Background

Luther Tucker was born on May 7, 1802 in Brandon, Vt. He was the youngest of six children of Stephen and Olive (Green) Tucker and a descendant of Robert Tucker who settled in Weymouth, Massachussets, about 1635. His mother died soon after his birth, and the family scattered, leaving Luther in the care of a neighbor.

Education

His formal schooling was meager, but through his own efforts he acquired a good education and became adept as a writer. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a printer of Middlebury, Vt. , and in 1817 moved with his master to Palmyra, N. Y.

Career

During his journeyman years he worked in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington.

In the spring of 1825 he entered into a partnership with Henry C. Sleight of Jamaica, Long Island, printer of standard works for New York houses; some of these bear the imprint of Sleight & Tucker. A little more than a year later, under the firm name of Luther Tucker & Company, Sleight and Tucker established the Rochester Daily Advertiser in Rochester, N. Y. , where Tucker took up his residence. With Henry O'Reilly as its editor, the Advertiser began publication in October 1826; two years later Tucker bought his partner's interest.

The success of the Advertiser, together with his interest in agriculture, led him to establish the Genesee Farmer, Jan. 1, 1831, which despite strong prejudice against "newspaper farming, " soon gained a large following. The Genesee Farmer was published weekly, but from January 1836 to December 1839 Tucker published also the Monthly Genesee Farmer and Horticulturist, made up of selections from the weekly.

In 1839 he sold the Advertiser to devote his full time to farming and his agricultural journal. In October of that year, however, the death of Jesse Buel left the Albany Cultivator without a head, and at the solicitation of his friends and Buel's family Tucker purchased it, merging with it his Genesee Farmer, and early in 1840 moved to Albany to carry on the Cultivator at that place. Here he became an outstanding member of the New York State Agricultural Society and held various offices.

At the annual meeting in 1841 a new constitution which he had prepared was adopted by the Society. This document provided for the holding of state fairs, and thus to Tucker much credit is due for the long series of New York fairs, held annually without a break since 1841, which have contributed largely to the progress of New York agriculture.

In July 1846 Tucker established the Horticulturist, under the editorship of his friend Andrew J. Downing. It at once assumed a position of influence and is still considered America's most notable contribution to the periodical literature of horticulture. Tucker sold it in 1852, however, the year of Downing's death, and in 1853 began to issue a weekly edition of the Cultivator which he called the Country Gentleman.

Since this gradually took the place of the monthly in the interest and preference of the public, he consolidated the two papers in January 1866 under the title of Cultivator and Country Gentleman. At the time Tucker established the Country Gentleman his eldest son, Luther H. Tucker, became associated with him as business manager, the firm name being changed to Luther Tucker & Son. Another son, Gilbert Milligan Tucker, entered the firm in 1867.

The senior Tucker continued as editor until his death, when his sons took over the conduct of the paper.

With Willis Gaylord he compiled in 1840 a work in two volumes entitled American Husbandry, being a series of essays on agriculture first published principally in the Cultivator or the Genesee Farmer.

Tucker died in Albany after a few weeks' illness and was buried in the Albany Rural Cemetery.

Achievements

• Luther Tucker exerted for many years an important influence on agricultural matters, and did perhaps more than any other American of his time to promote the literature of agriculture. He was regarded by his contemporaries as the leader and model of agricultural journalists of the country, and no fewer than ten other agricultural editors received their training under him. He was remarkably successful in enlisting large numbers of the best farmers of the country as contributors to his publications.

Works

More photos

• book

  • American husbandry. Being a series of essays on agriculture Volume 1

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • The Cultivator

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • The Monthly Genesee Farmer, Volume 1

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • The Monthly Genesee Farmer, Volume 2 - Primary Source Edition

    ( This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923....)

  • The Genesee Farmer and Gardener's Journal Volume V

Membership

He was a member of the New York State Agricultural Society.

Personality

Tucker was unassuming, kindly, and generous.

Connections

Tucker was married three times: first, November 19, 1827, to Naomi Sparhawk, who died August 4, 1832, at Rochester, a victim of the cholera; second, October 4, 1833, to her sister, Mary Sparhawk, who died March 8, 1844, of consumption; and third, June 1, 1846, to Mrs. Margaret Lucinda (Smith) Burr, who survived him. A son and a daughter were born of the first marriage, a son and three daughters of the second, and two sons of the third.

Father:

Stephen Tucker

Mother:

Olive (Green) Tucker

child:

Willis Gaylord Tucker*

(1849–1922)

child:

Luther Henry Tucker*

(1834–1897)

child:

Gilbert M. Tucker*

(1847–1932)

Spouse (3):

Mrs. Margaret Lucinda (Smith) Burr

Spouse (2):

Mary Sparhawk

Spouse (1):

Naomi Sparhawk

References

• Pioneer agricultural journalists (American newspapermen, 1790-1933)