Tufts, John A. 1839-1904

TUFTS, WALKER, DOUGLASS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/21/2013 at 13:38:11

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Feb. 2, 1904

JOHN A. TUFTS

John A. Tufts was born at Athens, Maine, May 24, 1839. He went to Los Angeles, Calif., when quite young and lived there for a number of years. While a resident of California he did a great deal of traveling and was for a time in Australia. He thus gained a wide knowledge of the world and its people.

Leaving California he returned to his former home in Maine and lived for a few years. About thirty years ago he came to Iowa and engaged in farming near Victor. In 1876 he moved to a farm near Grinnell and resided on that farm until two years ago.

After he and his brother had sold their farm he came to Grinnell to make his home with his sister, Mrs. Nellie M. Walker. Mrs. Walker was however compelled to give up housekeeping in the city and moved to Chicago on account of the health of her daughter Helen. Mr. Tufts having been left without a home worked on a farm last summer near Grinnell and was just starting to go to Montgomery City to spend the winter with his brother, Frank B. Tufts, when he was suddenly taken sick.

His sickness was so serious that his brother came from Montgomery City and his sister from Chicago. But after an operation he improved so much that they returned to their homes again. But he did not continue to improve as was expected and they were again called to his bedside. He lived six weeks after he was first taken sick, and died last Friday morning.

The funeral service was conducted Saturday afternoon at two o'clock by the Rev. E.M. Vittum and the interment was in Hazelwood Cemetery.

Mr. Tufts leaves one brother Charles of East Madison, Maine, a sister, Mrs. Douglass, of Los Angeles, California, a brother, Frank B. of Montgomery City, and a sister, Mrs. Nellie M. Walker of this city.

Mr. Tufts was always an honest, hard working man and always bore the larger burden when toiling with his fellow men. He was of a jovial disposition, kind hearted and made friends with all he knew. He delighted in conversation and was so well versed in the topics of the times that it was a source of education to talk with him.