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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1893.  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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CYRUS TUTHILL, Secretary of the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Dowagiac, was born in Orange County, N. Y., March 12, 1827. His father, Gideon Tuthill, was born in the same State and county, on the 12th of September, 1791, and was the son of Benjamin Tuthill, who was probably born in the same county. The first member of this family that came to America was John Tuthill, who emigrated from England in 1620, and settled on Long Island in the State of New York. His descendants are now scattered through nine of the States, and it is a fact of which they may well be proud that, so far as known, not one of the number has over been arrested on a criminal charge.

The great-grandparents of our subject were Nathaniel and Margaret Tuthill, the former of whom was born January 17, 1730. Grandfather Tuthill was born June 6, 1761, and by his marriage to Ruth Knapp became the father of nine children, eight of whom attained manhood and womanhood, Gideon being the eldest of the number. In the honorable pursuit of the vocation of a farmer, Benjamin Tuthill gained prosperity and accumulated a competency. His death occurred May 17, 1829; his wife survived him for a number of years, passing away on the 24th of April, 1848.

In Orange County, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, Gideon Tuthill married Margaret Paddock, the daughter of Nathaniel Paddock, and a great-aunt of Miss Frances J. Crosby (the blind poetess). At the age of thirty-five, Mr. Tuthill removed to Tompkins County, N. Y., where he purchased land and made his home until death terminated his useful career, on the 22d of September, 1867. His wife passed away April 13, 1868. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living, as follows: David, a prominent farmer residing in Tompkins County, N. Y.; our subject; Mary, Mrs. Abram Lane; C. D., who is engaged in farming in Minnesota; and John P., a capitalist of Ithaca, N. Y., and the owner of the old homestead in Tompkins County. The deceased children were: Laura, who married Isaac Banfield, and died in New York State; George, who died in New York; and Ruth, who married William Gardner, and died in the Empire State. Abram Lane, brother-in-law of our subject, was a farmer in Tompkins County, and during the late war enlisted in the service of the Union. Being taken prisoner by the Confederates, he was placed in Libby Prison, and died from the effects of starvation one week after his return from the war. His widow makes her home in Dowagiac.

When nine years of age, our subject accompanied his parents to Tompkins County, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, receiving a good education in the common schools, and also conducting his studies in Ithaca Academy. He taught school in Orange, Chemung and Tompkins Counties, receiving for his first term $10 per month, and for his last term $24, the latter amount being then considered very high wages. For a short time he was in the employ of the Erie Railroad Company, and later engaged in merchandising at Howells, N. Y.; he also was railroad agent for two years at that point. In 1855 he came to Michigan and located in Dowagiac, where for six and a half years he engaged in the mercantile business. From that he turned his attention to agriculture, and, purchasing a partly improved farm in Pokagon Township, made his home there for fourteen years, and conducted general farming upon its one hundred and thirty acres.

Leaving the farm in 1879, Mr. Tuthill came to Dowagiac and engaged in the insurance business here. On the 16th of November, 1852, he married Miss Frances, daughter of Joseph Beakes, an extensive farmer of Orange County, N. Y. Mrs. Tuthill died June 24, 1879, leaving thee children: Annie J., the wife of John Canright, a resident of Saratoga, Wyo; Harry B., a successful lawyer of Michigan City; and Victor M., a manufacturer of mill supplies at Grand Rapids, and a member of the firm of Baldwin, Tuthill & Bolten, prominent business men of that city. Politically, Mr. Tuthill was a Whig until 1856, and since then has been a Republican. At the present time he is President of the Board of Education of Dowagiac, and has served as Supervisor for a number of years. While residing in Pokagon Township he was Justice of the Peace for two years. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is Past Grand of the lodge. He is a devoted member of the Congregational Church, and takes great interest in religious work.

The Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Cass County was organized May 8, 1863. Mr. Tuthill was appointed Secretary in March, 1876, and has held that position ever since. The territory of the company covers Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties, and on the 31st of December, 1892, there were three thousand six hundred and fifty members. The charter of the company expired May 8, 1893, at which time a new company, called the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Dowagiac, was organized. The charter of the old company expired by constitutional limitation, and the new company was organized February 2, 1892, and a charter adopted. At a meeting held May 17, 1892, officers were elected, and our subject was chosen Secretary of the new company. There are now about thirty-one hundred stockholders, and when there is a loss an assessment is made to pay the damages. The rates do not exceed one-half of the regular standard companies, thus securing cheap and safe insurance. The fee is $2 for membership, and ten cents on each $100 invested.

The President of the company is C. H. Kimmerly, a resident of La Grange Township, Cass County. There are seven Directors, including the President and Secretary. The others are as follows: John W. Bedford, of Berrien County; Erastus Osborn, of Van Buren County; M. J. Gard, of Volinia Township, Cass County; William E. Bogue, of Penn Township, Cass County; and T. T. Higgins, of Jefferson Township, Cass County. The company is chartered by the State, and is upon a solid financial basis. An annual statement is issued and published for two consecutive weeks in the county papers during the month of January.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published in 1893. 

View additional Cass County, Michigan family biographies here: Cass County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Cass County, Michigan here: Cass County Michigan Map

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