Tuttle, George M.

George M. Tuttle was born at Shelbyville, Illinois, on February 3, 1872, to parents Elisha Tuttle and Elizabeth Parryman. Raised in his birthplace, he attended local public schools before spending several years working in coal mining and foundry trades in Dayton, Ohio, and Shelbyville. Following a strike in 1908, he relocated to Fresno, California, in 1909 to pursue new agricultural opportunities.

In Fresno County, George established a successful career in farm management by working for W. H. Dillon and R. N. Barstow. He became the foreman of Barstow’s 260-acre alfalfa ranch in 1914 and later accepted the foremanship of the 285-acre Silvera ranch at Tranquillity in August 1918. Active in community life, he maintained memberships in the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, supported local civic improvements, and served on the Grand Jury in 1918.