A leading property owner of Wallowa county, where he has labored long in the advancement of the same as well as many years in Union county, the subject of this sketch is eminently fitted to be represented in the volume with which we have now to do and in fact in any volume that undertakes to make mention of the leading men of our county. Having wrought in the western country for some years, Mr. Tulley has gained a measure of success that is gratifying while also he enjoys the distinction of being one of those who fought for the defense of the flat in the dark days of internal strife and bloodshed and carnage of war.
James A. Tulley was born in 1845, in the county of Piatt, in the state of Illinois, his parents being Addison and Mary (Bailey) Tulley, who were married in Ohio, but came to Illinois and settled on a farm. At the early age of sixteen, James enlisted in Company F. Ninth Kansas Cavalry, and for eighteen months, he experienced what the hardships of war were and showed the ability that he possessed to do valiant and faithful service for his country. Immediately following this military career, he went at quieter occupations and then in 1865, came to the Grande Ronde valley. Leavenworth, Kansas, being the starting point for that journey, and mule teams the conveyance. He soon bought land near the Cove and turned his attention to raising stock, which occupation engrossed him until 1872, when he came to Wallowa County and took a pre-emption and homestead. To this he has since added by purchase until he has a fine estate of four hundred and thirty-four acres. In addition to this Mr. Tulley owns a good deal of town property and is at the present time residing in Wallowa. He has made a success of farming and raising stock and is prominent among his fellows as an intelligent and enterprising member of society and citizen of the county. Politically Mr. Tulley has always taken a part that manifests his interest in the welfare of the county. He was chosen by the people to act in the important office of county commissioner and with efficiency and faithfulness he discharged the duties incumbent upon him in that relation.
In 1885 the marriage of Mr. Tulley and Miss Zelda McNess, a native of Iowa, was celebrated and they have been blessed by the birth of the following offspring: Clyde, deceased: Guy: Glenn, an infant that has died. Mr. Tulley is a member of the I.O.O.F., Lodge No. 154, in Wallowa. He is one of the progressive men of the county, intelligent, dominated by wisdom and sound principles, and actuated by a public spirit of broad views while he manifests excellent practical judgment in the affairs of life and is respected by all.
