Howard-Boone-Hamilton County IN Archives Biographies.....Dye, Thomas J. 1842 - 
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Author: Jackson Morrow (circa 1909)

THOMAS J. DYE.

   An honored resident of Howard county and a business man of wide repute,
respected and esteemed by his fellow citizens, Thomas J. Dye occupies no small
place in the public gaze, and it is with much gratification that the chronicler
is permitted to place before the reader in this connection a brief outline of
his life and a just tribute to his worth. In tracing the history of the
subject's paternal ancestors it is learned that they were among the large and
eminently God fearing and worthy body of people who, by reason of religious
bigotry and intolerance, were obliged to flee from France between the years 1650
and 1670 and seek asylum in various other countries, the antecedents of Mr. Dye
finding their way to America about 1660 and settling on the southeastern coast
of what is now the state of Maine. Subsequently representatives of the family
left the sterile shores of New England for New York, where in due time their
descendants multiplied and became widely known, and from whence still later
certain of the name migrated to Pennsylvania, where they founded several
flourishing settlements. In the course of time the family gradually spread over
various parts of Ohio and Kentucky, and in 1832 George Dye, the subject's
grandfather, of Pennsylvania, moved from Ohio to Indiana and settled in Boone
county, where he engaged in a number of operations against the Indians and was a
soldier under General Wayne when that daring commander crushed and humiliated
the savage tribes of the northwest, receiving a gunshot wound in the thigh in
one of the several skirmishes in which he was engaged.

   William Dye, son of George and father of the subject, accompanied his parents
upon their removal to Indiana, and settled in Boone county. He purchased land
from which he cleared and developed a fine farm, and in addition to being one of
the leading agriculturists of that community did a thriving business in the
buying and shipping of live stock, so managing his affairs as to accumulate a
handsome property and become quite wealthy. A man of generous impulses, upon
whose credulity the unscrupulous could easily impose, he never refused to go
surety for such as requested the favor, with the result that many allowed him to
redeem their obligations when they became due. By this means he lost much of his
property, and though never reduced to poverty he was enabled to leave but a
modest portion of his former holdings to his family. Margaret Miller, the wife
of William Dye. was of Irish descent and belonged to an old North Carolina
family whose representatives were also among the pioneer settlers of Indiana.
She bore her husband nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom the
following survive, namely: W. W. Dye, of Indianapolis; Thomas J., of this
review; Calvin F., of Hendricks county, this state; and Mrs. Melissa F. Byers,
of Indianapolis.

   Thomas J. Dye was born December 8, 1842, in Hamilton county, Indiana, but
when quite young was brought to the county of Boone, with the subsequent history
and development of which his career was closely interwoven. Reared amid the
quiet scenes of rural life and the strenuous usages of the farm, he early
developed rugged strength and a sturdy character, which, under the wise care and
prudent direction of his experienced father, enabled him to combine habits of
industry with the progress of thought so as to exercise a very decided and happy
influence in begetting a spirit of self-reliance and fixing definitely his
future course of action and conduct.

   In the best schools the country afforded he acquired an education which,
though by no means complete, has served well as a foundation for his subsequent
mental growth. The greater part of his training, however, was received in the
school of experience, which imparts the valuable practical knowledge not found
in the curriculum of the college or the course of the university. His father
being an experienced stock dealer, young Thomas early became familiar with the
business, and it may truthfully be said that he literally grew up a buyer and
seller, for while still a youth in his teens he was intrusted with a number of
important transactions, including large purchases and extensive shipments, in
all of which his judgment was seldom if ever at fault. His steady habits and
discreet common sense rendering him absolutely reliable, his father reposed such
implicit confidence in his judgment and integrity that it was under his
direction and management it continued to grow until in time he became the
leading live stock dealer in the county of Boone, his operations extending over
Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.

   Mr. Dye met with financial success commensurate with the energy and judgment
displayed in his business transactions, and in the course of years his earnings
amount to a handsome competency, which, judiciously invested from time to time,
has made him one of the solid and well-to-do men of this city, where he has
resided since 1882. Some time prior to the nineties he gradually withdrew from
the live stock trade, and since 1891 has devoted his attention chiefly to the
manufacture and sale of fence posts, a business of large and rapid growth in the
northern counties of Indiana and which has numerous representatives in the
majority of cities throughout the state. Since Mr. Dye embarked in this
enterprise he has built up an extensive and lucrative patronage, owning in
addition to his large yard in Kokomo similar yards at Westfield, Bennett Switch,
Russiaville, Eagletown, Greentown, Jeffersonville, Old Augusta and at several
other points, employing at each place a live, energetic agent, who spares no
pains in looking after the business and who makes the firm's interests his own.
Associated with him is his son, Willis B. Dye, under the name of Thomas J. Dye &
Son, the firm thus constituted owning and operating a number of mills in various
parts of the South, where there is a plenteous growth of post timber, red cedar
being the variety most in use and for which there is a constantly increasing
demand. By manufacturing their own product the firm is at a great advantage over
dealers not thus situated, and the extent to which the business has grown
indicates the honorable methods that have ever been pursued by the proprietors
and the strong hold they have upon the confidence of their numerous patrons. Mr.
Dye is essentially a business man and as such occupies a commanding position
among his fellow citizens of Kokomo. His career presents a series of successes
and advancements, while his unswerving rectitude has made his life count for
good in all of its relations, as is attested by the unreserved esteem of the
people of a community in which he has lived for so many years and in which such
signal success has crowned his different lines of endeavor.

