Herbert Kipp, general merchant and proprietor of the Kipp House, Lexington, Greene County, N. Y., was born in this town March 6, 1852, son of Isaac and Nancy (Van Heusen) Kipp. He is of Dutch descent. Isaac Kipp, first, his great-grandfather, was a pioneer settler of Dutchess County, New York. Benjamin Kipp, son of Isaac, first, resided in Dutchess County until twenty-one years old, when he came to Greene County. The trades of a carpenter and millwright, which he had previously learned, he followed in this locality for twenty years, or until 1802, when he purchased a farm in Lexington. Here he resided until his death, which occurred in 1837, at the age of sixty years. He married Sally Noyes, a native of New Jersey, and became the father of eleven children. The survivors of this family are: Isaac, second; and Harriet, who married a Mr. Jones, of Hartford, Conn. Mrs. Sally N. Kipp died at the age of seventy-one years.
Isaac Kipp, second, father of Herbert, was born in this town, April 12, 1818. He followed farming on the homestead until 1850, when he went to California, and was fairly successful in the gold mines on the middle fork of the American River. After spending a year there, he returned to Lexington, and remained on the home farm until 1858, when he made a trip to Pike's Peak. In 1877 he opened the general store now carried on by his son, and under the firm name of I. Kipp & Son conducted a profitable enterprise until 1887, when he disposed of his interest and went to Nebraska. The next five years he spent upon a farm in that State, and then he once more returned to his native town, where he is now residing with his son. In politics he is a Democrat. He was Supervisor two terms, and he acted as a Justice of the Peace forty years. He is a member and a trustee of the Baptist church. His wife, Nancy, was a native of Lexington, daughter of Cornelius Van Heusen, a farmer. She died at the age of sixty years, having been the mother of six children. The five now living are: Mary, who married William H. Mosher, of South Dakota; C. L. Kipp, who is Postmaster at Lexington; Herbert, the subject of this sketch; Jennie, who married R. L. Hogaboom; and Edwin L. Kipp.
Herbert Kipp was educated in the schools of Lexington and at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie. He worked on the home farm and also had charge of a stage route until 1876, when he went to Illinois and spent one year. In 1877 he, in company with his father, engaged in general mercantile business in Lexington, and the partnership continued until 1887, when he bought the elder Kipp's interest. For the next two years he was associated with his brother, C. L. Kipp, and since 1889 he has conducted the establishment alone. He occupies two floors, the main store being thirty by forty feet, with an annex forty by twelve feet, and carries a full line of groceries, boots, shoes, hats, caps, hardware, flour, grain, drugs, carpets, oil cloths, dry goods, notions, and other articles of general merchandise. In connection with his mercantile business he conducts the Kipp House, a favorite summer resort, accommodating fifty guests.
In 1881 Mr. Kipp was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. Jones, of Jewett, daughter of Benjamin Jones, a farmer, who resides with a son, and is now ninety years old. Mr. and Mrs. Kipp are the parents of three children — Pearl, Clara May, and Ralph.
Politically, Mr. Kipp acts with the Democratic party. He was Postmaster under Cleveland's first administration four years, held the same office three years during President Harrison's administration, and was Supervisor one term. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. and Mrs. Kipp attend the Baptist church.