- JAMES F. TUTTLE. In presenting this sketch of Rock County's
oldest pioneer to the readers
- of the ALBUM, we feel assured that
it is one that will be read with great pleasure, not only by
his con- temporaries but also by the younger generation, who
revere and honor him as one of the fathers of the county. He
was born on the 24th day of July, 1824, in Jefferson County,
N.Y., and is a son of Chancey and Amy (WEAVER) TUTTLE. His parents
were also natives of New York. The TUTTLE family is of English
descent, and the WEAVER family of German origin. The father of
our subject defended his country against the English in the war
of 1812, and was one of the honored pensioners of that war. To
him and his excellent wife was born a family of nine children,
two of whom died in infancy, while the remaining number attained
to mature years. Chester died in 1885, at the age of sixty-four;
James F., of this sketch, was the third in order of birth; George
is engaged in farming in Winnebago County, Ill.; William died
in Rock County, about the year 1855; Permelia is the wife of
Henry P. HASKINS, of Chicago; Julia is the deceased wife of Charles
BLISS, of Texas; and Jennie is the wife of Lindon RIGBY, a resident
of Los Angeles,Cal.
- In 1834, Chancey TUTTLE removed with his family to Chicago,
Ill., which then consisted of a
- few shanties on a wet prairie, with a fort containing a garrison
of about thirty-five soldiers. In 1836, in company with Caleb
BLODGETT, the founder of Beloit, he came to Rock County, and
followed an Indian trail from the site of Beloit to what is now
the farm of our subject. Being pleased with the lay of the land
which consisted of both timber and arable tracts, he staked out
a claim of 300 acres, and in the fall returned to his family,
where he remained until the spring of 1837. At that time, accompanied
by our subject, he came to this wild and unbroken region and
built a log cabin upon the land which he had located, remaining
until the following August. James was then a lad of thirteen
years, but he returned alone through the wilderness to Chicago,
and loading up the household effects, he again started with the
family and three or four teams for the new home. On this journey
he was also accompanied by some friends from the East. Before
winter set in, the family was snugly settled in the little log
cabin on Turtle Creek, that being the name given the stream by
the Indians, and the work of developing the land began. Many
happy years were passed in that cabin, but the pleasure was not
unmixed with pain, for many were the hardships, the trials and
the difficulties incident to the life of the pioneer settler.
In order to get their grist ground, they traveled to Du Page
County, a distance of ninety-one miles, and afterwards to Dundee
on Fox River. In those early days bands of strolling Indians
who had not yet left their native haunts were seen, while the
graceful deer roamed over the prairie. Other kinds of wild game
were also plentiful, affording ample opportunity to indulge a
taste for hunting. When we stop to consider, we marvel at the
great change that has been made, for the most far-sighted of
the early pioneers could scarcely have imagined, much less realized
the rapid progress which has been made in the last half century.
At the time of Mr. TUTTLE's arrival in the county, the moon threw
its broad beams on the desolate tract of land where now stands
the beautiful city of Beloit, which is lighted by electricity
and has all the conveniences which civilization affords.
- The days with their arduous duties passed swiftly and happily
to our family of pioneers until 1855,
- when the death angel crossed the threshold of the little
home and bore the mother away. Mrs. TUTTLE was a devoted member
of the Baptist Church, and her death proved a sad loss to the
community. The father was permitted to remain in the pioneer
home until about 1869, when he was called to meet the loved one
gone before. He, also, was a member of the Baptist Church, in
which he served as Deacon for many years. In early life, he was
a staunch Abolitionist and he lived to see the system of slavery
which he so opposed blotted from the land. When the Republican
party was organized, he joined its ranks and was one of the ardent
supporters of its principles until his death.
- We have noted, somewhat, the surroundings in which the early
life of our subject was passed.
- His education was received in the in the primitive log school
house, and he was reared to the life of a farmer, assisting at
an early age in the development of his father's land. In 1855,
Mr. TUTTLE was united in marriage, the lady of his choice being
Miss Harriet L. WEST, who was born in 1831, in Dryden, Tompkins
Co., N.Y., where their union was celebrated. Mrs. TUTTLE was
a daughter of Gardner and Lavinia (PEASE) WEST, who remained
residents of the East until their death. Mr. and Mrs. TUTTLE
were the parents of four children - Della; De Wayne, who is in
the electric light works at Chicago; Jennie and Hattie. The children
have all been provided with good opportunities for securing an
education. Miss Jennie is a graduate of the Beloit High School
and for eight terms was a successful teacher, giving the best
satisfaction to those who employed her. On the death of her mother
she nobly laid aside her school duties for which she seemed so
peculiarly fitted and took upon herself the domestic duties of
the home, supplying as far as possible for her father the place
left vacant by his loving wife.
- The death of Mrs. TUTTLE occurred May 19, 1888. She was a
devoted member of the Baptist
- Church, to which the family also belong, and was a lady highly
esteemed for her many excellent qualities of head and heart.
She had seen the orchards and gardens planted by the first settlers,
blighted with frost, decay and die, and in like manner she succumbed
to the ravages of disease and time which leave their mark upon
all. She now rests where the gentle flowers she loved and tended
will each spring bud and blossom over her grave, and which will
in their beauty and fragrance ever keep in memory the loved one
whose image will long be enshrined in the hearts of not only
her immediate family but her many warm friends.
- Mr. TUTTLE is still engaged in general farming and operates
103 acres of land, which has been
- in the possession of the family for the long period of fifty-two
years. No citizen within the border of Rock County receives greater
respect and esteem than he, who so long has been identified with
its history and interests. In political sentiments he is a Republican,
and also favors prohibition principles.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 612, 615.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|