The death of the late James L. Tietsort, at his pleasant
home in Girard, Illinois, removed from this city a citizen whose presence
had lent added importance to the place on account of his sterling traits of
character. Mr. Tietsort was born January 30, 1822, on a farm in the vicinity
of Middletown, Butler County, Ohio, and was a son of William and Sarah
(Huff) Tietsort.
The Tietsort family is of Holland extraction and
was founded in America by the grandfather of our subject, who spent his
whole life in New Jersey. There William Tietsort was born, but later removed
to Ohio, and in Butler County married Mrs. Sarah Huff, who was born in
Virginia, and was a daughter of James Law, who was one of the early settlers
of Butler County.
When the late James L. Tietsort was about 10 years
of age, his parents decided to remove to what was then the wilds of
Michigan. The only means of transportation available at that time was by
horses and strong wagons, and thus the long journey was made and the family
and household effects carried. Mr. Tietsort was one of the earliest settlers
in Volinia township, Cass County, and there he spent the remainder of his
life. He came to be recognized as one of the leading men of his township and
he accumulated a large property there, where he passed away in 1872. His
estimable wife survived him but one year. She was a most admirable woman,
and became the mother of a large family, worthily rearing to maturity 14
children.
Our late subject passed his boyhood in hard work and his
schooling was necessarily limited. His treats were trips to St. Joseph, 30
miles away, when he was permitted to accompany his father to market. Game
was so abundant in the vicinity at that time, that no provision of any other
kind of meat was necessary, and hunting and fishing were the diversions of
the region, although somewhat dangerous on account of the presence of roving
bands of Indians, who were not always friendly. The large family were reared
in habits of industry, the parents setting the example. The out-door life
and the bracing climate of the locality developed a strong and sturdy
constitution, which kept Mr. Tietsort until the close of his life vigorous
and alert in both body and mind. He always loved to recall the pioneer days
of his youth in Cass County and his reminiscences could always claim
interested listeners.
By the time he was prepared to begin his own
domestic life, he was already a good farmer, and for two years after his
marriage he continued to manage the homestead farm for his father. In 1856
he decided to remove to Illinois, a less rigorous climate in the more
southern State, with other advantages, attracting him and causing, the
severing of old ties. After farming as a tenant for 10 years, Mr. Tietsort
purchased a tract of 80 acres of good land situated within two miles of
Girard, and to this he later added an adjoining 80-acre tract. This farm,
through continued improvement and intelligent cultivation, is now justly
considered one of the most desirable in Macoupin County and is now under the
management of Mr. Tietsort's son, Melvin Harvey. In 1887 the late Mr.
Teitsort left the farm and bought a comfortable residence in Girard, where
he resided until his death, August 16, 1903.
Mr. Tietsort was united
in marriage on November 30, 1854, with Harriet E. Gould, who was born
February 11, 1838, in White Lake County, Michigan, and is a daughter of
James Harvey and Elizabeth (Quimby) Gould, both of whom were born in
Massachusetts, the latter being a daughter of a Revolutionary patriot. Later
Mr. and Mrs. Gould moved to White Lake County, Michigan, and while Mrs.
Tietsort was still an infant moved to New York State and still later to Cass
County, Michigan, where the father died in 1864 and the mother in 1876. Mrs.
Tietsort still survives. Her interests are carefully looked after by her
son, Melvin Harvey Tietsort, who is a most highly esteemed citizen of
Girard. He married Edna Thacker, who is a daughter of Zachariah Thacker, a
prominent citizen of Macoupin County for many years. They have two children:
James H., who is chief bookkeeper of the People's Bank of Girard; and Nona
E.
The late Mr. Tietsort had been a member of the Masonic fraternity
for many years, and belonged to both Blue Lodge and Chapter and both he and
his wife were members of the Eastern Star. Early in life they united with
the Baptist Church and both have been generous in its support. They were
accorded a long life of companionship and it was sweetened by mutual
affection, love of kindred and the warm friendliness of all who knew them.
Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 176-178.
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