[2] In 1845, his family began a move to Oregon but abandoned their efforts in western Missouri following the death of Tully's father.
[3] In 1849, he drove a heard of sheep to California, returning the next year in a group led by François Xavier Aubry.
[1] This trip was quite profitable as the animals sold for five to ten times their price in Santa Fe.
[3] Shortly thereafter his business interests expanded to include a trading post at Fort Thorn, New Mexico.
[2] While Tully was a Democrat, his willingness to work with the Republican dominated "Federal Ring", which dominated the territorial government of the day, allowed the firm of Tully & Ochoa to obtain a variety of government contracts.
[5] Civic-ally, Tully signed an April 20, 1871, petition calling for Tucson's incorporation.
[2] Tully's first wife, María Trinidad, died in September 1874 after a cigarette she was smoking caused her dress to catch fire.
[5] Politically, Tully was selected to become a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors in October 1871.
[11] With the collapse of his shipping firm, Tully became an organizer and President of the Pima County Bank.