History of Joseph Harrison Tippets 1890­19571
Joseph Harrison Tippets was born 18 April 1890, in Bennington, Bear Lake County, Idaho. He
was the ninth of ten born to Brigham Lewis Tippets, Sr. and Abigail Eliza Tippets.
He was reared in a home filled with love and tenderness. The children were taught from their
youth to love their Heavenly Father and their neighbor as themselves. To the family this meant
being kind, thoughtful, and no gossiping. His mother would say, “If you have something nice to
say, we are interested. If not, maybe the cattle will listen.”
Harry, as he was nicknamed, was only eight when his father, Brigham Lewis Tippets, Sr. was
called to serve a mission in the Southern States. Each member of the family had extra
responsibility in order to keep things in order to keep things together while father served the Lord.
It was 1900 when Brigham Lewis Tippets, Sr. was chosen, with twelve other men, by General
Authorities to search out the conditions in the Shoshone River Valley as to the advisability of
settling in that area. The report was made, some family groups were sent there to colonize and
build up the Kingdom of God in this seemingly barren land. A few hundred families were called to
join the original thirteen. Thus began a Latter Day Saint Colony in the Big Horn Basin in
Wyoming.
Those men and boys large enough to help, worked on the Sidon Canal, a project which
consisted of 30.48 miles. Their homes consisted of tents and covered wagons until a time when
town sites were chosen. After a year or so they built log cabins to live in. The original log cabin of
Brigham Lewis Tippets Sr. is still standing in Cowley.
Byron, Lovell, and Cowell were the names chosen for the new communities. A monument has
been erected to honor the pioneers of these three towns.
Harry received his education in Cowley. He loved good books and became well versed on many
subjects. Harry had a good understanding of the scriptures. He studied the law and kept well
informed on current events. His life was truly a treasure of great knowledge. Many young people
sought his advice on various subjects. He loved to share the knowledge he had with them.
Harry loved the gospel and planned a mission, but due to circumstances beyond his control, this
desire was unfulfilled. However, by his good example, plus his knowledge and willingness to
share it, he was a great missionary.
In his early twenties, he fell in love with a beautiful girl, Clara Lyman, daughter of Charles Rich
Lyman and Barbara Alice Ward. They traveled by train to Salt Lake City and along with Charles
Tucker and Hilda Mortenson were married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and eternity on 18
1
Tippets, Elizabeth Wilcock, and Lucile Tippets Moncur. Brigham Lewis Tippets, Sr. Family | A History of
Brigham Lewis Tippets, Sr. His Wife, Abigail, Eliza, Their Children, Grandchildren, and Great­Grandchildren,
1850­1988. Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1988. Print (550­552)
September 1912.
Harry’s income came mainly from farming. My brother, Joe, mentioned dad worked in an oil
refinery in the early years of his marriage. In reading our dad’s patriarchal blessing where he was
told he would find “hidden treasures”, we, his children, all thought he’d find the pot of gold at the
end of the rainbow or Syke’s gold in his cave on Pryor Mountain. When Harry and Elmer Eyre
were up on Pryor Mountain one day, they decided to do some extra looking. After some time,
they found the cave. Inside the cave was an old trunk. They hurriedly opened the trunk, and they
could scarcely believe what they saw! Small canvas bags tied at the top with heavy string were
in the trunk. They hugged each other. What excitement! They jumped up and down. NOw to
untie the string and see gold nuggets. The color was gold, but the nuggets were corn. Bag after
bag it was the same. Well, maybe we’ll find it someday. To our knowledge, no one ever has.
Of course, dad never found the gold at the end of the rainbow or Syke’s gold, so we were not
rich in material things, but I am sure the “hidden treasures” were things of the Spirit. Our dad had
a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He loved the gospel, he lived
it, preached it and understood it.
Other “hidden treasures” were to come to Harry and Clara. McClaine was their first born arriving
on 23 August 1913. Next came Cluff Lyman, 8 April 1916. Joe was number three, born 9 August
1917. On the 12th of September 1919, twins came to their home, Wendell and Wanda. The next
to bless the home was Eugene born on 30th of April 1922. This doesn’t often happen in one
family, but Clara and Harry found themselves with twins again, two darling boys, Lewis and Rich,
born 3 August 1924. When Rich was eighteen months old, sadness entered our home. Our
darling Rich died from pneumonia. He brought much joy and happiness to our home with his
happy, mischievous personality. Dad was lying in bed grieving about Richie’s death when
suddenly he saw Rich with outstretched arms coming toward him as though he might leap in his
arms. A voice spoke to him saying, “Thus shall be the day of the resurrection.” Surely this was a
comforting experience for a grieving father.
Wanda recalls her father’s dramatic acting ability. He took part in several dramatic plays as the
star. He was blessed with many talents. He was a fluent speaker. Due to his speaking ability, he
had the privilege of giving a history of the Book of Mormon over KGHL radio station in Billings,
Montana. He also spoke on other subjects. He spoke at many funerals, members and
non­members alike.
