Indiana County Courthouse Histories
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Tipton County
Named for: General John Tipton - Indiana's own "Rough and Tumble" Politician - Fought at Tippecanoe
Organized: 1844
County Seat: Tipton
Number of Courthouses: 3
| Number | Years | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1845-1857 | Log | Builder: George Tucker. 24x20 2-story. Destroyed by fire - Some record loss. $235.50 |
| 2 | 1860-1892 | Castle | Designed and built by Nelson and W. Daubenspeck, $20,000 or $15,000. There was no independent architect or construction supervisor |
| 3 | 1894-Present | Castle | Arch: Adolph Sheerer. 125x92. Dedicated October 1894. $183,411.30. Builder: Pierce & Morgan, $170,188? |
In March of 1858 the County Commissioners advertised for bids for a new courthouse with the stipulation that no design fees would be paid except to the winning bidder and the proposed cost should not exceed $10,000. In June 1858 a proposal that included plan, specifications, and bid of $20,000 was accepted from Nelson Daubenspeck. In addition to the 1860 Courthouse Daubenspeck is thought to have built the business block on the south side of the square in Noblesville as well as a residence there. Daubenspeck was born in 1816 and was in the construction business only a short time for in 1862 he moved to Indianapolis and became a merchant. Because of his limited construction portfolio it is questionable whether he had the skill to design this Courthouse and the question arises as to whether he might have independently hired an architect; the primary suspect being Isaac Hodgson. Daubenspeck died on August 5, 1903 in Indianapolis and is buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery.
Adolph Sheerer designed the 1894 courthouse. Sheerer was the chief draftsman for Edwin May and was the supervising architect of the Indiana State Capitol Building (1880-1888) after May died in 1880.
Tipton and Howard Counties were the 90th and 89th Counties formed. They were the last two defined from Indian Territory because the treaty to cede the land to Indiana was not signed until 1840. The treaty included all of Howard, much of Tipton and Miami, and parts of Wabash, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Grant, and Madison Counties.
Tipton was originally named Kingston (Paper only) then Canton, but Canton was a duplicate name, hence Tipton.