WI BIO - Dane Co - TUSLER, James
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 428-429

James TUSLER, a successful business man of Stoughton, Dane County, Wisconsin, 
was born in County Surrey, England, 17 July 1820, a son of Stephen and Mary 
(HAMPSHIRE) TUSLER, who were also born and reared in that county [Surrey]. 
In 1832 they came to America on the "Sovereign," a sailing vessel, leaving 
England 10 April 1832, and landed seven weeks and two days later [31 May 
1832?]. They first located in Oneida County, New York, and in 1835 removed 
to Warren County, Pennsylvania. The parents [Stephen and Mary (HAMPSHIRE) 
TUSLER] reared a family of nine children, eight sons and one daughter, of 
whom our subject [James TUSLER] was the second in order of birth, and the six 
eldest were born in England.

James TUSLER received a good education in England, attended the district 
schools two winters in New York, and also in Pennsylvania. He was engaged in 
farming on his father's farm in the latter State [Pennsylvania] until 
reaching years of maturity, and was also employed as a millwright and at the 
carpenter's trade. In 1850 he came to Dane County, Wisconsin, where he was 
engaged one year in the pineries at Big Bull Falls*; then walked from his 
home to Milwaukee, requiring two and a half days to make the trip. In the 
spring he went to Douglass Mill [?]; and on 01 April 1852 purchased eighty 
acres of land on section 27, Dunn Township [Dane County, WI]. Mr. TUSLER's 
possessions then consisted of a yoke of three old steers, two heifers, and 
four sheep, and after five years of work had succeeded so admirably as to be 
able to take his family to Pennsylvania on a visit. He added to his original 
purchase until he owned 175 acres. In the spring of 1878 he [James TUSLER] 
came to Stoughton [Dane County, WI], and since that time has always taken an 
active interest in the upbuilding of this city. He has served as Assessor of 
Dunn Township three terms, as Supervisor several terms, and has also held 
many other offices of his township. [* Submitter found two possibilities for 
"Big Bull Falls." One is "Bull Falls," now in Marinette County, WI, and the 
other is "Big Bull Rapids," in what is now Sawyer County, Wisconsin. He 
could have reached Milwaukee on foot, about seventy-five miles from his home 
in Dane County, in two and a half days.]

Our subject [James TUSLER] was married 09 July 1843, to Rachel BINDLEY, then 
of Warren County, Pennsylvania, but a native of England, having come to the 
United States when only six years of age. They have had four children: 
Henry M., Herbert M., Horace M., and Helen M. The latter [Helen M. TUSLER] 
is the wife of E. F. PAGE, of St. Cloud [Stearns County], Minnesota. The 
mother [Rachel (BINDLEY TUSLER] died 24 April 1886. Mr. [James] TUSLER has 
in his seventy-first year made for himself a cane composed of 1,378 pieces.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly