Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-20

MarShaNtOWnS OLDEST CltlZeH. Josept
Tuffree, lacking less than month OF
celebrating his 103d anniversary. dice
at midnight Sunday at his home. POI
South First street. following week
illness Of grip. Because Of his extreme
age Mr.. Tuffree was unable to over
come the illness.
Mr.. Tuffree's condition became
alarming last Thursday night. but Fiji
day he appeared better. He continued
about the same until sunday morning
when he became drowsy and slept near
IL ali the day. The end was most peace
FL, and came as one might have Slept
ones life away. He was conscious az
most to the end.
Was Oldest Elk in World.
M ruffrea was the oldest Elk II
the world, that distinction having CONS
10 him on his Tooth anniversary. Feb
10 1910. when he was initiated into
Marshall lodge, No. BIZ, at specia
session, the first held in the new Elhs
home.
Mind Active For Years.
Mr.. Tufree was most remarhao !t
man. both physically and rental!S riis
memory was clear, not only on aliaii
that happened many years ago. as
the case with many old people ou
with the events &C more recent Nedi
His mind was active. as may De INA
med from the fact that he had oeeh II
his office almost every day, looking al
| ter his own business affairs up 10 the
time of his last illness. HIS hearihe
was as acute as would pc expected ~
any normal person OF half the age ahc
il was not uncommon for Mr: uiree
to remind those with whom ne lnlsh'
be talking that they need not SPEAK any
louder to him than the would 10 MAKE
themselves hear.
Tha, Mr. Tuffree was q fighter "as
evidenced in lawsuits he had had IN tH'
district court during recent years NJ
celebrated his 99th anniversary by De
ing in court, as plaintiff for the thlre
time in the trial OF case oTough
against John Q. Saint, former post
ma ter. for $3.50 commission Tor IN
sale OF Saints residence property. IN
first trial of the case resulted in dis
agreement: the second in verolc' 10
the plaintiff in the sum OF wv am
costs. The third trial resulted IN
i-c,ear victory for Mr.. Tuffree. who va
awarded the full amount OF his clam
and the interest.
last Sickness Ssventy-Six Years Ago
Mr.. Tuffree's last illness OF any con
sequence was over sevent!-slS year
ago. in Pittsburgh, Pa, where NJ
landed in the fall Of 1896. He had peer
bothered for several years, ever! lati
with an acute stomach trouble "hlcf
was believed 70 have been due to ma
1a-ial conditions He had hard at
tack upon reaching Pittsburgh. ane
went TO see DR.. Speer, one OF the lhet
prominent physicians Of Pittsburgh
Dr Sheer treated him and Mr.. Tuffref
has never seen a day since that IL
was not able to place his feet undel
tho table and eat his meals because
Of illness until week ago. The oic
doctor who treated him died eignteet
years ago.
Used Tobacco Eishty-one Years.
Whatever may be the difference o
opinion as to the use of tobacco al
fecting longevity Mr.. Tuffree's cas-
will oppose the statements OF mos
scientists. Mr.. Tuffree began usins
tobacco when IL years old, and 10
I eightv-one years used it botn IN IN
form Of smoking and chewing ~
! gave up the weed ten years ago. no"
i ever. without any inconvenience what
I ever.
Early Business Man Of Pittsburgh.
Mr. Tuffree was one Of the earl.
l business men Of Pittsburgh. where TO
ten wears, from 1886 until 1916, he wa
engaged in the grocery and baker
| business. His little store was on VIVA
was then known as Penn street. bu
1 now is designated under the more dig
! nified title Of Penn avenue Alter u
4 had been in business on Penn stree
a few years he moved into the "dia
4 noond." the heart Of the market center
There he remained until he had a.
oppo-runity TO dispose of his bushes
at good profit.
The landing Of Mr. and Mrs. Tuffre
in Pittsburgh, where they prosperec
was more of an accident than anytnin
l else and was due to the fact that NJ RS
l Tuffree was taken i'll on the 1ourne!
i The original destination Of the couple
& upon leaving the east, was Missouri
. but when Mr. and Mrs. Tuffree got a
far as Pittsburgh it was not considere
\ advisable to proceed further owing t
Mrs. Tuffree's illness. The couple like
the town after being there on tina
enforced stay, and decided to renair
and the first twenty years of thei
married life were spent there and /
the adjoining Greene county.
Becomes Tavern Keeper.
After disposing Of his business
Pittsburgh Mr.. Tuffree moved int
Greene county, at village then know
as Jacksonville, situated On the maj
pike from waynesburg, the count
seat. Here Mr.. Tuffree opened gen
eral store, and later built a publ
house, or tavern, which he operated &c
three years and sold. This was tn
first public house in the town.
In the days when Mr.. Tuffree wer
to Pittsburgh there was not railroa
into the city. There was a short liz
OF railway from Philadelphia to CO
lumbia, on the Susquehanna river, an
this route was taken by Mr.. and Mr.
Tuffree From Columbia they entere
Pittsburgh thru a canal that had bee
built between the two towns.
Native Of Delaware.
Mr.. Tuffree was a native Of New
castle county. Delaware, where he We
thorn Feb. 10, 1910. He spent his boy
hood and young manhood in his natir
state and Maryland. and at Elktol
Md. on Aug. I. 1885, claimed as b