Tullis, William 1841-1911

TULLIS, SUMNER

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 2/8/2006 at 11:27:22

From the LeMars Sentinel, October 6, 1911:

DEATH OF WM. TULLIS
HAD LIVED IN IOWA FOR THE PAST THIRTY YEARS
WAS HONORED CITIZEN OF MERRILL
The deceased Was a Veteran of the Civil War and a Member of Mower Post and
Old Comrades from LeMars Attend the Funeral

For the fifth time inside of a year death entered the William Tullis home at Merrill last Saturday afternoon, September 30th, at one o'clock and claimed for its victim William Tullis, one of our most highly respected citizens. For the past year Mr. Tullis had been in poor health, but only a week ago he was compelled to remain in bed, typhoid-pneumonia taking a firm grip upon him. Owing to his previous sickness he had no strength with which to fight the disease that had now come and all that loving hands and hearts could do was done, but to no avail, and at one o'clock he quietly passed away. Mr. Tullis was born in 1842 (actually 1841), and when he grew to manhood he enlisted in the army and for several years fought in many a hard battle. After serving his time he left the army and went to farming, in which he was most successful, and only a year ago he and his devoted wife had given up the hardships and toils of farm life and moved to town to enjoy a rest, but it was only for a short times. For the last thirty years he has been a resident of Iowa. On April 18, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Sumner and to this union seven children were born, two preceding Mr. Tullis in death. He leaves to mourn his death a loving wife and four (actually 5) children, all of whom were here to attend the funeral. The funeral services were held from the Merrill Methodist Episcopal church on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, Rev. H. W. Richards, the local pastor, having charge of the funeral. The members of the G. A. R. had charge of the services at the cemetery. The casket was laden with beautiful flowers and the Stars and Stripes were wrapped around the casket. To show the high esteem in which he was held the church was filled to its utmost capacity and many were compelled to stand. The pallbears (sic--pallbearers) were all old soldiers. Mr. Tullis was seventy years old. Interment was made in the Merrill cemetery. A large number of old soldiers and settlers from LeMars went down to pay their last respects to their honorable comrade and loyal citizen.

From the LeMars Sentinel, October 10, 1911:

William Tullis was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, December 10, 1841, and died at his home in Merrill, Iowa, September 30, 1911, making him 69 years, 9 months and 10 days of age. He was married at Eureka, Ill., to Rebecca Sumner Jr. in the year 1867, who, with three daughters and two sons, remain to mourn the loss of a loving husband and father. The daughters are: Mrs. *Chas. (Clara) Frager, of Madison, South Dakota; Mrs. Emma Eberhard, of Wessington Springs, South Dakota, and Mrs. Minnie Hunziker, of Hiatville (sic--Hiattville), Kansas. The sons are: Will, of Colome, South Dakota, and Frank, who is on the home place. He also leaves one sister, Mrs. N. Redmon, who lives about four miles northeast of town. A son, John Tullis, and a daughter, Mrs. Geo. H. Burrill, preceded him to the other world the past year. On the first day of September, 1862, at the age of 20, he enlisted as a private in Co. D., 25th Regiment of the New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He served his country well, and on January 20, 1863 (probably incorrect year, allowing less than five months of service), he was honorably discharged. He came to Plymouth township in 1882 and located on a farm.
(*Actually Alfred Frager.)

From the LeMars Sentinel, October 6, 1911:

George Burrill was called to Merrill Saturday by the death of her father-in-law, William Tullis, of pneumonia, aged about seventy years. The Burrill family attended the funeral in Merrill Tuesday.