John Q. Tufts
Encyclopedia
John Quincy Adams Tufts (July 12, 1840 – September 4, 1902) was an American
Republican
politician
from Iowa
and California
.
The son of Servetus Tufts and Emily (Dudley), John Q. was born near Aurora, Indiana
(according to one record) or Wilton, Maine (according to another), Tufts moved to Muscatine County, Iowa
, with his parents in 1852. He attended common schools as a child and then Cornell College
. He married Susan Shaw Cook on October 10, 1861. She was the daughter of Henry and Phebe (Norton) Cook, was educated at Leigh University and prior to their marriage was a school teacher. They had eleven children.
In 1858, Tufts moved to Cedar County, Iowa
, and engaged in agricultural
pursuits.
Tufts was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
in 1870, 1872 and 1874. In his final term he was the chairman of the Railroad Committee of the Iowa House, and was considered a strong advocate for railroad regulation.
In 1874 he was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives
. He did not run for re-election in 1876. He served in Congress from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1877. He was also a United States Indian Agent in the Union Agency at Muskogee
in the Indian Territory
(now Oklahoma
), from 1879 to 1887.
During his tenure as Indian Commissioner, he organized the first unit of the United States Indian Police
in February 1880. In his annual report to the Secretary of the Interior, John Q. Tufts consistently asked to have the number and pay increased for the United States Indian Police. He urged the government to resolve the question of citizenship in the Indian Nation and he supported the freedman
's claims to citizenship in the Cherokee Nation
. John Q. Tufts also asked that laws be passed to provide imprisonment of intruders who return after being removed for the theft of coal and timber. The intruders were often whites who stole with impunity from Indian lands.
Tufts moved to Los Angeles
, California
in 1888, where he engaged in the real estate
business. He served as president of the Los Angeles City Council
from 1892 to 1896.
He died in Los Angeles at age 68. He is interred in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
The son of Servetus Tufts and Emily (Dudley), John Q. was born near Aurora, Indiana
Aurora, Indiana
Aurora is a city in Lawrenceburg and Center townships of Dearborn County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,965 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Aurora is located at ....
(according to one record) or Wilton, Maine (according to another), Tufts moved to Muscatine County, Iowa
Muscatine County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 42,745 in the county, with a population density of . There were 17,910 housing units, of which 16,412 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, with his parents in 1852. He attended common schools as a child and then Cornell College
Cornell College
Cornell College is a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Originally called the Iowa Conference Seminary, the school was founded in 1853 by Reverend Samuel M. Fellows...
. He married Susan Shaw Cook on October 10, 1861. She was the daughter of Henry and Phebe (Norton) Cook, was educated at Leigh University and prior to their marriage was a school teacher. They had eleven children.
In 1858, Tufts moved to Cedar County, Iowa
Cedar County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,956 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,064 housing units, of which 7,511 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, and engaged in agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
pursuits.
Tufts was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
in 1870, 1872 and 1874. In his final term he was the chairman of the Railroad Committee of the Iowa House, and was considered a strong advocate for railroad regulation.
In 1874 he was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He did not run for re-election in 1876. He served in Congress from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1877. He was also a United States Indian Agent in the Union Agency at Muskogee
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
in the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
(now Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
), from 1879 to 1887.
During his tenure as Indian Commissioner, he organized the first unit of the United States Indian Police
United States Indian Police
The United States Indian Police were organized in 1880 by John Q. Tufts the Indian Commissioner in Muskogee, Indian Territory, to police the Five Civilized Tribes. The USIP recruited many of their police officers from the ranks of the existing Indian Lighthorsemen...
in February 1880. In his annual report to the Secretary of the Interior, John Q. Tufts consistently asked to have the number and pay increased for the United States Indian Police. He urged the government to resolve the question of citizenship in the Indian Nation and he supported the freedman
Freedman
A freedman is a former slave who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves became freedmen either by manumission or emancipation ....
's claims to citizenship in the Cherokee Nation
Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
. John Q. Tufts also asked that laws be passed to provide imprisonment of intruders who return after being removed for the theft of coal and timber. The intruders were often whites who stole with impunity from Indian lands.
Tufts moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1888, where he engaged in the real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
business. He served as president of the Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
from 1892 to 1896.
He died in Los Angeles at age 68. He is interred in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles.
External links
- John Q. Tufts at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- John Quincy Adams Tufts