Indiana State Library
Tipton, John
John Tipton Collection
L160
1806-1858
19 mss boxes, 9 microform reels
Manuscript & Rare Books Division
Indiana State Library
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Processed by: Unknown
Finding Aid by: Laura Williams, February 2012
Biographical Note
John Tipton was born near Sevierville in Servier County, Tennessee, on August 14, 1786. In 1793 his father was killed by Cherokee Indians and in 1807 he moved with his mother to Harrison County, Indiana. He served with the “Yellow Jackets” in the Battle of Tippecanoe and eventually achieved the rank of brigadier general of the Indiana Militia in 1817. During this period, he was also twice elected sheriff of Harrison County. Tipton subsequently served as a state representative from 1820-1823, during which time he was appointed a commissioner to select a site for the new capital of Indiana as well as to establish the border between Indiana and Illinois. In 1823, he was appointed Indian Agent for the Potawatomi and Miami tribes, and was ultimately responsible for the removal of the Potawatomi to Kansas in what became known as the “Trail of Death.” While serving as Indian Agent, Tipton platted the city of Logansport in 1828. In 1831, Tipton was elected to the United States Senate (Jacksonian), where he served on the Committee on Roads and Canals and the Committee on Indian Affairs. After declining to run for re-election due to his ill health, Tipton retired from the Senate on March 3, 1839 and died at his home in Logansport on April 5.
Source:
Biographical Directory of the Library of Congress. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000284
Robertson, Nellie Armstrong and Dorothy Riker, eds. The John Tipton Papers. Vol. 1. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1942.
Scope and Content Note:
The collection consists principally of Tipton’s correspondence and business papers from the period 1810-1839. His correspondence, including retained copies of his outgoing letters, includes letters relating to the operations of the Indiana Militia in the 1810s; and political correspondence regarding the work of the state legislature (1820s-1830s), his senatorial elections (1831, 1832), his appointments to federal office (1831-1839), and local, state, and national issues, particularly internal improvements, Indian policy and banking. The collection also includes correspondence regarding his work as Indian Agent (1823-1831), including treaty negotiations, trading practices with the Miami and Potawatomi Indians, federal Indian policy, and the removal of the Potawatomi Indians from Indiana (1838). Also included is correspondence regarding his personal business interests, particularly land development in Logansport and along the Wabash River; correspondence regarding the Masonic Lodge in Indiana; and family correspondence with his son, Spear S. Tipton, a student and lawyer in Madison, Jefferson Co. (1828-1829), and his daughter, Matilda Tipton, at school in Cincinnati (1826-1827).
Also included are Tipton’s journals of the Tippecanoe Expedition (1811), the Driftwood Expedition against the Indians along the White River (1812), his trip to locate the Owen County seat (1820), his trip to locate a site for the Indiana state capital (1820), his trip to mark the Indiana-Illinois boundary (1821), and his trip to Washington, D.C. with Miami and Potawatomi Indian chiefs (1826). In addition, there are accounts of annuities and treaty provisions paid to the Indians; and receipts, contracts, accounts, and other papers relating to his personal business interests.
The collection also includes business papers and correspondence of his son, Spear S. Tipton (1814-1847), including papers relating to the settlement of John Tipton’s estate; correspondence regarding his personal business interests and Cass County politics; and letters from Spear’s half-brother, George T. Tipton, written while a student at Wabash College, Crawfordsville (1844-1846). Many of Tipton’s papers are published in The John Tipton Papers (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1942. 3 vols.).
Correspondents include: William B. Astor, James Barbour, Joseph Bartholomew, Hervey Bates, Daniel R. Bearss, James Blake, Thomas H. Blake, Ratliff Boon, Jesse D. Bright, Bishop Simon Brute de Remur, John C. Calhoun, Israel T. Canby, Lewis Cass, Marston G. Clark, William Connor, John W. Davis, John D. Defrees, Charles Dewey, John B. Dillon, John Dowling, Thomas Dowling, Lyman C. Draper, George H. Dunn, John B. Duret, Isaac C. Elston, George W. Ewing, John Ewing, Thomas Ewing, Graham N. Fitch, Calvin Fletcher, Davis Floyd, Allen Hamilton, Hugh Hanna, Samuel Hanna, Edward A. Hannegan, William Henry Harrison, John Hays, William Hendricks, Edmond O. Hovey, Tilghman A. Howard, Elisha M. Huntington, Jonathan Jennings, Richard M. Johnson, General Washington Johnson, James F. Lanier, Jonathan McCarty, Nicholas McCarty, Isaac McCoy, Thomas L. McKenney, Pierre Menard, Samuel Merrill, Samuel Milroy, Austin W. Morris, Elias Murray, James Noble, Noah Noble, Benjamin Parke, Abel C. Pepper, John U. Pettit, William Polke, Thomas Posey, Daniel D. Pratt, James Rariden, James Brown Ray, James M. Ray, John B. Richardville, Joseph Richardville, Solon Robinson, William Rockhill, Samuel Sample, Oliver H. Smith, Jeremiah Sullivan, Cyrus Taber, Waller Taylor, John Test, Henry P. Thornton, Edward Tiffin, David Wallace, James Whitcomb, Albert S. White, William W. Wick, William Woodbridge.
