BIO: Absalom Shade TIPTON, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ ABSALOM SHADE TIPTON, who departed this life February 25, 1884, was one of the leading and influential citizens of Howard township, Centre county. William Tipton, his father, was of English origin, born in Cumberland county, Penn., January 13, 1773, and as early as 1796 came to what is now Centre county. He married Elizabeth Shade, who was born May 30, 1780, and their children were: Mary, born August 26, 1802, married James Heverly, and died December 10, 1836; Sarah, born February 27, 1806, married Isaac W. Meese; William, Jr., resided at Howard, and died January 21, 1850; Washington died April 16, 1839; Nancy, born April 22, 1815, married Samuel Gardner; Caroline M., born August 16, 1817, married George Spearing, and died in 1879; Absalom S., born January 26, 1820; and Jemima E., born June 3, 1826, married Levi Fuller. The old homestead, where our subject was born and lived to manhood, is now the site of much of the town of Howard. In early life he was of a delicate constitution, and after he received an education in the neighborhood schools, at the age of seventeen began teaching school, which he followed several terms; but finding it too confining, he gave it up. While yet young, at his father's death he assumed the management of the estate, assisted by his mother and sisters. In 1846 he bought out the other heirs. He laid out the town of Howard, selling the first lot to Samuel Brickley. After he quit the occupation of a teacher he became engaged in the lumber business, which, in connection with farming, he carried on throughout life. He farmed extensively, and took a great interest in the vocation; his buildings were fine and modernly equipped, while all other improvements corresponded, evidencing the neat and progressive farmer that he was. In the lumbering business he gave employment to many men, often having on his pay roll as many as eighty men. At the time of his death he had arranged plans all drawn and much of the material purchased, for the erection of an elegant residence on the old Tipton homestead, which later, however, was abandoned. Mr. Tipton was one of the most enterprising citizens of the township, and did much for the town of Howard, restoring the water privilege to the place by replacing the old canal banks. Despite his bodily infirmities he was one of the most energetic men of Centre county, and made a success of life, accumulating a valuable estate, owning at the time of his death three fine farms on Marsh creek, 230 acres of timber land in the same locality, and other property in and around Howard. He imbibed from his early surroundings the principles of Jeffersonian Democracy, but later became an ardent advocate in opposition to Slavery, and subsequently became a Republican. As a citizen he was honorable, prompt and true to every engagement; as a man he held the honor and esteem of all classes of citizens of all creeds and political proclivities; as a husband he was a model worthy of all imitation. He was a man of the times, broad-minded, public-spirited and progressive. He was an active and earnest member of the M. E. Church. On December 27, 1859, Mr. Tipton was married to Miss Rebecca J. Garman, and to them were born the following children: (1) Mary E., born January 27, 1861, married Jerry Ryan, who is engaged in the hotel business in East Buffalo, N.Y.; their children are - Ethelyn A., Edward Tipton, and Ralph R. (2) George W., born April 28, 1862, married Elizabeth L. Cox, and COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 321 is a lumberman of Howard; their children are Claremont, Jr., Bernice V., Alice M., and Leonard W. and Lester (twins). (3) Frances T., born September 12, 1863, is the wife of Edward C. McIntire, an attorney of Williamsport, Penn. (4) Sarah C., born April 11, 1865, died in infancy. (5) Laura T., born July 1, 1866, is the wife of M. M. Hunter, an attorney of Carthage, Mo.; their children are - Harold T. and Frances R. (6) John Howard, born November 16, 1867, is a traveling salesman, residing in Bellefonte, Penn.; he married Anna Hopton, of Tyrone, and has one child - Mary Helen. (7) William F., born January 14, 1870, graduated with honors from the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; he married Sallie Askey, and died October 9, 1891, leaving one child - William Fuller. (8) Isabella J., born July 18, 1871, died in infancy. The widow of our subject, a most estimable lady, was born in Salona, Clinton Co., Penn., June 19, 1836, and is a daughter of Michael and Margaret (Lovell) Garman, natives of Cumberland and Huntingdon counties, Penn., respectively. They were married in Mill Hall, Centre county, December 24, 1828. The mother's death occurred February 18, 1869, when she was sixty-eight years, while a resident of Salona. In their family were seven children: William E., born December 20, 1829, died February 7, 1854; Foster, born February 13, 1832, died October 17, 1857; Mary C., born February 7, 1834, first wedded William Martin, and after his death married George Kustenboarders, a farmer of Centre county; Rebecca J. is next in order of birth; Mathew B., born January 5, 1839, died August 30, 1850; Austin, born November 3, 1840, served for three years in the Union army, and is now a carpenter of Colorado; John M., born December 2, 1842, was under age when the Civil war broke out, but ran away from home and joined the army, and died from the effects of his service December 26, 1861. Michael Garman, the father of Mrs. Tipton, was born April 15, 1800. Her mother was Mary (Slutterbeck) Garman. The father died before the son's birth, and the latter was reared by strangers. In 1828 he came to Centre county, and throughout his active business career engaged in lumbering and farming, but in his later years he lived retired with his daughter, Mrs. Tipton, where he passed from earth May 24, 1897. He was an energetic, hard-working man, and prosperity crowned his efforts; but through bad investment he lost much of his property, being a stockholder in the National Bank of Lock Haven at the time it failed. A conscientious Christian, he, during the last forty-five years of his life, was a faithful and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his was a useful and well-spent life. He was a strong advocate of temperance, and spent both time and money in the cause. During the Civil war he strongly supported the Union, giving of his means to the support of the soldiers' families, and using his influence for its suppression.