G. Fredrick Tuttle

George Fredrick (Fred) Tuttle was born in Defiance, Defiance County, Ohio, on March 5, 1870. His parents were Christopher Columbus Tuttle, born November 2, 1826, and Editha Arundle (Girard) Tuttle. She was born in Virginia (date unknown).

As a young man he settled in Napoleon. He married Pauline Gehringer of Napoleon Township on June 30, 1894. She was born in Napoleon Township on August 29, 1873. Her parents were Frederick Gehringer and Pauline (Reppune) Gehringer (refer to article on Frederick Gehringer).

They had six children: Harry (died in infancy); Doris L. Stegner, Detroit, Michigan, born June 16, 1897. She married E. E. Stegner of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. They have eight children: Marilyn Runkle, Girard F., Doris C. Strane, Joan Barton, Thomas T., and Margaret G. Sinclair. Two died in infancy.

Girard, Lansing, Illinois, born September 29, 1899, died April 25, 1964; he married Rozella Myer of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. They had one son, Donald.

Roger F., Napoleon, born September 10, 1906. He married Viola Burkholder of Archbold, Fulton County, Ohio. They have one daughter, Janet M. Rothrock.

G. Everette, Napoleon, born August 1, 1909, unmarried.

Austin E., Napoleon, born August 12, 1914. He married Elizabeth M. Buckmaster of Napoleon. They have a daughter Nancy L., and a son, Austin, Jr.

Fred Tuttle was a building contractor in Napoleon his entire life. He built St. Paul's Methodist Church, corner W. Washington and Webster Streets, in 1921-22; the Presbyterian Church, corner W. Washington and Webster Streets, in 1901-03; the Emanuel Lutheran Church (American Lutheran Synod), W. Clinton and Scott Streets, in 1917-18; the Carnegie Library, Woodlawn Avenue, in 1912; Seven-Up Bottling Co., 116 E. Clinton St., in 1921; the Old Vocke Building, N. Perry and W. Clinton Streets, in 1899; the building on the corner of N. Perry and W. Main Streets, now occupied by Dr. Chas. Thompson, Optometrist, Lankenau & Lankenau Law Offices and Evans Office Supply Company, in 1929. He converted the R. B. Heller home into the original Heller Memorial Hospital in 1920. He remodeled the Community Bank in 1930. He also built many homes in Napoleon. A few include those of Mrs. Emmett Slough, 704 W. Washington St.; Mrs. Flora Delventhal, 821 Haley Ave.; the dental office of Dr. James Moden, Jr., 555 W. Washington St.; Russell Austermiller, W. Washington and Haley Sts.; Edmund N. Yeager, 323 W. Clinton St.; Florian Sauer, 451 Welsted; Dr. Gary A. Westendorf, 417 Welsted St. (Charles Clay, former owner); Mrs. Don Orwig, 543 W. Washington St. and Carl Holzer, 646 W. Washington St., and many more.

He served one term as Mayor of Napoleon, from January 1, 1914 to December 31, 1915.

He was an active member of the Elks Lodge for many years.

He died on April 1, 1960; Pauline Tuttle died July 18, 1961.

Submitted by Viola Tuttle