Photocopying Policy:
Manuscript materials CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in their entirety. Photocopies and/or digital images cannot exceed 25% of a collection or a folder within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Check with a Manuscript Librarian for other options.
Box and Folder Listing:
Box 1. 1793-1820 (Items 1-380)
Folder
1. 1793-1806 (Items 1-3)
2. 1807 July 8 (Item 4)
3. 1811 (Items 5-16)
4. 1812 (Items 17-27)
5. 1813 (Items 28-39)
6. 1814 (Items 40-48)
7. 1815 (Items 49-51)
8. 1816 (Items 53-69)
9. 1817 (Items 70-114)
10. 1818 (Items 116-179)
11. 1819 (Items 181-266)
12. 1820 January-February (Items 267-296)
13. 1820 March-June (Items 297-336)
14. 1820 July-December (Items 337-380)
Box 2. 1821-1824 (Items 381-819)
Folder
1. 1821 January-May (Items 381-410)
2. 1821 Ind.-Ill. Boundary Line Journal of John Tipton (Item 411)
3. 1821 Ind.-Ill. Boundary Line Journal of John Tipton, copy by George Pence (Item 411)
4. 1821 May 23 (Items 412-433)
5. 1822 (Items 435-487)
6. 1823 (Items 488-578)
7. 1824 January-March (Items 579-624)
8. 1824 April-July (Items 625-676)
9. 1824 August (Items 677-706)
10. 1824 September-October (Items 707-751)
11. 1824 November-December (Items 752-819)
Box 3. 1825-February 1827 (Items 820-1279)
Folder
1. 1825 January (Items 820-837)
2. 1825 February-April (Items 838-878)
3. 1825 May-June (Items 879-918)
4. 1825 July-August (Items 919-965)
5. 1825 September (Items 966-984)
6. 1825 October-December (Items 985-1019)
7. 1826 January-May (Items 1020-1056)
8. 1826 June-August (Items 1057-1114)
9. 1826 September-October (Items 1115-1160)
10. 1826 November (Items 1161-1183)
11. 1826 December (Items 1184-1231)
12. 1827 January-February (Items 1232-1279)
Box 4. March 1827-August 1827 (Items 1280-1694)
Folder
1. 1827 March-April (Items 1280-1334)
2. 1827 May (Items 1335-1369)
3. 1827 June 1-20 (Items 1370-1416)
4. 1827 June 21-26 (Items 1417-1464)
5. 1827 June 27-20 (Items 1465-1567)
6. 1827 July (Items 1567a-1603)
7. 1827 August (Items 1604-1694)
Box 5. September 1827-August 1828 (Items 1695-2098)
Folder
1. 1827 September (Items 1695-1734)
2. 1827 October (Items 1735-1778)
3. 1827 November (Items 1779-1796)
4. 1827 December (Items 1797-1815)
5. 1827 undated (Items 1816-1845)
6. 1828 January-February (Items 1846-1890)
7. 1828 March-April (Items 1891-1952)
8. 1828 May-June (Items 1953-2016)
9. 1828 July-August (Items 2017-2098)
Box 6. September 1828-1829 (Items 2099-2606)
Folder
1. 1828 September-October (Items 2099-2159)
2. 1828 November-December (Items 2160-2218)
3. 1829 January-February (Items 2219-2257)
4. 1829 March-April (Items 2258-2306)
5. 1829 May-June (Items 2307-2395)
6. 1829 July-August (Items 2396-2485)
7. 1829 September-October (Items 2486-2540)
8. 1829 November-December (Items 2541-2606)
Box 7. 1830-May 1831 (Items 2607-3120)
Folder
1. 1830 January-February (Items 2607-2635)
2. 1830 March-April (Items 2636-2669)
3. 1830 May (Items 2671-2707)
4. 1830 June (Items 2708-2738)
5. 1830 July (Items 2739-2791)
6. 1830 August (Items 2792-2816)
7. 1830 September (Items 2817-2859)
8. 1830 October-November (Items 2860-2946)
9. 1830 December (Items 2947-2996)
10. 1831 January-February (Items 2997-3065)
11. 1831 March-May (Items 3066-3120)
Box 8. June 1831-February 1832 (Items 3121-3539)
Folder
1. 1831 June-July (Items 3121-3173)
2. 1831 August-September (Items 3174-3250)
3. 1831 October-November (Items 3252-3322)
4. 1831 December 1-24 (Items 3323-3374)
