Manford Hayden Tullis (1857-1944)

TULLIS, FUGATE, MITCHELL

Posted By: John Davis (email)
Date: 2/12/2020 at 08:24:38

Obit posted in Ottumwa Courier February 28, 1944
M.H. Tullis Dies; Grocer Fifty Years
Photo posted with obit.
Death came at the Ottumwa hospital at 5:30 p.m. Monday to Manford Hayden Tullis, 86, native of the Ottumwa community who spent more than half a century in the grocery business here. He is survived by his wife, Mary G. Fugate Tullis, 87 years old, to whom he was married more than 67 years. Mr. Tullis was born three miles south of Ottumwa on the Bloomfield road July 28, 1857, the son of Michael and Rebecca Tullis and the ninth child in a family of 12 children. All have preceded him death. He was married to Miss Fugate September 24, 1876, at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Fugate at 911 West Second street in Ottumwa. Officiation was the Rev. G.T. Johnson of the First Christian church. Mr. Tullis engaged in the grocery business until retiring in 1909. First, he was in business with his brother in law, Charles Mitchell, at the corner of Benton and Second streets. In 1898 he opened his own store at the foot of McPherson street, operation in until 1909. That store was built from lumber from the city’s car barn, used to house horse streetcars. Mr. Tullis also drove the first pay wagon used to carry wages to men building the Kansas City-Ottumwa line of the Milwaukee railroad. He was a member of the First Methodist church. Surviving in addition to the wife, are two sons, Ray Tullis and Ernest Tullis of Ottumwa, four grandchildren, Mrs. Lagurna Hood, who is with her husband stationed in California; Private Ray M. Tullis, of the Army Air Base, Columbus, Ohio, Sergeant J. Howell Tullis with the Army in England, and Mrs. Alda Tullis Maguire, whose husband is at the local air station; and one grandson, Michael Tullis of Milwaukee. Mr. Tullis was preceded in death by one son, John Howell Tullis, March 25, 1942. The body is at the Johnson funeral chapel awaiting completion of arrangements. Funeral services for Manford H. Tullis of 417 East Second street, who died Monday evening, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Methodist church, conducted by the Rev. Herbert A. Keck, D.D. Burial will be in Ottumwa cemetery. The casket will be taken from the Johnson funeral chapel to the church at noon Thursday and will be closed at the beginning of the service. Honorary pallbearers will be John Bright, Frank Logan, Charles Chilton, Joe Hinsey, T.K. Harlan, and Henry Seaburg. Active pallbearers will be C.P. Leinhauser, Dave Michael, Clarence Curtis, William E. Hancock, M.K. Tullis and Harold Tullis.