Clearfield-Lycoming County PA Archives News.....Tyler Family Successful Operations March 25, 1909
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Diana Tyler LiebeLeah@aol.com January 21, 2010, 11:22 pm

Daily Gazette And Bulletin, Williamsport, PA March 25, 1909
By Former Lycoming countians in Clearfield County


The Busiest Mining Plant in the Bituminous Region is Being Run by the Tylers,
Formerly of Trout Run - An Interesting Narrative that Deals With the County’s
Pioneer Days


At a time when the general public has had its attention focused on the
anthracite coal field, it is interesting to note what is going on in one of the
busy sections of the bituminous region and incidentally to note the success of
former Lycoming countinians in mining operations in Clearfield County.  From a
Penfield correspondent, the Gazette and Bulletin is in receipt of a highly
interesting article dealing with important mining operations and names
well-known in this section.  The Penfield correspondent writes as follows:

Operating Briskly

The busiest mining plant in all this region is the B. & S. operation at Tyler
which runs briskly getting out coal and making coke six out of the seven days of
the week.  The town name comes from the pioneer family of that place and is a
familiar one to the older generations up the Northern Central railway in the
vicinity of Trout Run.  The word Tyler is from the French tailleur and was the
title of an officer in England in the olden time.  Free Masons will also
recognize the name as very familiar.

Living at the historic brick mansion on the vast Tyler farm near the town, in
the golden sunset of a bachelor’s life is Martin V. Tyler, a famous and popular
character in all these parts.  The story of his career will never be duplicated
as it belongs to the era of pioneerhood and settlement, which will never repeat
itself.

Settled in Lycoming

Martin’s father was David Tyler.  The family were English and later Nutmeg State
Yankees, emigrating to Lycoming county, Pa.  David was a man of parts and force
and became a foreman on canal construction.  William Thomas kept hotel along the
work and here David met Isabella Clendennin, a relative of Mrs. Thomas and a
descendant of John Clendennin, soldier of the Revolution.  David and Isabella
were married there and began to housekeep and rear a family at Trout Run.  Here
the other children, Mary (Mrs. Packer) of Lock Haven, John, Roxie, Margaret
(Mrs. Schryver) all deceased except Mrs. Packer, James, Phoebe, Emma and David,
deceased, and Martin and his twin sister, Martha B. were born.

Only Twins in County

Martin and Martha were the only twin babies in Lycoming county at the time and
many people came for miles to see them and of course to pester them with kisses.
 Among the visitors was John DuBois, the elder, who brought the pair each a
beautiful silk cap.  When the twins were three years old and playing in the
streets an engine on the Northern Central scared a horse team which ran away and
over the twins, killing Martha and scarring Martin for life.  There was no
doctor nearer than Williamsport and the locomotive ran down and brought a
physician.  Little Martin greatly missed his mate and grieved for her until he
was taken to see the grave after which he was composed and resigned.  When
Martin was five years old he rolled a barrel of flour up a steep slope and over
the railroad track, winning a wager thereby.

Left This County

In the spring of 1848 John DuBois persuaded David Tyler to accompany him on an
exploring and inspection tour to Bennetts Branch Valley where DuBois had a vast
area of timber land.  On their return to Lycoming the Tyler family got ready to
pull up roots and transplant itself into the midst of the virgin forest.  Dr.
Reed, David’s partner, was greatly sorry and wept at the change.  The women of
the family journeyed via Lock Haven, Milesburg and the old Caledonia pike across
the ridge between Bennetts Branch and the West Branch.  John, the eldest son,
and Martin took the live stock, cows, sheep, one black lamb in the flock and
shoat, and traveled up the West Branch via Driftwood.  There was no railroad
west of Lock Haven, although a canal ran to the latter place.  The long and
toilsome drive tested the boys’ pluck but at last they came to Driftwood and
while John went to the hillside to bring down Ferryman Coleman, Martin took a
nap by the side of the Sinnemahoning River.  Once across the stream they went on
and three days after at the edge of the small clearing in the forest they were
met and greeted by the remainder of the family.  Here they ceased from their
wanderings at the small open space which had been cleared by a man named
Nichols, and here they soon became lonely and homesick.  They lived through the
affliction, however.  Since then their home has been there, and the father and
mother have passed away, he more than eighty and she more than ninety years old.

Many Great Changes

Mary Tyler, the oldest child went to Lock Haven to learn the millinery
occupation.  While there she came to know Robert Packer.  When she returned to
Tyler, Robert somewhat anxious to see her and talk with her, rode on horseback
from Lock Haven to Tyler.  Needless to say when the attachment was this strong,
they were afterward married.  From York State came a Miss Bee to teach school in
the new country.  She remained as the wife of John Tyler and as his widow now
lives at the homestead.  Thus have the sixty years that have flown made great
changes.  Today there live at the homestead James, Phoebe and Martin.  None of
the three have ever married, but by their energy, ability, generosity and
helpfulness they have been potent factors for good during all these years and
have caused sunshine and joy to illumine many lives.


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