History of Tipton, Kansas


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Title	History of Tipton, Kansas
Author	Compiled by Adeline Arnoldy for unknown newspaper article
Text	History of Tipton, Kansas One hundred years have come and gone since our fore-fathers built their first homes and businesses here. Let us pause and look back to some of 'our' beginnings. A letter published in the Beloit Gazette in August 1872 states that the Town of Tipton, then called Pittsburg, had the town laid out, 4 or 5 residents and a large storehouse of "dry goods and groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, queensware, hats and clothing, while farmers can buy all the implements they need, from a wagon or reaper to a sewing machine" and was run by the Sternberg Bros. Also "Through the public spirit of Messers Mackley, Pitt and McCreery and others a neat $1,000 school house will soon go up in Pittsburgh." William Augustus Pitt, with his family, emigrated to Mitchell County, Kansas, where he homesteaded the quarter section lying just east of Tipton in 1871. This place is the present Herman Hake place. He was appointed postmaster in 1872. Early in 1872 Peter Jacobs came to inspect the territory and returned to Caledonia, Minnesota with a favorable report. During the summer a group of folks with 10 covered wagons lumbered in from Iowa. Names of some of the men were: Chris Reinking, Fred Sackhoff, J.F. Stunberg, Hans Paulson, Chas. Brinkman, Claus Guhn, Albert Lonville, Fritz Witte, Fred Seavy, John Doyle, Bill Paddy, Fredrick Ahlvers and C.M. Siedel. Later in the fall the group from Minnesota came with Peter Jacobs. They included: Nick Arnoldy, Sr., Frank Mergen, Matt Ellenz, William Swinden, Nick Gasper (single), Philip Schroeder, John Beck, John Elser, Mike Cordel, John Cordel and Mrs. Catherine Reinert. Also here from the start: Hubert Konzem, Andrew Seright, Chas. Fass, Matt and Pete Lutgen, Arnoldy Bros. and Urban Steichen. The first store was on the farm now occupied by the Edmund Cordels east of Tipton, then called the old Porter homestead, and later known as the Mergen place. In November 1872, the original town company was organized with Fred Sackoff as president; W.A. Pitt as treasurer; and J.F. Stunberg as secetary. The platt was not recorded until May 5, 1877; although named in 1872. Baptism recorded first for Tipton in Catholic records was Margareth Arnoldy born July 2, 1874; daughter of Nicholas and Angela Arnoldy. 1875 - Mr. and Mrs. Franz Boden and family (she was Elizabeth Schmit) and Mr. and Mrs. Anton Gasper (Margaretha Denis Gasper) and John came over on a boat to New York, train to Wilson and in a lumber wagon to Tipton. They came straight across country, looking for the church steeple they thought had been built. Instead they found only a cluster of buildings, dugouts and the rest in the planning stage. Since they had no place to stay they moved in with the Nick Arnoldys and worked for them for 25¢ a day until they had their own dugouts ready to live in. The same year Rev. Anton Timphaus organized the Catholic People and they chose the name of "Pittsburg Catholic Congregation". Peter Jacobs was struck by lightening in 1876 and is thought to be the first death in the new community. On March 26, 1877, Block 44, in the town of Pittsburg was acquired from the U.S. Government for a Church. On March 27, a receivers receipt covering the land on which Tipton now stands was issued by the United States to Mark J. Kelley. Probate Judge of Mitchell County, granting said land to him as trustee "for the personal use and benefits of the occupants and inhabitants of Pittsburg in Mitchell County, Kansas. On March 28, N. Reinert and M.J. Arnoldy were commissioned to go to Russell for the building materials for a Church - which was completed by midsummer. The ship - SS Vanderland - arrived at the Collection District of New York on May 17, 1877, with another group for Pittsburg. They were: John Schmit, 58, and his wife Regina Fie Schmit 56; their children - Barbara Schmit 23, Katherina Schmit Much and her husband John Much; grandchildren John 11, Barbara 4, Franz 3, M. Ann (Emma) 2; Anna Marie Schmit Streit 26, and her husband, Henry Streit 28; and grandchild, John Streit, an infant. The second family grouping was: Cornelius Arens, 59, and his spouse, Anna Marie Fie Arens 59l their children Theodor Arens, 32, and wife Anna 34; grandchildren Apollonia 9, Peter 5, Johann 4, Cornelius 3, and Marie Arens, an infant. Anna Arens Gasper, 59, (mother of Anton Gasper who came in '75) also decided to come along as her husband had died and she wanted to be with her family. President Grover Cleveland issued patent on the quarter section occupied by the townsite on Nov. 17, 1886 and shortly after Postmaster Seright received word