976

John Tipton, one of Sevier County's most illustrious sons, was one of the early leaders in the State of Indiana. He was the founder of several towns including Indianapolis, the state capital, Fort Wayne, Logansport, and Columbus, which was originally named Tiptonia. John Tipton, first child of Joshua and Janet Shields Tipton, was born 14 August 1786 at the Shields fort, Middle Creek Area in Sevier County, Tennessee.

During his childhood in the turbulent frontier, he lacked a formal education, but was taught how to read and write by his mother. He learned the frontier's way of life and the Indian's way of life from his father, Joshua, who was killed by the Cherokee Indians when John was seven years old. He became the "man of the house" and when he reached the age of 21, he was known as a man of untiring industry and unquestioned courage. He had become dissatisfied with his station in lire and determined to find a new life in the old Northwest territory (Indiana).

In the fall 1807, he moved with his mother and his sisters to Brinley's Ferry, Harrison County, Indiana. He bought a farm of 50 acres in this area which he paid for out of money he earned by splitting rails at fifty cents per hundred. In the summer of 1809, a military company called the "Yellow Jackets" was formed near John Tipton's home. He became a member. It was commanded by Captain Spier Spencer. On the 10th September 1811 the company entered upon the campaign that culminated in the battle of Tippecanoe. In this conflict, John Tipton took over the command of Spier Spencer's rifle company on the death of his captain and was rewarded by a commission. He had the confidence of his own command and of his superiors; therefore, it led to his rapid promotion in the militia. He became major in 1812 and major general in 1822.

During this campaign, he kept a journal of the campaign of seventy-four days, which is said to be the fullest and most complete narrative of those operation during the War of 1812. (This was publishd by Indiana Historical Bureau, John Tipton's Papers, Volume I, II, and III.)

On 20 June 1811, he was appointed as justice of peace for Harrison County, Indiana. On 5 August 1816, he was elected sheriff of Harrison County under new state constitution of Indiana. He was re-elected again and continued to discharge the duties of the office until August 1819 when he was elected a representative to the State legislature.

On 11 January 1820, he was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. While acting in this capacity, he was appointed with others to locate the permanent capital for the state. He also was appointed one of the commissioners to run the Indiana-Illinois boundary line.

John Tipton was offered, in 1823, the government position of Federal agent to the Indians of the Upper Wabash. He accepted an appointment of U.S. Indian Agent for the pottawattamie and Miami tribes in March 1823. On 24 May 1826, he was one of a commission appointed to negotiate with the Indians for the surrender of land. He was appointed as commissioner to negotiate with Eel River Miami for Thorntown Reserve on 9 January 1828.

On 9 December 1831, he was elected to United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James Noble. He was elected for a full term (six years) as U.S..Senator for Indlana ln 1833. Polltlcally, he was a friend of General Andrew Jackson but he was opposed to the gteat man on the issue of the Bank of the United States. He believed that the, bank was a necessity, and its issues the best currency the people every had. He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and occupied a distinguished position in the order.

On the morning of 5 April 1839, he died in Logansport, Indiana. He was buried with the honors of war and in accordance with the rites of his cherished order, on Sunday, April 7, 1839.

John Tipton married circa 1807 probably in Sevier County, Tennessee to his cousin, Martha Shields, daughter of John Shields, gunsmith and scout for the Lewis & Clark Expedition. They had four children, three sons and one daughter. This marriage ended in divorce, July 1817, at Harrison County Circuit Court, Harrison County, Indiana.

He married second, 11 August 1825, to Matilda Spencer, daughter of Spier and Elizabeth Poke Spencer. She was born 1807 and died 14, February 1839.

John TIPTON and Martha SHIELDS were married about 1807 in Sevier Co, TN. Martha was John's cousin. John TIPTON and Martha SHIELDS had the following children:

120
i.
Joshua TIPTON¹ was born about 1808. Died young.
121
ii.
William Henry Harrison TIPTON¹ was born about 1809. Died young.
122
iii.
Matilda TIPTON¹ was born in 1811. She died in 1827.
123
iv.
Spear Spencer TIPTON¹ was born in 1814. He died in 1847.

John TIPTON and Matilda SPENCER were married on 11 Aug 1825. Matilda SPENCER¹ was born in 1807. She died on 14 Feb 1839. John TIPTON and Matilda SPENCER had the following children:

124
i.
George TIPTON¹ was born in 1827. He died in 1873.
125
ii.
Harriet TIPTON¹ was born in 1829.
126
iii.
Elizabeth TIPTON¹ was born in 1831. She died in 1832.
127
iv.
John TIPTON Jr.¹ was born in 1833. He died in 1861.