   In the year 1882 occurred the marriage of Thomas J. Dye and Marinda Blanche,
daughter of Colonel Willis and Anna Blanche, the former for many years one of
Howard county's leading men and influential citizens, and whose name is known to
history as one of the bravest and most distinguished of the many gallant
soldiers that Indiana sent to the front during the dark and troublous period of
Civil war. Mrs. Dye was born February 28, 1849, on what is known as the North
hill, overlooking the. City park of Kokomo, and has always lived near the place
where she first saw the light of day, being a lady of strong mentality and
beautiful character and moving in the best social circles of the city in which
she resides. For some time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dye lived on a farm
near Kokomo, but subsequently removed to the city, where they now occupy a
comfortable home, made doubly attractive by the spirit of hospitality that
reigns within. Their union has been blessed with three children, the oldest of
whom, Willis B., his father's partner, was born on the 6th day of July, 1885,
and is today one of the enterprising young business men of the city. He was
given the advantage of a liberal education, has been actively interested in the
growth of Kokomo and the development of its various lines of industry and
socially occupies a conspicuous place among his fellow citizens, being a member
of the Pythian order, in the Uniform Rank of which he holds the position of vice
chancellor, and is also a Mason of high degree, besides being prominent in
religious circles, holding membership with the Main Street Christian church, one
of the most influential organizations of the kind in the city, his wife, too,
belonging to this congregation. Mary A., the second of the family, whose birth
occurred on April 1st of the year 1888, is still a member of the home circle, as
is also Annabel, the youngest, who was born on the 21st day of June, 1893.

   Like the majority of enterprising public-spirited men of Kokomo, Mr. Dye has
faith in the city and believes that the past is but an earnest of still greater
growth and more extensive business development in the future. To make this
possible he has contributed his influence and material assistance to the
encouragement of all laudable enterprises, at the same time endeavoring to
realize within himself his highest idea of earnest manhood and progressive
citizenship. An unswerving Republican, and not only deeply but actively enlisted
in his party's success, he has never been an aspirant for office or public
honors of any kind, though frequently importuned by his friends to stand for the
same, being amply qualified by nature and business experience to discharge
worthily the duties of any trust within the power of his fellow citizens to
bestow. A member of the Masonic fraternity, he has ever squared his life
according to the beautiful and sublime precepts of the ancient and honorable
order, and from time to time has held important official positions in the
Zionsville lodge, to which he formerly belonged.

   In this connection it is deemed proper to make some incidental reference to
Colonel Willis Blanche, although his career will be found at greater length in
another part of the volume. As already indicated, the Blanche family was among
the early settlers of Howard county. It is stated as a matter of local interest
that he assisted in the construction of the first house on the present site of
Kokomo, and from that time until his lamented death he never ceased to manifest
a lively interest in the welfare of the town or failed to put forth his best
efforts for its advancement. He became not only one of the representative
farmers and stock raisers of Howard county, but also a leader of thought and
moulder of opinion among the people, being as one born to command and in whom
his fellow men always reposed the most implicit confidence. At the breaking out
of the Civil war he entered the service as captain of Company G, Fifty-seventh
Indiana Infantry, and for brave and meritorious conduct was subsequently made
major of the regiment, later becoming colonel, in which capacity he rendered
gallant service for the National Union, participating in a number of campaigns
and numerous bloody battles and receiving two severe wounds while leading his
men into the midst of conflict. He raised and organized the company and in the
absence of financial means to move the same he paid the transportation to
Richmond, where the regiment was organized. His military experience was replete
with duty bravely and conscientiously performed, and his record, which is a
proud one, forms one of the brightest and most honorable chapters in the history
of the state. Colonel Blanche was married in Kokomo in the year 1847 to Anna
Shaul, whose ancestors, with his own, came from France in an early day, their
respective grandfathers having been neighbors in the Old World and companions in
their voyage to the New. Mrs. Blanche was born May 27, 1827, in Clark county,
Ohio, and is still living, being now in her eighty-second year, but retaining to
a marked degree the possession of faculties, physical and mental. She was
brought to Indiana when quite young and claims a residence in the state of
eighty-one years' duration.



Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)



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