Rt. Rev. Daniel Sylvester Tuttle, who since 1903 has been presiding bishop of Missouri, was born in Windham, New York, January 26, 1837, a son of Daniel Bliss and Abigail Clarke (Stimpson) Tuttle. The father was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, and was a son of Charles Tuttle, a Revolutionary war soldier of the Connecticut line. Abigail C. Tuttle came of Holland ancestry.
Bishop Tuttle prepared for college in Delaware Academy of New York and was graduated from Columbia College of New York city with the class of 1857. In early manhood he took up the profession of teaching and was thus identified with Columbia College Grammar School for a year, while later he served for a year as a private tutor in New York city. Preparing for the ministry, he was graduated from the General Theological Seminary of New York city with the class of 1862 and in the same year was ordained a deacon of the Protestant Episcopal church, while in 1863 he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1862 he became pastor of Zion church at Morris, New York, where he labored until 1867. From Columbia University he has received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctor of Sacred Theology. In 1867 he transferred his labors from the Atlantic coast to the far west, being consecrated bishop of Montana, Idaho and Utah on the 1st day of May, 1867. He remained in that office for nineteen years and on the 1st of September, 1886, was elected bishop of Missouri, thus continuing until 1903, when he became presiding bishop of the state and has served the church in that important official position throughout the intervening period to the present time.
At Morris, New York, on the 12th of September, 1865, Bishop Tuttle was married to Miss Harriet Minerva Foote, daughter of the Rev. George L. Foote, who was the predecessor of Dr. Tuttle in the rectorship of Zion church at Morris. They have become parents of four children: George Marvine, who married Grace D. Wallace; Herbert Edward, who wedded Willie Lea; Arthur Lemuel, who married Miss Mary Hackley; and Christine, who is now the wife of Stanley M. Ramsey.
In his political views Bishop Tuttle is a republican, having always supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is the president of the Sons of the Revolution, of Missouri, and at all times his patriotic devotion to his country has prompted public-spirited service wherever he felt that his aid and influence could benefit the community, the commonwealth or the nation.