that there was another Pittsburg in Kansas and was requested to find another name. The other Pittsburg in Kansas was named by Col. Ed Brown. It was called "New Pittsburg". Both retained the names until the 1880's. It was rumored a purse of $150.00 was given to old Pittsburg in Mitchell County and it changed it's name to Tipton as suggested by Chris Reinking; that having been the name of the county seat of Cedar County, Iowa, from which he came. Rev. Adam Schmidtkonz organized the Lutheran Congregation in 1879. Services at first were held in the homes of the Lutheran families. Their records show that Henry Paulsen and Henry Witte were the first baptized on Sept. 18, 1879. The first marriage was between Henry Albrecht and Helena Lessman on Jan. 14 1880l and the first funeral that of Carl Clinke in 1880. The Lutherans adopted a Constitution and the Church Book and Hymnal of the Iowa Synod were introduced in the same year. Sept. 16, 1884 - The marriage of Casper Pahls and Catherine Koster were the first recorded in the Catholic Parish books. Lutherans erected their first church in 1886. Because of increasing population and the need for a larger building the Catholics built another Church in 1899. Although they had originally planned to build it of brick, it was made of wood after the failure of the brick factory. St, Ann's Altar Society was established in 1906. By 1912 the Knights of Columbus organized and is still going strong. Around 1914 the old public school building had been moved and remodeled into a home - the one that Frank Boden now lives in - and the new public building of bricks was ready for school to start. The first newspaper officially printed was the Tipton Times, published in April 1915, a four column 8 page periodical by C. W. Wells of Osborne County. On Oct. 18, 1916 the Salina Northern Train arrived in Tipton. It ran between Osborne and Salina. City Council held its first meeting July 15, 1916. Officers serving were: A. Bueche, Mayor; and councilmen - Thos. Corpstein, F. E. O'Neal, J.B. Steichen, Mike Hoffman, E.C. Mueller; Police Judge, John Schmidt; City Marshal, Geo. T. Cordwell. On August 7, Nick Arnoldy was appointed city clerk and John Pottberg as Treasurer. On August 16, a poll tax of $3.oo was levied on every male person, between 21 and 55 years of age. A special elevtion was held in May 1917, for the purpose of voting on an $20,000 water bond issue. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TWENTYS AND LATER---- In 1920 the Tabitha Ladies Aid organized with 23 charter members. A new brick Grade and High School was built by Catholics. in 1921 and in 1922 the Daughters of Isabella was organized. That same year the Lutherans built their brick Church. Santa Fe Systems joined our rail road in 1924 and the 'Grotto of Lourdes' was erected on the Catholic Church grounds in '25. 1928 - K of C Band chosen as official State Band. 1929 - In January the 4-H Club organized with 54 members. William Seidel was the Community Leader. In May Tipton State Bank started with John Schmitt as President and Chairman of the Board. 1931 - American Legion Post received its charter and the Auxiliary organized the same yeqar. The K of C Band was chosen again as State Band. 1932 - The Legion started the Junior Legion Band. 1934 - J. P. Jacobs building (present Drug Store) was built. Billy May was traded to the Miller Ball Team. 1946 - Fire Department reorganized. 1951 - Tipton News was consolidated with the Cawker City Ledger. 1954 - Zion Lutheran Church celebrated its Diamond Jubilee Oct. 17, Brick Church was built by the Catholics. 1964 - City put in sewage disposal plant. 1965 - Tipton Lutheran Church building sold to American Legion and Congregation merged with Osborne Congregation. New Mercury Vapor Street lights installed. New Post Office built. Tipton Telephone System went to dial. 1966 - School District Unified. Tomato Factory Started. City Park moved. 1969 - City Streets surfaced. New Bank built. Since about 1900, we have averaged about 28 businesses functioning at any one time. Some of which have changed hands or succumbed to make way for new enterprises. Presently, our city is run by Mayor, Bob Ellenz and the councilmen: Ralph Schmitt, Ed C. Koenigsman, John M. Reinert, Frances Gasper, and Bob Dubbert. Clerk is Cap C. Pahls, Treasurer Mrs. Lou Mick; Police Judge, Russell Bunker; City Marshals, Walter Budke and Larry Emerson; Maintenance Man, Romanus Konzem and the City Attorney is Tom Conroy. Mrs. Bob Ellenz, R.N., and Ed Pahls are on call to operate the Resuscitator; City fire chief is Arthur Hake and Rural fire chief is Larry White. Our population is 364... which just about brings us up to the end of the first one hundred years. And may the next hundred be just as happy. Compiled by Adeline Arnoldy