#52Ancestors - Brick Wall - Tutes Was a Builder

Susan Jane (Briggs) Thomas with her four
youngest children.  Frank (in back), twins
Charles (L) and Tutes (R) and baby
Winston Cleveland, who would pass away
soon after this photo.

          Since I already wrote about my biggest brick wall ancestor, I decided to take a different route.  I want to write this week about my great-grandfather who BUILT brick walls.

           William Oscar Thomas was born on the 7^th of February 1886 at the family home near Fanning, Kansas.  He was a twin, his brother was named Charles Owen.  The twins were the tenth and eleventh children of twelve children born to Winston and Susan Jane (Briggs) Thomas.  Four of their older siblings had died as infants.  Luckily, both of the twins survived. 

                      

         While just an infant, William earned the nickname that would follow him all his life.  Some never knew his true name, they only knew him by his nickname.  As he slept in his cradle, one of his uncles looked down at him and said, “He looks just like my old hound dog Tutes.”  And so it was.  William Oscar Thomas became Tutes Thomas.

Tutes and Ada's Wedding Photo

                Tutes attended country schools until eighth grade, which was quite common for the time.  In 1901, father Winston passed away.  Tutes, Charles and older brother Frank took over running the family farm and helping their mother. 

                On the 25^th of August in 1907, Tutes married Ada Veretta Whetstine.  Ada was the youngest daughter of Anson and Sarah (Graves) Whetstine.  On March 29, 1908 they welcomed their first son (my grandfather), Harley Algernon Taft Thomas.  Four years later their second and last child was born, Oscar Anson Thomas, born 14 March 1912. 

                On the 1910 census, Tutes gave his occupation as a farmer.  When he registered for the World War I draft, his occupation was carpenter.  This was the occupation he would have the rest of his life.  Tutes was a builder. 

                Tutes, Ada and the boys moved to Horton, Kansas after the dam on Mission Lake broke in June of 1925.  Their first home was a rental at 1445 1^st Avenue West, where they were still living in 1930.  They paid $12.50 a month rent.

The Civic Center at the Fair Grounds in Horton

         Tutes’ first job in Horton was reconstruction of the dam and spillway at Mission Lake.  He also did work for the WPA, constructing the big barn at the fair ground as a part of that.  He built bridges in the area in between houses and buildings.  He built three homes in Horton, the Indian Agency building and the fair barn (Civic Center).  His final project was construction of the Upper Wolf Lutheran  Church near Robinson, Kansas.

The Indian Agency building on 1st Avenue East in Horton

                  The family moved to 1245 5^th Avenue West in Horton in the 1930's.  The property came with a large barn, where Tutes had a work bench.   Tutes loved working with his hands.  He carved and created all kinds of clever things.  He made clocks, guns, crossbows, buckets, dust pans and more.  He carved on stone as well, creating tombstones for his parents, Ada’s parents and his grandson who died shortly after birth.  He had also created an incubator for little Gerry before he passed away.   He spent so much time in the barn, either creating or just sitting in the doorway, that the barn swallows became his friends.  He could sit there for hours and the swallows barely knew he was there.  He also loved the wild yellow roses that perfumed the air around the house each summer.

Tutes Thomas on one of his job sites
(Standing in doorway)

The Landau home in Horton, designed and built by Tutes Thomas

Upper Wolfe Lutheran Church near Robinson, KS

                Tutes had been a heavy smoker all of his life and developed emphysema.  He passed away on the 18^th of June in 1963 at Horton Hospital.  I never got to meet Grandpa Tutes and so wish that I had.  I have heard so many wonderful stories about him from so many different people.  Even though I never knew him, the legacy he left is still in Horton and Robinson and I drive by the buildings he built each time I visit my hometown.  I also leave yellow roses at his grave each Memorial Day.