Tuttle 2000 Reunion news article published in the Gove County Advocate (click for more).

J.M. Tuttle History Brief
by Leona Tuttle

John Mallalieu Tuttle, also known as J.M., was born October 17, 1861 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He was a watchmaker, jeweler apprentice in Boston, Mass. At the age of 24, due to health reasons, he decided to go to California. In May, 1886, he boarded the west-bound train and said good-bye to Boston. A cousin, Alvin Elliot, lived in western Kansas. His mother, Mrs. J.C. Elliot, was going west for a visit, so J.M. traveled along with her and decided to stop and visit for awhile. They were met at Collyer and traveled 20 miles southwest by spring wagon to the Elliot ranch in Gove County. This is now owned by Nick Kuntz.

J.M. thought the area was beautiful and green from the spring rains. He bought a horse, saddle and a pair of boots, learned to ride and worked for Elliot that summer. He never did go to California.

In the fall of 1886 he went to the land office in WaKeeney and signed up for a claim (E1/2of E1/2 Sec.20, twp. 13, /R 26) on the high ground a mile east of the Elliot ranch. He set up a watch repair shop in WaKeeney in Sept. 1886. In the spring of 1887 he built a sod house to start proving up on his claim.

About this time people started calling John Mallalieu (J.M.) "Jim". It seems that some clever storyteller at one of the "Literary Programs" decided J.M. should be called "blind Jim" because he was Jim without and "I".

Jim met Alice Idella (Della) Purinton while running his watch repair business in WaKeeney, although she was from the Banner Community, south of Collyer. After several years of courtship, they were married on Nov. 18, 1891 and made their home in the sod house. He was 30 and she was 18 years old.

Now that the Oklahoma territory had opened for settlement, it was possible to drop one claim and take another one. In the fall of 1892 Jim started proving up on another claim down of the Hackberry Creek (NE1/4 Sec32, twp 13, R 26). A one room rock house was built from rock quarried nearby. In approximately 1898 a larger room was built on to the east. In 1910 the house was built on to again.

In addition to being a farmer-stockman, J.M. Was doing a lot of watch and clock repair and made regular trips with the team and spring wagon to Gove City to pick up and deliver work.

George T. Hargitt, Hoffman Livingston and J.M. Tuttle circulated a petition to start a post office. Mr Hargitt opened the first Hackberry post office in his home May 28, 1898. On May 22, 1911, J.M. Tuttle was appointed postmaster of the Hackberry post office. He set up the mail office in his watch shop, so now when the neighbors came to get their mail, they could also pick up the watch or clock they might be having repaired. There was an average of 15 to 20 mail patrons. The Hackberry post office had a life of 33 years, receiving mail three time a week by star route from Quinter. It was discontinued March 14, 1931.

J.M. and Della had eight children: Herbert, Jessie, Ralph, Leonard, Fred, Gertrude, Albert and Walter. J.M. And Della saw many changes. They had lived through prairie fires and dust storms, through good times and bad times.

In early May 1935, J.M. had a heart attack and died from complications on Sunday May 26, 1935 at the age of 73. He had been on the Township Board, an officer in the Hackberry Farmers Union and the Hackberry postmaster for 20 years. A grandson, Wesley Goff, age 12 son of Gertrude and Paul Goff died of pneumonia on May 27, 1935. The following Wednesday a double funeral was held for J.M. Tuttle and Wesley Goff at the Brethren Church in Quinter with burial in the Collyer cemetery. A long time friend, Elder Dan Crist, conducted the service.

Sixty-five years later on May 28, 2000 the descendants of J.M. And Della gathered to celebrate the coming of John Mallalieu Tuttle to Gove County 114 years ago.

For the complete Tuttle history (click here).