1902 obituary. Contributed by Jim Petrimoulx - April 2008.
The Bay City Tribune -- Thursday, December 30, 1893 (Page 5)
Passed To Eternity
Dr. Horace Tupper Died At His
Home Yesterday Morning
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Had Been Confined to His Bed for Over Four Months
First Located in Bay City About Forty Years Ago
And Practiced Profession Continuously Since
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Dr. Horace Tupper, a pioneer resident of Bay City, died at 8:15 yesterday morning at his home 1009 Washington avenue, after an illness of over four months, during which time he had been confined to his bed. The doctor had long been a sufferer from cancer, the results of disorders contracted while in the army during the civil war. His family was aware that he could not recover, but his condition did not become critical until a few days ago, a hemorrhage being the cause of death.
The news of the death was a shock to the many friends of Dr. Tupper, who, while knowing of his illness, were unprepared for the announcement of its sudden termination. With him when the dissolution came were his wife and son, Horace Tupper, jr, and his brother and sister, Benj. S. Tupper and Miss Laura Tupper both of Pittsburg.
The funeral will take place at 2:30 Friday afternoon from the family residence.
Horace Tupper was born October 2,1830 near Pine Plains, Columbia county, N.Y. He studied with his father also a physician, until he was 21 and went to Buffalo and entered the office of Dr. Frank Hamilton as a student. He had full access to the Sisters general hospital, remaining there through the whole term of Prof. Hamilton’s charge of the surgical side of the hospital. He then entered the Edward Street female hospital in Buffalo, where he combined study and practice for two years. When the war of rebellion broke out he attached himself to the Fourteenth regulars and was soon changed to the Second brigade, sixth division, and was assigned to service in the batteries of the sixth division, Army of the Tennessee, as surgeon, with the rank of major. He remained with his battery until reaching Corinth, Miss., and saw service at the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Farmington, Corinth and a number of other places. Illness then forced him to retire from the service.
He came to Bay City in 1862 and became interested with Samuel Bolton in the Keystone mill property in West Bay City, building a salt block in connection with the mill. The plan of the salt block was to use exhaust steam from the mill; also to use the slabs and sawdust to make live steam to keep up the required heat to crystallize. The plan proved successful and was quickly adopted by others, and is still used by the salt blocks of the valley.
The doctor soon found that he was the only surgeon in the locality and his services were in great demand at the then village of Bay City and vicinity. In fact, he was the only surgeon in this part of the valley for 15 years and until within a very short time of his death was kept busy in professional work. He was a member of the G.A.R. and served as commander of H.P. Merrill post of this city. He was married at Buffalo, December 24,1862 to Miss Elizabeth Trinder. Daughter of William Trinder of Chadwington, Oxfordshire, England, who with their son Horace, jr., survives him. In politics the doctor was always an energetic Republican, but could never be induced to accept any political office.
None at this time.