Joseph Harrison Tippets

TIPPETS, Joseph H. (1814-1868), farmer; a cousin of John H. and William Tippets. Born at Lewis, Essex County, New York. Participated in construction of the temple at Kirtland, Ohio. Married Rosella Elvira Perry 1 Jan 1837 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois. Crossed plains to Utah with the John B Walker Company, 1852. Resided at Kaysville, Farmington, and Brigham City, where he died.

• Residence: US Land Patent-1838, Caldwell County, Missouri, USA - 1838
• Residence: Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois - 1842
• Residence: Age: 33, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States - Circa 1847
• Residence: District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa - 1850
• Residence: Pottawattamie, Iowa - 1851
• Residence: Davis County, UT - 1856
• Residence: Davis County, Utah Territory - 1856
• Residence: Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah Territory - 1860
• Updated from MyHeritage Match via wife Rose Tippets (born Wickham) by SmartCopy: Sep 25 2014, 2:41:39 UTC

A biography of Joseph Harrison Tippets from Tippets Family documents

"Joseph Harrison Tippets was born January 4, 1814 to Joseph Tippets and Abigail Lewis in Essex County, New York. He was their youngest child, following Permilla, (April 25, 1807), Alva Lewis (March 12, 1809), Caroline born (October21, 1912).

As of this date, no information on his early life has located. He must have worked at several trades in his youth and he was an accomplished carpenter, cabinet maker, locksmith and farmer. It was said that he made beautiful chairs, the best quality that could be found.

In 1832, his cousin John Harvy Tippets, heard of a new book that had been published in Palmyra. He (John Harvy) walked 15 or 20 miles to get the book. It was the Book of Mormon. John and his brother William Plummer Tippets read the book in a short time. They were anxious to share it with their cousins, as they believed it to be true.. Joseph and his sister Caroline were also convinced it was true. Missionaries came through the area and taught them the gospel. Missionaries in the area at that time were Amasa M. Lymon, William McClellan, and Jared and Simeon Carter. It was March 12, 1833 that Amasa Lymon was sent to preach the gospel. (Church History Volume 1 page 332.") Records show that the Tippets families were among several families that were baptized and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1832. The family of Gustavus Perry, another cousin, also joined. A branch was organized in Lewis, Essex County, New York.

Joseph Smith had asked that the saints in the east help the saints that had been persecuted. Volunteers were also needed for Zion's camp. This was to be a group of men to go to help the saints that were being persecuted by mobs of violent men in Missouri. A cousin ( John Harvy's brother) William Plummer Tippets, later joined the camp in 1834.

The group collected what they could. Joseph Harrison and John Harvy were appointed to take money to Kirtland, Ohio, where the Prophet was. It was a donation of $848.40. Joseph Harrison's donation was $98.67 in cash and $120.37 in property. At this time Joseph Harrison was about 18 years of age.

In the fall of 1834 they prepared to leave for Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Harrison, his sister Caroline, and John Harvy left Essex County and went to Washington County, New York, arriving in October. They stayed with a Brother Tanner. While there, they attended a meeting on Sunday. Here John Harvy married Abby (Abigail) Jane Smith.

Now with their team and wagon they headed west. They arrived in Kirtland in November. How happy they were to meet the Prophet and the other Saints. They gave the leaders their letter of recommendation, from the Essex Branch. They were invited to attend a candlelight meeting. At this meeting the law of tithing was introduced. (Church History Vol. 2 page 206).

The Tippets cousins were counseled to spend the winter in Kirtland, which they did. During the time they were there, they attended the School of the Prophets, and spent considerable time working on the Kirtland Temple. On March 7, 1835, Joseph Harrison Tippets was one of the men to receive a blessing from the Prophet Joseph Smith for helping build the Kirtland Temple. (Church History Vol. 2 page 206).

Records show that Joseph Harrison purchased property in Caldwell County, Missouri, on November 15, 1836. Six weeks later, January 1, 1837 he married Rosalie Perry. She was a second cousin. Her Grandmother Betsy Tippets Perry was a sister to his father Joseph Tippets IV. In February 1837, he bought property in Clinton County for $150.00. They lived here for a couple of years. Their first child Joseph Mahonri was born September 25, 1838.

A letter he wrote to the Prophet in about 1843 tells of some of his troubles. "I settled in Caldwell County a few miles from Far West, where with great courage went to work to open up a farm, supposing that when I got myself a home and settled my family, I would go forth and preach the gospel, but lo and behold, before I got fairly settled, the enemy came upon me and drove me from my home and expelled me from the state with thousands of others of the saints. This truly was a day of trial and a scene of suffering...I just escaped by the skin of my teeth, or in other words, I made it out to raise a team and money enough to bring me out of the state. After arriving in the state of Illinois, I rented a small piece of land about 16 miles east of Quincy near Miller's farm. I then thought I would settle there as I was clean exhausted in property and tired of moving about. I took courage and bought me a piece of land, broke up about 30 acres, and built a house." His mother had come to live with him, but never joined the church. Also his sister Permilla was living with them.

