Francis H. Tippett

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Francis H. Tippett

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

At this place in a volume devoted to the careers of representative citizens of Morris county, New Jersey, it is a pleasure to insert a brief narrative concerning Francis H. TIPPETT, who has ever been on the alert to forward all measures and enterprises projected for the general welfare, and who has served his community in various official positions of trust and responsibility. He was assessor for Randolph township and the town of Dover for five years, and for seven years was collector of taxes for the town of Dover. He is now devoting the major portion of his time and attention to his large real estate and insurance business, which he has been conducting at Dover since 1893.

A native of Morris county, New Jersey, Francis H. TIPPETT was born at Rockaway, December 6, 1860. His parents, Samuel and Julia (CALL) TIPPETT are both deceased. His father was a native of England, born at Chasewater, county of Cornwell, December 8, 1826, and his mother was born at Haverstraw-on-the-Hudson, New York. At the age of twenty-two years Samuel TIPPETT left England for America, under contract by the British North American Mining Company, to engage in the mining business in their copper mines in the Lake Superior district. He arrived at Quebec after a voyage of three months in a sailing vessel. His practical knowledge of mining soon elevated him to a position of responsibility, and he did not long remain in a subordinate capacity. From Lake Superior he went to the Bruce and North Shore mines on the Canadian side, then to Dutchess county, New York, and later to the Irondale mines in Morris county, New Jersey, where he was during the panic of 1857. The latter part of his life was spent in Hibernia, being in partnership with Richard STEPHENS, under the firm name of Tippett & Stephens, engaging in contract work for the Glendon Iron Works. In 1859 he formed a partnership with Robert RICHARDS, under the firm name of Richards & Tippett, and continued with this association until his death, doing a large business with contractors, under the name of the Glendon Iron Company in their extensive mines at Hibernia. They employed hundreds of men, and doubtless raised more iron ore than any other firm of mining contractors in New Jersey in the same length of time.

It was in January, 1855, that Samuel TIPPETT married Julia CALL. They became the parents of six sons, three of whom are living:

Francis H.,
Charles E.,
George F.

His second wife was Ellen Rose, also of Haverstraw, New York, who survives him, with all her children—

Amelia, now Mrs. Eugene WESTBROOK,
Edward,
Samuel,
Jeanette.

Francis H. TIPPETT did not follow the footsteps of his father. After finishing the prescribed courses of study in the public schools of Rockaway, he attended the Centenary Collegiate Institute at Hackettstown, New Jersey, for three years. From there he went with the Hibernia Mine Railroad Company until 1879, at which time he came to Dover and accepted the position of secretary to the late George RICHARDS, with whom he remained eight years. Mr. TIPPETT next formed a partnership with William H. BAKER, and engaged in the mercantile business for some time, under the name of Baker & Tippett, later disposing of his interest to his partner. Since 1879, Mr. TIPPETT has been a resident of Dover, and for the past twenty years has been most successfully engaged in the real estate and insurance business there. He manifests a great interest in civic affairs, is a stalwart Republican, and one of Dover’s most respected and honored citizens. He is a notary public and commissioner of deeds. He fraternizes with Dover Lodge, No. 782, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he has been treasurer for many years, and holds that position at present. His religious faith is in harmony with the teachings of the Presbyterian church.

On October 23, 1883, Mr. TIPPETT married Henrietta BAKER, daughter of William Hedges and Clarissa (DELL) BAKER, one of the most prominent families of Morris county, and enrolled among its earliest settlers. Mr. and Mrs. TIPPETT have one son,

Clarence Baker TIPPETT, born July 22, 1884,

a prominent attorney in New York State and New Jersey.

Clarence B. TIPPETT, after completing the Dover High School course, entered New York University, graduating from that institution in 1906 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He obtained his legal training in New York Law School, graduating there from in 1908 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He successfully passed the bar examinations of both New York and New Jersey and carries on a lucrative practice in those states. He is a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity, a member of the executive committee of the Delta Upsilon Club of New York, and of various other clubs and organizations.

On September 18, 1913, at "Rensselaerwyck," Katonah, New York, Clarence B. TIPPETT married Rebecca Coffing VAN RENSSELAER, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James H. VAN RENSSELAER, of Belleville, New Jersey, and one of the old and illustrious VAN RENSSELAER family of New York.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).