Harry enjoyed entertaining his family with the pranks of his youth. Some rather mischievous! He
told how he and some friends got on this very elderly couples’ rooftop and speaking in soft
voices, called down their chimney. The elderly man’s name was Reuben. They called Reuben’s
name several times and told him God wanted him. Finally they heard his wife say, “Reuben, if
God wants you, you’d better go. Pranksters pull pranks, they also have good imagination.”
Harry and Bill Harston owned a ranch on Pryor Mountain. They raised certified seed potatoes.
There was a small log cabin for a home, some corrals and a beautiful stream of spring water in
the back yard. The scenery was beautiful! Harry’s children have fond memories of this mountain
home.
Dad often gathered other young people to accompany him when he visited the mountain home.
Many came to visit and enjoy Aunt Clara and Uncle Harry’s hospitality. Some came for the day,
others for several days or a week. My brother, Joe, recalls Lucille and Utahna Tippets visiting.
Also, Aunt Amanda’s children, Elloyd, Hubert and Norman. Sweethearts also came to visit. Neff
Tippets and Beth Wilcock, Jack Black and Norma Stevens. The visits were all enjoyed by Harry
and Clara. They lived by the Saviour’s teaching wherein He said, “As I have loved you, love one
another. By this shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love to another.”
Harry loved horses. When he was young he owned a race horse named Tony. It seems he won
many races in the area. He later enjoyed working and caring for thoroughbred horses. When he
lived in Grass Valley, California, he worked for Errol MacBoyle. Mr. MacBoyle managed the Idaho
Maryland Mine and also owned beautiful horses.
Harry was the candy maker in his home. When he asked for a pan, sugar, vinegar, vanilla and
lemon, we knew there was a treat in store for us. We all agree that he made the best taffy we
had ever tasted.
Dad worked for a road construction crew near Yellowstone Park for a short time after they
moved from the farm. Wanda found a pennant among mom’s things when she moved from her
home in Cowley. May I quote the thought mom wrote on the back of the pennant, and then the
poem. She wrote, “My good sweetheart, Harry, brought this to me from the park.” It was dated 17
June 1954. The poem follows:
TO MY WIFE
Wife of my heart, it is you
You make my life so complete
You make my dreams all come true,
So loving, so loyal, so sweet.
Sharing each laugh and each tear,
Faithful and true to the end,
To me you will always be dear
My sweetheart, my partner, my friend.
He loved his family and his sweetheart with all his heart.
Near the end of 1956, Dad became ill. The illness seemed to be progressing. The family decided
to take him to Billings, Montana. It was there they discovered his illness was Acute Leukemia.
What sadness filled our hearts! We were not ready to part with this wonderful dad. Tears still
bedim my eyes when I think of this experience.
He spoke openly about his leaving. His big concern was leaving mom. Each evening as dad and
mom visited, he told her of his love for her and reminded her to tell us of his love for each of us,
his children. To me he was a father, a friend, a pal. He was a good example to me in my young
life. To me he possessed a Christ­like love.
Dad passed away on 6 March 1957 in Billings, Montana. He was buried in Cowley, Wyoming
near his little Richie. I know there was great rejoicing when they met on the other side. Father’s
funeral service was written as follows:
“Funeral services were conducted Friday afternoon in the Cowley Ward Chapel for Harry H.
Tippets, with Bishop Melvin Baird conducting.
“Prayer was given by John Tippets; a quartet, including James Dalton, Tom Wilcock, Tim Welch
and Klays Welch, sang ‘O My Father’; obituary was given by Norman Marchant; speaker, James
B. Harston; vocal solo, ‘Sweet Hour of Prayer,’ Leola Allen; speaker, Harry McClure; duet, Scott
and Arthur Welch, ‘Beyond the Sunset’; benediction, Rodney W. Crosby.
“Joseph Harrison Tippets, 66, a Cowley farmer, died Wednesday morning in a Billings Hospital
of leukemia and heart disease.
“He was born 18 April 1890 in Bennington, Idaho and came to Cowley in 1900. He has resided
there since. He married Clara Lyman on 18 September 1912 in the LDS Temple in Salt Lake
City. He did part time work as a construction employee.
“He is survived by his widow, Clara; one daughter, Mrs. Paul DeMeyer of Gridley, California; six
sons, McClaine Tippets of Cody; Lewis L. Tippets of Douglas, Wendell L. Tippets of Worland,
Cluff L. Tippets, Eugene Tippets and Joseph L. Tippets, all of Billings; a sister, Mrs. Amanda
Marchant of Cowley; and 17 grandchildren. All of the Tippets children were able to attend the
funeral.”
McClaine was the third member of our family to leave this mortal existence. After suffering a
coronary occlusion in November, leaving him weakened, he contracted pneumonia and passed
away 27 January 1968.
Positions held in church:
High Council (both in Wyoming and California)
Sunday School Superintendent
Teaching in Sunday School.
This sketch was prepared by Wanda Tippets Coe DeMeyer, daughter of Joseph Harrison
Tippets.