To Get A Prairie Chicken Book Goes on Sale

To Get a Prairie Chicken
Chariton Herald-Patriot, November 22, 1973

    “To Get a Prairie Chicken”, a book based on articles written by Elizabeth Tuttle of Chariton will go on sale at financial institutions in the area Friday.

  The 200 page-book, illustrated, covers human interest “stories of those who created a new life in Mid-America”. A limited number of copies will be available and it is stressed that when the supply is exhausted that no more will be printed.

   All profits from the sale of the paperbacked volume will be allocated to the Lucas County Historical Society’s building project. 

  The book, which gets its title from a story in Chapter XXXIX, is dedicated to Mrs. J. G. Garton and the late Mrs. M. C. Fisher for their efforts in creating the Lucas County Historical Society and its museum.

   The articles are a compilation of those that have been published during the last six years in the Chariton Newspapers.

  “The book is being released just in time for Christmas giving. A copy autographed by the author is certain to become more valuable through the years. It is the type that is handed down from generation to generation,” commented John Baldridge, Chariton publisher.

   Contained in the book are stories, carefully researched by Mrs. Tuttle on human interest stories of the past involving mining, Indians, schools, fire departments, tragedies, the Civil War, and many others. Individuals and families who were prominent in shaping the institutions and past of the area comprise much of the book. There are a total of 41 photographs providing the illustration of dress, architecture and life of various decades, from “Old Betsy” and the “Big Rock” to now demolished schools.

--------------------------

To Get a Prairie Chicken proceeds total $5,106.64

The Chariton Herald-Patriot Sept. 18, 1975

     Sales of “To Get a Prairie Chicken” were launched about two years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle financed the publishing costs and announced that the net proceeds, now determined to be $5,106.64, would go to the Historical Society.

     During the initial year Mrs. Tuttle appeared before organizations and had many inquiries from other historical groups. Dale Burge was enlisted to serve as secretary-treasurer of the “To Get a Prairie Chicken” project, kept the financial records and accompanied Mrs. Tuttle to assist with sales on several occasions.

   “Sales have been made in all 50 states and to servicemen serving at sea in the U.S. Navy, all as the result of news coverage in the Chariton Newspapers and word of mouth advertising. It’s been far more than we ever hoped,” said Mrs. Tuttle.

---------------------------

Elizabeth Tuttle named Citizen of the Year

The Chariton Herald-Patriot Nov. 20, 1973

     Mrs. Tuttle, former Chariton businesswoman and the county’s unofficial historian”, was introduced by the 1972 Woman of the Year, Mrs. Blair Woods.

     The new Woman of the Year has long been active in the Chariton Presbyterian Church, serving as president of the church women’s group. She has served for nine years on the board of the Iowa Cancer Society, has been active in senior citizen work and served for ten years on the Industrial Board that preceded CADCORP.

     Mrs. Tuttle also served for many years as the local representative of the Iowa Children’s Home Society. She is currently a member of the Chariton Woman’s Club.

    The new Woman of the Year is perhaps best known for her historical research and writing.

   For a number of years Mrs. Tuttle has regularly contributed historical articles to the Chariton Newspapers, and in the process has established herself as the county historical authority.

    She recently wrote a collection of articles about the early days of Lucas County, which will be published by the Chariton Newspapers in her first book, entitled “To Catch a Prairie Chicken.”

  Besides her writing, Mrs. Tuttle has also demonstrated a love for her nations and community’s heritage through her work for the Lucas County Historical Society, Mrs. Woods told the chamber members in attendance.

     Mrs. Tuttle was awarded a plaque commemorating her as the 1973 Citizen of the Year.