Alfred A. Tufts, Ouachita County, AR
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SOURCE: Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
Contributed by Carol Smith.
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Ouachita County, Arkansas - from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas
Alfred A. Tufts, receiver of public moneys of the United States land office at Camden, Arkansas, was born September 3, 1847, in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. He was a son of Amos and Adelia (Shipper) Tufts, who were born in Medford and Springfield, Massachusetts, respectively. Some
years after their marriage they removed to Wisconsin. Amos Tufts was a large contractor and builder, and while in Milwaukee built its first pier.
He was also the owner of a wood and willow manufactory, but after being burned out, he removed to New York City, where he engaged in
mercantile pursuits until his death in 1854. His widow, a lady of great refinement and lovely Christian character, survived him thirteen years. The
Tufts family were originally from England and their genealogy can now be traced back to Captain Peter Tufts, who settled in Medford,
Massachusetts, about the year 1838. Alfred A. Tufts received his education in the schools of New York City and Cincinnati, Ohio. At the
commencement of the late Civil War he was residing in Illinois, and although a youth, he responded to the call of his country, and enrolled
himself as one of its defenders; enlisting in Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and after serving
three years, or until the close of the great conflict, was mustered out at Pine Bluff, Arkansas in July, 1865. Shortly after his return to Illinois he
engaged in teaching. In May, 1867, he accepted a Government situation in Camden, Arkansas, and since that time has cast his fortunes for weal
or woe with the people of that hospitable little city. He served as deputy clerk for four years, and afterward was elected county and circuit clerk
for the period of four years, but only served as such two years, being legislated out of office by the adoption of the Baxter Constitution of 1874.
During this period he was licensed to practice law, but has never felt free to devote his time and attention to what, under other circumstances,
would have been his chosen profession. He served as receiver of United States public moneys from 1871 to 1873, when he resigned the
position. In April, 1873, he was again appointed to the same office, and was again reappointed in 1879 and 1883. He was removed by President
Cleveland in 1885 for offensive partisanship, but was reappointed by President Harrison in October, 1889, and now, as heretofore, performs the
duties of his office in an able and efficient manner safely accounting to "Uncle Sam" for every cent of Government money coming into his
hands. He has always been a stalwart Republican from principle and is not in any sense of the word what is commonly known as a Mugwump;
neither can he now be called a "Carpet Bagger," as he has attained a majority residence in the land of his adoption. The following extract from
the Ouachita (Camden) Herald of June 2, 1887, reflects the opinion of the people on that subject: "Twenty years ago today, Captain A. A. Tufts
pitched his tent here, and became a citizen of Camden. He was then almost a beardless youth, but in spite of some obstacles in the way of
sectional prejudices he had come to stay. During these twenty years he has passed through some warm scenes - some heated campaigns - and
has often been arrayed in politics against the Democracy of this county, but his conduct and bearing have ever been such as to denote the
inborn gentleman, and he has commanded the respect and admiration of all classes and creeds. He is now reckoned as one of the most
substantial citizens of our county, and we congratulate him on having nearly attained his maturity as a citizen of Camden." All of the spare time
of his busy life for the past fifteen years has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been quite successful. He is a large, real
estate owner, a public-spirited and useful citizen, and is considered by all an exceptionally good businessman. In addition to the ordinary affairs
of business and politics, Mr. Tufts has taken a deep interest in many secret societies, and is now past grand chancellor and past supreme
representative of the order of K. of P. and past grand commander of K. T. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., a Shriner and in Elk. In February,
1873, he was married to Miss Nellie D. Scott, the youngest daughter of the late Hon. Christopher C. Scott, who for twenty years before the late
war, was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas.