Thomas Louis TULLIS

TULLIS, ENGLE, GRAY, SMITH, GREENWOOD, BRADFORD, HOUSE, LENARZ, MORRIS, VERTIS, BURTON, PRATHER, DEBRUYN, HAYWARD

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/10/2009 at 06:45:20

The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1919

DEATH of T. L. TULLIS.

After an illness of 3 years duration, T. L. TULLIS passed away at his home in Mount Ayr, Sunday Oct. 26 [1919]. Mr. TULLIS came to Mt. Ayr in 1888 and from that time until a few years ago was engaged in the livery business. For many years he carried mail on a star route between Mt. Ayr and Benton and enjoyed a wide acquaintance.

The funeral was held from the house Monday afternoon, conducted by S. P. WILLIAMSON, pastor of the Church of Christ, assisted by Rev. Frank BEAN, pastor of the Methodist Church. Interment was in Rose Hill cemetery [Mount Ayr].

Thomas Louis TULLIS was born in [Fairfield], Columbiana County, Ohio October 24, 1847, and died at his home in Mt. Ayr Oct. 26, 1919. He had suffered 3 years with dropsy, but only in the last 3 weeks was he seriously ill and bedfast.

As a young man he came to Decatur Co., Indiana [Iowa?] and in 1872 after 16 years moved to Ringgold county where he spent the remainder of his days.

He was married to Lydia ENGLE (sic, should be Lydie) ENGLE in 1870 while living in Ohio. To this union were born two children, Rene GRAY and Harvey, both of whom live in this community. Mrs. TULLIS preceded her husband to the great beyond in 1890 after 20 years of marriage.

On June 24, 1891 he married Melvina SMITH and lived happily in this union till his death. Five children were born to them: Glenn S. who is with the army of occupation in German [World War I]; Caryl and Will who live at home; Lucille who died in infancy and Mary Luella [(TULLIS) GREENWOOD].

As a young man he enlisted in Company I, 191st Ohio Infantry and served his country in the Civil War, receiving an honorable discharge in Aug. 1865. He was one of the youngest of the rapidly thinning ranks of the nation's oldest veterans. He became an Odd Fellow in 1876.

To mourn their loss he leaves his sorrowing wife and six children as well as a large number of relatives and friends.

NOTE: Thomas Lewis TULLIS was the third child of John Morlan and Mary (BRADFORD) TULLIS. John Morland TULLIS was born on December 3, 1819, and died March 16, 1893, with interment at South Lineville Cemetery, Mercer County. Missouri. He married on March 11, 1841, Columbiana County, Ohio, to Mary BRADFORD who was born October 15, 1821 in Virginia, and died August 10, 1904.

Lydie (ENGLE) TULLIS, first wife of Thomas Lewis TULLIS, was born in Ohio on April 22, 1845, and died August 17, 1890. Thomas and Eliza married on May 13, 1869, Columbiana County, Ohio, and had two children, Morena "Rena" and Lewis Harvey TULLIS. Morena "Rena" TULLIS was born January 1, 1871 in Iowa and married David GRAY, and were the parents of John GRAY who married Louva HOUSE, the parents of two daughters, Velda and Lavonne GRAY. Lewis Harvey TULLIS was born October 1, 1879 in Iowa and married Mildred (?).

Melvina L. SMITH, second wife of Thomas Lewis TULLIS, was born March 29, 1894, and died October 28, 1939. Melvina and Thomas were the parents of five children: Glenn A. TULLIS, born August 22, 1894, Iowa, and died October 28, 1939, married to Luella (?); Lucille TULLIS, born January 15, 1897 and died March, 1897; Caryl TULLIS, born August 26, 1899, Iowa, and died December 22, 1932, married Del FOSTER; John William TULLIS married Louise LENARZ who was born September 9, 1903, and had son James Howard TULLIS who married Beverly MORRIS, the parents of Linda TULLIS [Mrs. Van VERTIS], Michael TULLIS, David TULLIS, and Colleen TULLIS [Mr. Ted Van BURTON, Sr.]; Mary Luella TULLIS married P. D. GREENROD (1912-1971), and had a daughter, Patsy Lou GREENROD who married George PRATHER and were the parents of Terri PRATHER [Mr. Cornelius DeBRUYN], Patrick PRATHER, Debbie PRATHER [Mrs. Richard HAYWARD], Michael PRATHER, and Darrell PRATHER.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, 2008