George W. Tulloss

As printed in 1912

GEORGE W. TULLOSS.

This well-known citizen is an excellent representative of the better class of farmers of the United States. He comes from an ancestry that distinguished itself in pioneer times. When the country was covered with an almost interminable forest of large trees and the woods filled with wild animals, his people came here and began to care from the primeval forests, build schools and churches, and introduce the customs of civilization in the wilderness. They were genuine pioneers, willing to take the hardships that they might acquire the soil and the homes that were sure to rise, and it would seem that many of their commendable traits have outcropped in the subject, for he has been a man who has not permitted untoward circumstances to thwart his purposes when once he determined upon a certain course.

George W. Tulloss was born on March 21, 1856, on a farm in Morgan township, this county. He is the son of John J. and Caroline (Smith) Tulloss, both natives of Morgan township, this county, and here they grew to maturity amid pioneer conditions, received such educational training as the old-time log school houses afforded and here they were married and began life on the farm, the father becoming one of the successful tillers of the soil in his part of the county and known as a man of excellent principles. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Emily, deceased; Byron L.

lived in Columbus, Ohio; John J., deceased; Reece P. was a resident of Putnam county, Ohio, for many years, when he died after raising a family, one of which, a son, Reece E., is pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church at Constantine, Michigan; Benjamin F., who was next in order of birth, went to Texas in 1877 and has not been heard from since 1881; George W., of this review; Cynthia A. and Carrie C. are single and living on the old homestead in Morgan township, which place they own and operate. The death of the father of these children occurred in April, 1902, his widow surviving until in March, 1905. They were buried in Fairview cemetery, Miller township, near the old home. The father was a life-long Democrat and a public-spirited citizen, but never an office seeker, though he served as township trustee for many years, also was a member of the local school board for many years. He and his family were members of the old-school Baptist church and he was a devout churchman.

George W. Tulloss was reared on the home farm and was educated in the common schools of the township and the normal school at ETica, Ohio, which his brothers and sisters also attended. He followed school teaching for ten years in Morgan county, Miller township.

Mr. Tulloss was married on September 20, 1883, to Rilla Boner, daughter of Matthew and Hannah (Dallrymple) Boner, the father a prominent citizen of Wayne township and influential in all public matters a prosperous farmer. Mr. Boner's death occurred in May, 1900, at the age of sixty-nine years, but his widow survives. Mr. Boner spent his entire life in this home. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Tulloss has been without issue.

In September, 1883, Mr. Tulloss took charge of the old Boner home, which has been in possession of this family for many years and was one of the first farms settled in Wayne township, originally known as the Lewis farm, Mr. Lewis having purchased one thousand acres from the government. William Boner, grandfather of Mrs. Tulloss, purchased a part of the original tract from Mr. Lewis. Eliphalet Lewis, son of the original purchaser of the land, bought two hundred acres of the original tract from his father; he came out from New Jersey and settled on it. He reared a family of seven children and here he spent the rest of his life. Then William Boner, who was a widower, married the widow Lewis, and to this union two children wer born, Mathew, the father of Mrs. Tulloss, was the son. and Avarilla was the daughter, who became the wife of Ambrose Dallrymple, of Morrow county.

There are one hundred and sixty-five acres of most excellent land in the farm originally owned by Mr. Boner. Mr. Tulloss has kept it well improved and under a high state of cultivation He has an inviting modern home and large convenient outbuildings. The residence stands upon an elevation commanding a fine view of South Fork valley of Owl creek, one of the most fertile valleys in the county. Here he has successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising and feeding. He raises all the feed he can on his farm for his own stock; however, about five years ago he rented his farm and has since lived practically retired, merely superintending his farm in a general way. He also has other interests, having been very successful in a business way.

Mr. Tulloss is a regularly ordained minister of the old-school Baptist church, being pastor of the Wayne Baptist church, which was organized in 1810 and is still an organized congregation. In later years Mr. Tulloss has not been actively engaged in the ministry, but he and his wife are still adherents of that church and have done much good through their work in the same. Fraternally, he belongs to Wayne Grange No. 262, Patrons of Husbandry, and he has been deputy state master of the state grange for Knox county, having held this office for four years, during which period he has organized many new granges, the county having been well organized prior to his incumbency.

Politically, he is a Republican, and he has always kept thoroughly informed on public questions, and has been a frequent attendant to party caucuses and active in elections, but never an office seeker. He has served as a member of the township board of elections and has always been interested in educational matters. He is a splendid gentleman personally and is popular with the people, for they know he stands for progress and wholesomeness in all relations of life.

As printed in Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.