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Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HARVEY Z. TUTTLE, a respected and prominent farmer of Freetown, is a son of Chauncey and Phoebe Jane (Fuller) Tuttle, and was born November 5, 1853, in the town of Fairfield, Herkimer County, N. Y. This family is of English origin, but some of its members came to America at an early date, and there are records that show that the Tuttle family, of which our subject is a member, is connected with the Tuttles, who were pioneer settlers of New England. From these primal representatives is descended through a long line, Ransom Tuttle, the grandfather of the present scion. Ransom Tuttle was born July 8, 1785, and died in Salisbury, N. Y., December 4, 1865. He was married to Ethena Ellis in December, 1806. She was born December 4, 1788, in Westmoreland, N. H., and passed away July 2, 1871. They were the parents of the following children: Sarah C., born August 28, 1807; Eliza, born in December, 1808, and died January 17, 1853; Alanson, born September 14, 1810; Saphronia, born September 18, 1812 ; Harriet, born November 15, 1814; William, born May 9, 1817, and died October 17, 1828; Chauncey, born December 20, 1819; Polly, born December 25, 1821, died September 4, 1850; James H., born July 27, 1824, a Universalist minister, living in Minneapolis, Minn.; Ransom, born November 7, 1826; and William H., born November 26, 1828.

Chauncey Tuttle was born in Herkimer County, but moved from there to Freetown in 1855. He was an agriculturist all his life; he purchased a farm about three-quarters of a mile from Freetown, upon which he lived until about 1881, when he removed to Freetown Corners. Since that time he has not been actively engaged in business. He has always been a Republican, and has served as assessor of the town of Freetown for a number of terms. He was married March 17, 1843, to Phoebe Jane Fuller, a daughter of Zenas Fuller. She was born in Springfield, Otsego County, N. Y., September 20, 1821, and died July 29, 1895, at the advanced age of seventy-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Tuttle were born four children, three boys and one girl, namely: James C.; Emily D. and William D., twins; and Harvey Z. James C. Tuttle enlisted in the late war in the 76th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., in September, 1861, and re-enlisted in 1864 in Co. D., serving as corporal; he was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, when so many brave boys laid down their lives for the country.

Harvey Z. Tuttle attended the common schools in his early youth, then the McGrawville Academy, and took two terms in the Cortland State Normal School; in 1873 he completed a course in Eastman’s National Business College of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He commenced life for himself as a farmer in Freetown, and has always been engaged in agricultural labors. In politics he is a Republican, frequently representing his party at county conventions. In February, 1896, he was elected supervisor of Freetown, and in 1898 was re-elected to the same position. He is a member of the Freetown Grange, No. 489, believing that by co-operation the farmers could be greatly benefited. For the past five years he has been a director of the Cortland County Patrons Relief Association. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Freetown Creamery Co. Mr. Tuttle has been twice married; his first wife was Lottie Eades, whom he married December 31, 1875. One child was born to them, Carrie, born December 14, 1878. On September 8, 1880, our subject solemnized his nuptials with Ina E. Metzgar, daughter of James and Clarissa M. (Wildman) Metzgar of Freetown, N. Y.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

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