Joseph S. Tuttle
May 20, 1827-June 24, 1921
Niles Daily Star-Sun, Friday, June 24, 1921, page 1, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library
JOSEPH S. TUTTLE
JOSEPH S. TUTTLE, aged 94, oldest business man in years of service in Niles, having for many years engaged in buying and selling hides and furs, in addition to other interests, passed peacefully away at about 8:30 o'clock this morning at the beautiful, vine-clad home he loved so well, 507 Main street. Mr. Tuttle underwent a major operation a few weeks ago, as a result of infection, which necessitated the amputation of his left leg above the knee, and the shock, coupled with the infirmities of old age, resulted in his demise. All during his last illness, Mr. Tuttle was hopeful and cheerful, despite his affliction and the last hour of his life was typical of its happiness. Throughout his long life his quiet humor was the continual bubble of joy. As a young man he felt that the church was an agency for helping people to more of life's abundance, and he wanted to help. For many years he taught a class in the Methodist Sunday school, and as the years rolled on and he acquired a beautiful home, which he surrounded with flowers, shrubbery, fish ponds, fountain etc. he used to delight in entertaining his class at this home, and there are some of his pupils living here today who, although aged and grey, recall that Mr. Tuttle taught them the Golden Rule. The late John Dodge, multi-millionaire motor car manufacturer, was one of Mr. Tuttle's pupils who, when occasion offered about a year ago, paid "the debt immense of endless gratitude," by conferring upon his old Sunday school teacher, a life lease of the grand old home which, after many vicissitudes of fortune, was about to be lost to its owner. This rift in the clouds on a grey day threw a shaft of sunlight into the soul of the old teacher, now flaming in eager joy upon some other dawn; which well repaid him for that portion of his vigorous manhood which he devoted during the golden days of this activity to leading the children under this tutelage in the paths of righteousness. Mr. Tuttle also served as a member of the board of education, the cause of education being dear to him.
This "grand old man" was born in the village of Northeast, Erie county, Pa., May 20, 1827. The ancestor of the American family of Tuttles was John Tuttle, who came to this country from Herfordshire, England, in the ship "Planter" in 1635, with his wife and four children, one of the latter settling in New Hampshire, another in New Haven and a third in New York. The coat of arms of the family is a hand holding flowers, and it is characteristic of the members of the Tuttle family to be fond of plants and flowers.
Members of the Tuttle family have served their country in various wars. Joel Tuttle was in the Continental regiment; Lucius Tuttle as an ensign on duty at Fishkill in 1777; Timothy Tuttle, father of the subject of this sketch, served as a sergeant in the Revolutionary war and Jediah Tuttle was a sergeant at Ticonderoga.
The Tuttle family can boast of a sober, temperate lineage and Joseph S. Tuttle was of the original prohibition workers in this county.
Mr. Tuttle served a six-year apprenticeship in a tannery at Erie, Pa., and traveled by stage coach to Niles in 1848, about a year before the Michigan Central railroad was built through to NIles from the east. He was then 21 years old. In 1851, Mr. Tuttle embarked in the business of buying hides and furs. He said that game, including deer, was very plentiful hereabouts in thosr days, and there there were many otter in the St. Joseph river, which teemed with fish.
Mr. Tuttle recalled the immense tide of emigration which started westward through here at the time of the discovery of gold in California in 1848, and said that many of the gold-seeker came her to get shoes for their dogs, as the dogs could not cross the plains barefooted on account of the cactus.
Mr. Tuttle has been a great lover of fish culture, as previously stated, and the spacious grounds surrounding his home used to be dotted with ponds inhabited by trout, gold fish and members of other finny tribes.
There is not a man in business here today who was engaged in commercial pursuits when Mr. Tuttle started here.
Mr. Tuttle is survived by three daughters--Mrs. Anna Bigelow, Niles; Miss Ruth Tuttle, Chicago, and Mrs. V.C. Clealand of Minneapolis.
Mr. Tuttle was married twice. His first wife was Anna Maria Brown, a native of Pennsylvania. His second wife, and the mother of the three surviving daughters, was Miss Nancy Morehead, to whom he was married in 1870. She [was]also a native of Northeast, Pa.
The funeral services will be held at 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon from the residence, Rev. J.R.T. Lathrop, pastor of the Methodist church, will officiate. Burial will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.
Niles Daily Star-Sun, Monday, June 27, 1921, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library
CONSIGN TO EARTH REMAINS OF J.S. TUTTLE
Impressive Funeral Rites Performed at the Home at Sunset Hour, Typical of the Serene Close of a Long Life
"Sunset and evening star,
And after that the dark,
And may there be no sadness of farewell
When I embark"
Peculiarly appropriate was the sunset hour for the holding of the funeral services for the late Joseph S. Tuttle, which were conducted at the home at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon by Rev. Clarke S. Wheeler, pastor of the M.E. church of St. Joseph, who was for years a warm personal friend of the late Mr. Tuttle, and who took occasion to speak in commendation of the character and services of the deceased.
A quartette composed of Mrs. Rolfe Taylor, Gordon Bair, Mrs. C.A. Forburger and Dick Hamilton, sang Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar," and another of the Mr. Tuttle's favorites, entitled, "In the Cross of Christ I Glory."
Rev. J.R. T. Lathrop spoke feelingly of the public life of the deceased, and of his many noble attributes.
At the conclusion of the services the mortal remains of this grand old man were conveyed to their last resting place in Silver Brook cemetery, and "within their narrow cell forever laid."
The pallbearers were E.E. Woodford, Carmi R. Smith, F. Harrington, H.B. Laberteaux, Roy Koontz and A.D. Bartholomew.