202 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



culture that continued unabated until his death. With a view to 

 making: of Wisconsin a land of orchards, like New England, he be- 

 gan the culture and sale of fruit trees, thus establishing in 1858 

 the first nursery in this section. 



When Abraham Lincoln was president and Cassius M. Clay 

 was our minister to Russian, Tuttle & Son procured scions of Russian 

 fruits with the hope of securing varieties that would withstand the 

 severity of the Wisconsin climate. This was the first direct im- 

 portation into tlie United States of Russian varieties. Doubtless 

 the correspondence growing out of this importation led to the im- 

 portation of Russion scions by the United States government which 

 were distributed a few years later through the U. S. Patent Office. 

 In 1866 he set out his famous Russian orchard, which has at- 

 tracted the notice of horticulturists throughout the country. 



In the autumn of 1904 his failing strength led him to leave 

 his farm and go to the home of his son Herbert, at Water Mill, 

 Wis. Here he was tenderly cared for until his death, which oc- 

 curred July 25, 1905, at the age of ninety years and six months. 

 During the spring and summer he was able to be about the house 

 and grounds until he was stricken with paralysis a week before his 

 death. Up to that time he retained his intellectual powers and his 

 talent for narrating anecdotes. The funeral was at the son's home 

 in Water Mill, but he was buried in Baraboo, by the side of his 

 beloved wife, who died three years before, after they had lived 

 together for more than sixty-four years. They are survived by 

 three sons, Herbert B., of Water Mills, Wis. ; Merrit I., of Fort 

 Morgan, Col., and Edward K., of Mather, Wis. 



Such in brief are some of the leading facts in Mr. Tuttle's life. 

 Dates and data are cold and commonplace, but the Mr. Tuttle we 

 knew and loved, our Mr. Tuttle, was neither cold nor common- 

 place. He was very human. He had a warm heart, an active 

 brain, a quick eye and a ready hand. _ The various qualities that 

 made the man were combined in such a way that they formed 

 a striking personality. The vigorous intellect, the sterling integrity, 

 the indomitable will, the tireless energy, these Corinthian pillars 

 of his character, were reflected in the intellectual features, the frank 

 expression, the broad shoulders, the firm tread, which made him a 

 noticeable figure in any assembly. I should love to speak at length 

 upon these Corinthian pillars of his character, but time forbids. It 

 also forbids more than a mere allusion to the acanthus leaves which 

 twined so gracefully around them. These grew mainly from the 

 kindness of his heart and from his keen sense of humor. As il- 

 lustrative of his kindness you will pardon a personal reminiscence. 



