On March 7, 1859 Charles Jackson Tubbs was born in Mitchell County, Iowa to early pioneers of Mitchell County, Caleb and Jane (Harris) Tubbs.
Ruth (Tubbs) Coonradt, daughter of Charles Tubbs, wrote in a letter dated December 27, 1989, "I have heard my Dad say that he was born on what was later called the Stacy Farm west of Osage. As you turned south to go to Spring Park, he was born off to the left next to the river." (Photo of Charles Tubbs, on right, is larger than it appears. Click here, to see better rendition.)
Eleven months later, on January 29, 1860, a sister, Mary J. Tubbs joined the family and three years later in 1863 a brother, Silas G. Tubbs joined them as well.
Here beside the river, in the still untamed wilderness of Mitchell County, Charles spent his early childhood. Charles' father Caleb was a farmer and as Charles got a little older there was undoubtedly plenty of work to keep Charles busy around the farm.
When Charles was about 8 years old, his parents divorced. It is unclear where Charles spent those years leading to adulthood, but by 1880 at the age of 21, he was living in Cedar Twp. Mitchell Co. in the home of Thomas and Jane Clark. It appears as though Charles had been hired by Thomas Clark to be a farmhand.
An interesting thing happened about this time. Thomas and Jane Clark's daughter Ruth Ann returned home to Mitchell Co. after spending most of her childhood with her grandparents in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Ruth was just 19 years old when she first set eyes on her father's farmhand Charles Tubbs, and it was apparently love at first sight.
Charles and Ruth were married just months later on February 22, 1881 at the Methodist Church in Osage. Years later it was laughingly recalled that on their wedding day, snow was piled as high as the windows, and the bride and groom were unceremoniously thrown into a snowdrift when their cutter overturned, before they were even out of sight of the Clark home.
Back Row: Josie, Clayton, Verna
(nee Burtch, Clayton's wife), Jessie.
Middle Row: Ruth Gladys.
Front Row: (John) Ray, Charles, Ruth
(Clark), Earl.
Photo taken circa 1905On May 18, 1883, Charles and Ruth welcomed their first child, Clayton Eugene Tubbs. Clayton was soon followed by brothers John "Ray" in 1886 and Earl Clark in 1891.
Sad news came to the Tubbs' home in July 1895. Charles' sister-in-law Martha, wife of his brother Silas had died. Sadness came to the Tubbs' home again just 7 months later with the news that Silas had been killed while logging in Itasca County Minnesota. With the deaths of both Martha and Silas, a decision was made that Charles and Ruth would take in Silas's now orphaned daughters, Josie age 5 ½ and Jessie age 3 ½.
By this time Charles was almost 37 years old and Ruth was almost 35. Clayton was 12, Ray was 10, and Earl just 4 when Josie and Jessie Tubbs joined the family. Just 9 months later, on November 28, 1896, Ruth gave birth to her last child, Ruth Gladys Tubbs. One can only imagine the challenges that Charles and Ruth must have faced having gone from a small family with just 3 sons, to having a family of 3 boys and 3 girls, 6 children in all, within a matter of months.
Charles and his family farmed for fifteen years on what was known as the J.R. James farm south of Osage. They also farmed in various other places around Mitchell County.
In 1919 after 38 of farming, Charles and Ruth retired from the hardships of farm life and moved into the town of Osage where they lived at 611 Park Street. By this time their children had grown to adulthood and were beginning families of their own.
On February 22, 1931 Charles and Ruth celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a party hosted by their children at the home of son Ray. Due to the mild weather on this February day, all of their children were able to attend.
Just 3 short years later, Ruth died leaving Charles a widower. Shortly after this devastating loss, Charles went to live in the home of his some Earl, and it was here that he died March 25, 1935 just a year after his beloved wife.
Charles’ funeral was held at the Methodist Church in Osage and he was laid to rest beside his wife Ruth at Osage Cemetery.
Notes on Charles Jackson Tubbs:
Census
1880 Cedar Twp. Mitchell Co. IA -- age 21
1895 Rock Twp. Mitchell Co. IA -- age 35
1910 Rock Twp. Mitchell Co. IA -- age 571911 Mitchell Co. Atlas
Tubbs, C. J. & Family: Born in Mitchell County March 7, 1859;
Mrs. Tubbs, March 16, 18611911, Leading Farmers of Mitchell County, Iowa
Tubbs, C.J. ---- Rock Twp