5. 1831 December 25-31 (Items 3375-3435)
6. 1832 January 1-17 (Items 3436-3475)
7. 1832 January 18-30 (Items 3476-3505)
8. 1832 February (Items 3506-3539)
Box 9. March 1832-December 11, 1832 (Items 3540-3918)
Folder
1. 1832 March (Items 3540-3586)
2. 1832 April (Items 3587-3636)
3. 1832 May (Items 3637-3674)
4. 1832 June (Items 3675-3710)
5. 1832 July (Items 3711-3753)
6. 1832 August 1-15 (Items 3754-3793)
7. 1832 August 16-30 (Items 3794-3828)
8. 1832 September-October (Items 3829-3858)
9. 1832 November (Items 3859-3882)
10. 1832 December 1-11 (Items 3883-3918)
Box 10. December 12, 1832-March 1834 (Items 3918a-4391)
Folder
1. 1832 December 12-31 (Items 3918a-3964)
2. 1833 January (Items 3965-4028)
3. 1833 February (Items 4029-4048)
4. 1833 March (Items 4049-4073)
5. 1833 April (Items 4074-4098)
6. 1833 May (Items 4099-4121)
7. 1833 June (Items 4122-4143)
8. 1833 July (Items 4144-4157)
9. 1833 August (Items 4158-4184)
10. 1833 September-October (Items 4185-4215)
11. 1833 November (Items 4216-4233)
12. 1833 December (Items 4234-4282)
13. 1833 undated (Items 4283-4292)
14. 1834 January (Items 4295-4322)
15. 1834 February (Items 4323-4357)
16. 1834 March (Items 4358-4391)
Box 11. April 1834-June 1835 (Items 4392-4770)
Folder
1. 1834 April (Items 4392-4413)
2. 1834 May (Items 4414-4426)
3. 1834 June (Items 4427-4447)
4. 1834 July (Items 4448-4466)
5. 1834 August (Items 4466a-4486)
6. 1834 September (Items 4487-4504)
7. 1834 October (Items 4505-4520)
8. 1834 November (Items 4521-4553)
9. 1834 December (Items 4554-4571)
10. 1834 undated (Items 4572-4583)
11. 1835 January (Items 4584-4634)
12. 1835 February (Items 4635-4662)
13. 1835 March (Items 4664-4681)
14. 1835 April (Items 4682-4702)
15. 1835 May (Items 4702a-4728)
16. 1835 June (Items 4729-4770)
Box 12. July 1835-August 1836 (Items 4771-5227)
Folder
1. 1835 July (Items 4771-4793)
2. 1835 August (Items 4794-4820)
3. 1835 September (Items 4821-4848)
4. 1835 October (Items 4849-4891)
5. 1835 November (Items 4892-4939)
6. 1835 December (Items 4940-4960)
7. 1835 undated (Items 4961-4975)
8. 1836 January (Items 4977-5006)
9. 1836 February (Items 5007-5040)
10. 1836 March (Items 5041-5077)
11. 1836 April (Items 5078-5116)
12. 1836 May (Items 5117-5147)
13. 1836 June (Items 5148-5178)
14. 1836 July (Items 5179-5194)
15. 1836 August (Items 5195-5227)
Box 13. September 1836-July 1837 (Items 5228-5699)
Folder
1. 1836 September (Items 5228-5259)
2. 1836 October (Items 5260-5298)
3. 1836 November (Items 5299-5352)
4. 1836 December (Items 5353-5404)
5. 1836 undated (Items 5405-5424)
6. 1837 January (Items 5424-5460)
7. 1837 February (Items 5461-5496)
8. 1837 March (Items 5497-5522)
9. 1837 April (Items 5523-5560)
10. 1837 May (Items 5561-5599)
11. 1837 June (Items 5600-5643)
12. 1837 July (Items 5644-5699)
Box 14. August 1837-March 31, 1838 (Items 5700-6116)
Folder
1. 1837 August (Items 5700-5759)
2. 1837 September (Items 5760-5786)
3. 1837 October (Items 5787-5811)
4. 1837 November (Items 5812-5857)
5. 1837 December (Items 5858-5906)
6. 1837 undated (Items 5907-5926)
7. 1838 January 1-11 (Items 5927-5952)
8. 1838 January 12-31 (Items 5953-5997)
9. 1838 February (Items 5998-6035)
10. 1838 March 1-16 (Items 6036-6073)
11. 1838 March 17-31 (Items 6074-6116)
Box 15. April 1838-October 1838 (Items 6117-6507)
Folder
1. 1838 April (Items 6117-6148)
2. 1838 May (Items 6149-6195)
3. 1838 June (Items 6196-6239)
4. 1838 July (Items 6240-6276)
5. 1838 August 1-19 (Items 6277-6305)
