John Elliott Tullidge, the artist, was born in Weymouth, a noted seaport on the south coast of England, April 17, 1836, the son of John Tullidge and Elizabeth Dawe Tullidge.

At an early age John showed a decided passion for art. Reared on the seashore, his mind learned to appreciate nature it its sublimest phases, and the invigorating impulses thereby acquired gave him a degree of energy that was an inspiration to him in his beloved art all through his life. At the age of 14 it was necessary for him to learn a trade and he chose house and decorative painting, which luckily was something kindred to the art he admired and which gave him technical skill in a different kind of art, of which he was always aware of the value. But the practicalities of life prevented him from receiving a legitimate art education, the lack of which he always keenly felt.

John was converted to the Latter Day Saints Church by his brother Edward, about the year 1855. Edward was a traveling Elder for the Church for 8 years and it was during a visit home that he converted John and his two sisters, Elizabeth and Jane. A few years later the family moved to Liverpool. John obtained work there and brother Edward was Editor of the Millennium Star. While in Liverpool, John met and married Mary Jane Mathews.

In April 1863, John, his wife, Mary Jane and their 18 month old daughter, Mary Elizabeth, John's father and mother, left England to come to America. During their long trek to Utah, baby Mary Elizabeth became ill and died on the trail. She was buried in a tiny grave on the Plains. The rest of the family continued on their journey arriving in Salt Lake City October 1863.

Soon after coming to the city,John Tullidge opened a paint and paper decorating establishment on Main Street between Second and Third South, opposite the old Walker House. He soon became one of the leading businesssmen of the city. The walls were covered with pictures from the brushes of different artists and from his own. John was essentially a landscape painter and he frequently took trips to the canyons, the Great Salt Lake and other lovely spots. He was a frequent guest of the Walkers in Cottonwood and while there he painted many pictures of the mountains and surrounding places of beauty. His "Sunset on Great Salt Lake" always won first prize whenever he placed it on exhibition. His paintings of Lake Mary, Lake Martha and Lake Solitude at Brighton, also showed his skill in the combination of water, landscape, sky and atmosphere. His knowledge of cool grays, in which he excelled, gave a truthful tone to his pictures, which met with instant public appreciation. Most all of the wealthy people of the city had one or more of his pictures. Another painting of John's, "The Storm" is a painting of the wreck of the Abergaveniny, which occurred on his native coast a few years before his birth. The picture hung in the dining room of the Tullidge home.

Although John was a successful painter and businessman, his marriage to Mary Jane Mathews was a mistake. John wanted to follow the teachings of the Mormon's of having more than one wife, but Mary Jane was opposed to this and requested a divorce one year after they married. The divorce would not become final for several more years. John married Mary Ann (Polly) Bowering, soon after she arrived from England. John and Mary Jane had 4 children. John and Mary Ann (Polly) had 14 children; seven boys and seven girls.

John died in June 20, 1899.
Mary Jane died in Dec 1899.
Mary Ann (Polly) died Nov. 19, 1897.

Information about John E. Tullidge, Jr. is from the collection of
Lorraine Miller in Teasdale, Utah.

Diane Ellison