David Tippy was likely born in the Carterville area of the county in 1870 to Martin Tippy and Mary L. Crain. He grew up in a farming family here in the county that for some reason tried to pick up roots and try life in Kansas. The family was found farming in the 1880 census in Bourbon, Kansas. At that time, his father was 34 and his mother 29, David then had two sisters Ella 3 and Zada aged 1.

Although there is no 1890 census to check on, the family appears to have returned to Williamson County by that time. On June 28, 1891, twenty one year old David married 19 year old Sallie L. Crain here in Williamson County. She was the daughter of Joseph Crain and Annie Corder.

Although the 1900 census could not locate David and Sallie, they were clearly present here since the “1905 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County” book noted that David served as secretary for the newly chartered Local Union 1880 of the U.M.W.A. in 1901 when it was formed. The union represented workers at the Southern Illinois Coal Mining & Washing Company and in 1904 had 335 members.

Articles found in the Herrin News, the Carbondale Free Press and others noted that David was serving as a Williamson County Deputy Sheriff at least through the years 1907 through 1910. It is likely, that he served as deputy under the full administration of Sheriff Emmanuel H. Bulliner (1906-1910). A 1907 Marion street directory indicated that David and Sallie were living at 200 N. Hamlet Street in Marion and confirmed his employment with the sheriff’s office.

The 1910 federal census also confirmed the couple living at 200 N. Hamlet and that 35 year old David was employed as a deputy sheriff. The couple had five children listed as living in the home, they were Floyd 17, Ruah 12, Paul 9, Zada 7 and David Jr. 4. The couple noted that they had birthed 6 children and that 5 were still living. The couple indicated that they owned their home free of mortgage.

In 1910, David served as city alderman for Marion under Mayor J.C. Mitchell and again in 1911 under Mayor J.H. Burnett.

In February of 1917, Sallie Tippy passed away of pneumonia at their home on Hamlet Street. She was born on December 21, 1873 and was survived by five children; Floyd, Paul, David Jr., Ruah & Zada. Their second son, Ralph, preceded her in death. Sallie was buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Marion.

When the 1920 census came around, a 50 year old, widowed David was living in a home at 802 W. Main Street which he indicated that they owned free of mortgage. Living with David was his 13 year old daughter Zada. David was working as a coal miner.

On May 7, 1928, David remarried to Jewell Brown according to Williamson County marriage records.

By the time the 1930 census was taken, 59 year old David was farming some land in W. Marion Township and no longer lived in Marion. He was listed as living with his wife only, no children in the home.

An article in the Marion Evening Post in 1926 indicated that David’s rural property was being foreclosed on. Another article located in the same paper in 1930 listed David as one of the cattle owners in West Marion Township.

An obituary for David could not be located but it appears that he died while in Union County on October 22, 1938. Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery in Marion next to his first wife Sallie.

Notes on children:

Floyd Irvin Tippy, 1893-1978

Ralph Tippy, 1895-1899

Ruah Tippy, 1898-1956

Paul David Tippy, February 20, 1901-1956

Zada Tippy, 1903-1991

David L. Tippy, 1905-1984

(Sources: Federal census records, Marion Evening Post, Carbondale Free Press, Herrin News, FindaGrave.com, the 1905 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County, Marion street directories, Williamson County marriage records. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 3/14/2024)