6. 1838 August 20-31 (Items 6306-6344)
7. 1838 September 1-14 (Items 6345-6401)
8. 1838 September 15-30 (Items 6402-6440)
9. 1838 October 1-11 (Items 6441-6465)
10. 1838 October 12-30 (Items 6466-6507)
Box 16. November 1838-December 1839 (Items 6508-6907)
Folder
1. 1838 November (Items 6508-6547)
2. 1838 December (Items 6548-6595)
3. 1838 undated (Items 6596-6618)
4. 1839 January (Items 6618-6659)
5. 1839 February (Items 6660-6698)
6. 1839 March (Items 6699-6739)
7. 1839 April (Items 6740-6763)
8. 1839 May (Items 6764-6786)
9. 1839 June (Items 6787-6812a)
10. 1839 July (Items 6813-6832)
11. 1839 August (Items 6833-6850)
12. 1839 September (Items 6851-6856)
13. 1839 October (Items 6857-6877)
14. 1839 November (Items 6878-6889)
15. 1839 December (Items 6890-6907)
Box 17. 1839 undated-1848 (Items 6908-7434)
Folder
1. 1839 undated (Items 6908-6939)
2. 1840 January-March(Items 6940-6997)
3. 1840 April-July (Items 6998-7054)
4. 1840 August-December (Items 7055-7128)
5. 1841 January-June (Items 7129-7196)
6. 1841 July-December (Items 7197-7227)
7. 1842 (Items 7228-7280)
8. 1843 (Items 7281-7322)
9. 1844 (Items 7323-7361)
10. 1845 (Items 7362-7402)
11. 1846 (Items 7403-7426)
12. 1847-1848 (Items 7426a-7434)
Box 18. 1849-1865 (Items 7435-7488 + Misc.)
Folder
1. 1849 (Items 7435-7441)
2. 1850-1865 (Items 7442-7466a)
3. Undated (Items 7467-7488)
4. Illegible and fragmentary documents
5. Tipton diaries, clippings, etc. Gift of Mrs. John H. Holliday, March 1922
6. Papers not worth calendaring
7. Miscellaneous notes regarding collection and calendar
8. Wrappers
9. Facsimile of Journal done by G. Pence
Box 19. Photostat Materials
Folder
1. Photostat Correspondence between John Tipton, Isaac McCoy, and Johnston Lykins, property of the Kansas State Historical Society
2. Photostat Correspondence, property of the National Archives
3. Photostat Correspondence and newspaper clippings property of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, and the Library of Congress
4. Photostat Correspondence between John Tipton and William Woodbridge, property of the Detroit Public Library: Burton Historical Collection
5. Photostat Correspondence, property of the National Archives
6. Photostat Correspondence, property of the National Archives, the Ohio Archeological and Historical Society, and the John Tipton School
Microfilm Listing.
Reel
1. 1806-1824
2. 1825-August 1827 (Items 820-1694)
3. September 1827-1829 (Items 1695-2606)
4. 1830-February 1832 (Items 2607-3539)
5. March 1832-March 1834 (Items 3540-4391)
6. April 1834-August 1836 (Items 4392-5227)
7. September 1836-March 1838 (Items 5228-6116)
8. April 1838-December 1839 (Items 6117-6907)
9. 1839 undated-1848 (Items 6908-7488-Misc.)
Collection Information
Size of Collection: 19 boxes, 212 folders, 9 reels
Collection Dates: 1806-1858
Provenance: Purchased September 21, 1925; deposited by Mrs. John Tipton December 12, 1925; for information on additional sources see executive file and Box 19
Access : The collection is open for research use
Restrictions: Patrons are to use microfilm reels to view the collection
Reproduction Rights: Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript and Rare Books Division, Indiana State Library.
Language: Materials are entirely in English
Alternate Formats: Microfilm, 9 reels
Related Holdings: Lasselle Collection (L127), Daniel D. Pratt (L128), Ewing Family Collection (L323), Hamilton Family Papers (L62)
Notes: Collection calendar available in Manuscript Reading Room