In the life history of Nancy Naomi Alexander Tracy (in Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, B.Y.U.) she tells about traveling with the Tippets families. They left Missouri in the middle of March 1840. In her words she says, "we took up our march toward the rising sun. Our outfit for the journey was a meager one. It consisted of one horse attached to the two wheels of a wagon, with bed sheets for a cover. The box was seven feet long, so sometimes at night we could make our bed in the cart by taking things out. But we would make our beds outside when the weather would permit. It was tedious traveling. When we got on the Mississippi bottom, it was terrible. It was 9 miles across and it took two days to cross. At last we landed in Quincy, Illinois, and found the people very hospitable. They seemed to be willing to do all they could to alleviate the condition of the saints. We traveled on up the river about 40 miles and stopped to see what we should do. This was in Adams County. There were five families of us: three families named Tippits and Gustavus Perry, and ourselves (the Alexander family) and we stopped. We found some empty cabins which the owner let us go into. The place was sparsely settled, but we were glad to get shelter. It was 7 miles to the little town where there was a store and other public buildings. The saints in general traveled on up the river, but we stayed here 1 year and raised corn, turnips and other garden stuffs. John Tippets wife died here in childbirth. Her baby also died, which cast a gloom over us. She was a good woman and we sadly missed her, I suppose her grave is still alone and unmarked to this day." Nancy's family then moved north, leaving the Tippets families living there.

About this time Joseph had a dream that made him feel he should leave Hancock County to be in a branch of the church. He moved where he lived about 4 miles from Ramus and about 5 miles from Carthage. His daughter Caroline Cornelia was born June 5, 1840. The records say Nauvoo.

Joseph's wife Rosalie died December of 1841. This left him with two young children to raise. She was buried in Nauvoo. On June 26, 1842 he married his wife's sister Amanda Melvina Perry. They had two children while living in or near Nauvoo. Hyrum Henry born June 11, 1843 and Henry Chase born October5, 1845.

Persecutions continued. In the letter he had written to the Prophet Joseph (1843) he told of having his home burned to the ground. All of his furniture and clothing was burned. The family escaped with only the clothes on their backs. He was living on a farm with his father-in-law/cousin Gustavus Perry. At the same time he had a span of mares, an old wagon and harness, and two cows. He said he had 75 to 80 bushels of corn, about 10 bushels of wheat, and 25 to 30 bushels of oats.

It has been said that Joseph and his family were living close enough to Carthage that the heard the shots that killed the Prophet and Hyrum. It was truly a sad day for the saints.

After the death of the Prophet, persecution continued. T enemies were bound to drive them out of the state. The Tippets family and Perry family were traveling together. They went to Pottawattamie County near Council Bluffs, Iowa. Two more children were born in this area. Amanda Jane, and Brigham Lewis. While living in the area they were building wagons and preparing to travel to the Rocky Mountains. In the summer of 1852 on July 4, they joined the John B. Walker wagon train leaving Kanesvillle, Iowa. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 3, 1852. They settled in the Farmington area, then called North Cottonwood. Gustavus Perry's son Lorenzo, who had come to the valley earlier, was working for the Harris Park family. The Tippets had two more children in Farmington. Orson Harris born December 27, 1852, and Eunice Elvira, born February 19, 1855.

From here they moved to Three Mile Creek, 3 miles south of Brigham City. His cousin William Plummer Tippets had been called to settle there in 1853. His cousin/father-in-law Gustavus Perry and his family also moved there to farm. Three more children were added to the Tippets family: Jedediah Morgan born October 18, 1857, Lucy Malvina born February 15, 1860, and Elizabeth born April 9, 1863.

In October of 1868 the accidental death of his wife Amanda Melvina brought him a great deal of sorrow. Joseph was sitting in his kitchen cleaning his gun. His wife Amanda had gone outside to check on the children. He sat with the gun across his knees, the gun barrel pointing towards the open door. As she walked past the door the gun went off, hitting her in the side. She didn't die immediately, but died as a result of the accident three days later. She was buried in the Brigham City Cemetery.

A few years later he married Rose Wickham on May 10, 1865. Three children were born to them.

At this time the Indians were causing much trouble among the Saints. Brigham Young had advised the Saints to move into the cities for protection. Joseph had been a friend to the Indians, fixing their guns and broken weapons and helping in any way he could. He learned to speak their language. He had earned their respect. Then came to him and promised him they would not harm him if he would stay there. But, he thought his family would be safer in Brigham City. Joseph Harrison Tippets died October 12, 1868 in Brigham City at the age of 54. Many Indians attended his funeral and wept during the services. He had been a very tenderhearted man, very sympathetic to others' sorrows and trials. He had many friends. He was buried in Brigham City."

NOTE: At the time of the death of Abby Jane Tippets, wife number 1 of John Harvy Tippets and their second child, Moses, mentioned in this biography, John Harvy Tippets was serving with the Mormon Battalion at the request of Brigham Young. During this service he walked over 2000 miles from Nauvoo throughout the west, to the war in Texas and on to Los Angeles where he was mustered out and then on back to Nauvoo where he learned of the deaths of his wife and child. He then had to find his son John Harvy as he was not in the care of the Tanner families as he had left them when departing with the Battalion.

• Residence: Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, USA - 1842
• Residence: Pottawattamie, Iowa, USA - 1851
• Residence: Davis County, Utah, USA - 1856