BIOGRAPHY: William E. Tuttle; Nyack, Rockland co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

WILLIAM E. TUTTLE, President of the village of Nyack, is one of the
representative business men of Rockland County. About 188o he embarked in the
business of a shoe manufacturer, and in 1892 erected the building on the
corner of Mill Street and Jackson Avenue which he now occupies. The plant,
which is one of the best in this locality, has a capacity for four thousand
pairs of shoes weekly, the products being sold direct to New York City
jobbers. Employment is furnished fifty hands, and about $3,000 is paid out in
wages per month, the business requiring a capital of $15,000.

In this village Mr. Tuttle was born June 14, 1844. His father, William, a
native of Westchester County and a tailor by occupation, came to Nyack about
1834, and died here when our subject was an infant. His mother, also a native
of Westchester County, and known in maiden-hood as Sarah Patterson, was left
at her husband's death with four little children. She had a small house, and
succeeded in keeping the family together until her death, which occurred when
William E. was a lad of ten years. After that he was obliged to support
himself. He worked on a farm, receiving his board and clothes in return for
his services and being permitted to attend school during the winter months.
This continued until the outbreak of the Rebellion.

At the first call for troops, in the spring of 1861, Mr. Tuttle enlisted, but
was not accepted, being under size and age. However, in the fall of the same
year, he enlisted as a member of Company F, Forty-eighth New York Infantry,
under Col. J. H. Perry, of Brooklyn After the fall of Ft. Fisher he was
promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant of Company D. Prior to that he had
held all the non-commissioned offices in Company F, including that of First
Sergeant, the highest. He was serving as Lieutenant at the time of his
discharge, in September, 1865. After the engagement at Ft. Fisher, he joined
Sher-man's army and marched with that illustrious General as far as Raleigh,
where he stopped with General Schofield's corps. In the charge upon Ft.
Wagner, during that fierce and bloody engagement, he was wounded by a
musket-ball in the breast, but the wound, fortunately, did not prove serious.
After joining Company D, he was stationed mainly at Raleigh and participated
in few active engagements. He remained in that city from the time of Lee's
surrender until he was honorably discharged, after a service of more than four
years.

Returning to Nyack, Mr. Tuttle secured employment in a shoe factory, in which
occupation he continued until 188o, when he started in business for himself.
His has been a successful commercial career, though, in common with all
manufacturers, he has suffered from the financial depression of the past few
years. As a business man he is keen, far-seeing and energetic, and his life
presents an example of what can be accomplished by one who begins poor, and
without education or influential friends. He married Miss Louisa Ennis, of
this village, and they have a pleasant and comfortable home here.

Mr. Tuttle is an active Grand Army man and is connected with Waldron Post, in
which he has held all the official positions. He possesses considerable
influence in that organization, and numbers many friends among the old
soldiers who fought with him for the preservation of the Union. For three
years he has served as Master of Rockland Lodge No. 723, F. & A. M. His
opinions upon political questions have caused him to identify himself with the
Republican party, and he is well informed concerning its platform and
principles. For a time he served as Village Trustee, and later was chosen
President of the village, in which responsible position he is serving with
efficiency.