Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-15
TnIlis. the NTiser.

The land trader and speculator, whose
will is the subject Of a controversy as yet
undisposed Of in our courts, was a man
sufficiently remarkable in the modes Of ac-
quiring his possessions, and Of disposing
or rather holding on TO his accommodations
for, as a miser, be is entitled to rank with
the most distinguished Of that class Of in
dividuals-as to render a brief narrative
Of his early and later years Of some inter
est. In a conversation with Mr.. Alex.
Long, General Cary, and some Others, who
were acquainted with this singular person
from bOyhOod, reporter Of the CONNER
eIaI learned the following particulars;
jeremiah c. Tullis and his brothers we're
educated at Gary's academy, IN TINS eouh-
tY. They boarded at home with thelr lath-
er. and walked from the farm, IN spring
field township. TO the sehooi ana nome
oe,,i,, IN the evening. jeremiah was hard
sfndent. and devoted his principle atten-
fion ro mathematics. He thoroughly mas
tered surveying and in solving the most
difficult problems in algebra, trigOnOmetry
and geometry led his class. He was In
short bright young man. Neither he nor
his brothers, however, we're physically
stout, and his brothers died early of con-
sumption, which was said to be a heredita-
" taint in the family. After going through
his studies at the academy he read law,
and was a close student. With Blackstone
and other elementary books be was quite
familiar. After the death Of his father,
who left him considerable property to start
with, be went into general trading for him
self. He loaned money usually at eXorbit-
ant interest, and 10 dodge the usury laws
would throw in a horse 10 the borrower, as
he always had large number OF horses on
the farm. purchased at the Fifth street
auction stables for a small amount in the
fall.
When he had mortgages to foreclose or
any legal business to transact, he never
undertook to manage it himself, appreciaU-
ing the axiom that the man who IS ms own
lawyer, has a fool for his client. He ihvari-
ably made a bargain, however with his
lawyer and his idea was that the fOrecloS-
ure Of a mortgage for $4,000 was worth
no more than one for $500. BE would fix
the price himself, and if the lawyer was
not satisfied, jeremiah would 60 elsewhere.
In the matter Of clothing be took no pride;
he wore the cheapest kind, and some Of his
garments were in use over twenty years.
Having a number OF farms which pro-
dueed large quantity Of hay, he would
have five or six wagons every day in the
Sixth Street Market, and frequently super
intended the sale himself. He seemed to
have a mania for trading in real estate,
and if be could buy it cheaply 1t did
not matter to him where il was He
accumulated vast amounts in many of
the States, but principally in Ohio, Missis-
sipppi, Tennessee and Kentucky. II is
said that be was offered, several years
since, $3.50, OOO for his Iowa lands He
would buy but never sell, though he would
trade. He became known as a land trader
and speculator all over the country, and
men came from all parts of the country to
trade lands with him. During the last
years of his life there would be as many as
from fifteen to twenty persons in his Office
on the same business at the same time.
lie was ready, in fact, to buy anything
provided he could do so at a low price, and
at his death, when an inventory was taken
of his effects, there were two rooms in the
building where his Office was, filed with
boots, shoes, bonuets, and variety Of 9TH
er things, which he had bought cheap at
auction.
jeremiah Tullis scarcely ever travelled.
About the time he made his will he intend
ed to 90 to Cuba, and started to 90 by way
Of New York, but on reaching that city he
gave mp the idea and returned home. He
visited.the Centennial with one Of the Floyd
boys, who seemed to be a favorite with
him, as he made the largest specific bequest
in his will to him, besides deciding to him
several valuable pieces Of property in this
county and in Kentucky.
At his home everything was Of the plain
est description, aud in some Of the rooms
would be found horse-cOllars, harness,
hames, etc. The Floyd family lived in his
house for years, and there were some vague
rumors as to his relations with them, which
were expected TO come out if the contest
Of the viii (now probably brought to
compromise) had proceeded to the hearing
of the testimony.
he was mlserly to the last degree, and
would not pay any money if be could help
it. In a trial before arbitrators, which
took place some months since, in relation
to a claim Of his cousin, Jack Tullis, for
services performed, it was stated that af
ter Jack would work a whole week for
him, the highest amount jeremiah would
60 nun Va a DtIutuoy AiBul5 Mouiu De
fifty cents. Jack would tell him that he
could not 60 to market on thar, and the
other would reply, "Well, I can do it"
General Cary, meeting him short time /
before his death, looking in a miserable !
condition and complaining of his health, |
inquired why he did not spend little Of |
his means in providing for his own person
al comfort, instead of boarding his money
for Others, who, when he was gone, would
have no respect for him. The reply of
Tullis was that the happiness Of some men
was in accumulating, Of adding daily some
thing to their possessions, as the happiness
OF Others lay IN spending; and that he was
not at all disturbed by the reflection that |
those who would succeed to his property /
should be profuse and liberal in spending |
It. Gin. Comm.