Lawrence S. Tyler Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1329-1331 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	LAWRENCE S. TYLER, president of the First National Bank of Salem, 
McCook county, is one of the influential and honored citizens of this 
section of the state, and his character and prominence are such as to 
eminently entitle him to recognition in this history. Mr. Tyler was born 
in the village of Compton, province of Ontario, Canada, on the 19th of 
August, 1854, a son of Damon Y. and Maria (Taylor) Tyler, to whom were 
born four children, namely: Lewis, who is engaged in the hardware 
business in Salem, this state; Leonora, who is the wife of E. E. 
Quiggle, of Rapid City, South Dakota; Lydia, who is the wife of Henry 
Seavers, of Duluth, Minnesota; and Lawrence S., who is the subject of 
this sketch. Damon Y. Tyler was born in the state of New Hampshire, 
where he was reared to maturity. As a young man he secured a position in 
the employ of the well-known firm of Fairbanks, Morse & Company, 
manufacturers of scales, in the city of Philadelphia, and while there he 
was married. His father had in the meanwhile removed to the province of 
Ontario, Canada, and he also took up his residence there, remaining but 
a short time and finally removing to Columbia county, Wisconsin, where 
he purchased a tract of railroad land and engaged in farming, to which 
he there continued to give his attention about ten years, at the 
expiration of which he took up his abode in the town of Big Spring, that 
county, in which vicinity he purchased a large farm. In 1867 he located 
in Merrimac, Sauk county, that state, where he established himself in 
the mercantile business, also serving as postmaster of the town for the 
long period of fourteen years. In 1882 he retired from active business, 
and he is still residing in that place, one of the honored pioneers of 
the state. He is a Republican in politics and both he and his wife are 
members of the Baptist church. 

	The subject of this review attended the common schools until he 
had attained the age of fourteen years, when he began to depend upon his 
own resources, securing work on a farm and receiving the princely 
stipend of ten dollars a month for his services. At the age of eighteen 
he became identified with the construction of bridges on the line of the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, in the employ of which he continued 
about three years. Upon attaining his majority he removed to Rock 
county, Minnesota, where he purchased a quarter section of land, in 
Magnolia township, where he was engaged in farming for the ensuing four 
years. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Tyler accepted a position with the firm 
of Peter Thompson & Company, prominent dealers in agricultural machinery 
and implements at Adrian, Minnesota, serving as their bookkeeper and 
general office manager until 1883, when he came to Salem, South Dakota, 
here erecting a substantial block and engaging in the hardware business, 
building up a large and prosperous enterprise and continuing the same 
about eighteen years. In 1888 he became associated with others in the 
organization of the McCook County State Bank, and in 1892, after failure 
of the Salem Bank, the fine building of the defunct institution was 
purchased of the receiver and the McCook County State Bank forthwith 
took possession of this newly acquired property, which is still utilized 
for the counting rooms of its successor, the First National Bank. In 
1899 Mr. Tyler and Mr. S. W. Appleton, now of Sioux City, acquired the 
entire ownership of the state bank, of which our subject had served 
consecutively as president from the year 1896 up to that time. In 1901 
Mr. Appleton sold his stock in the institution, which was then 
reorganized as the First National Bank of Salem, of which Mr. Tyler was 
chosen president, a position he had held with the state bank up to the 
reorganization, while the interested principals in the new bank include 
the subject and C. J. Ives, F. H. Putnam and Thomas Brown, of Sioux 
Falls, and Thomas Bishop, of Salem. After the reorganization Mr. Tyler 
disposed of his hardware business, and the banking enterprise has grown 
to such proportions as to demand the major portion of his time and 
attention in his chief executive capacity. Mr. Tyler is the owner of one 
hundred and sixty acres of farming land in this county, seven hundred 
acres in Hand county, one hundred and sixty acres in Buffalo county and 
also a half interest in a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres in 
the last mentioned county. He owns a controlling interest in the 
creamery at Salem, being manager, secretary and treasurer of the Salem 
Creamery Association. He is treasurer of the Salem Mill and Lighting 
Company, treasurer of the South Dakota Dairy and Buttermakers' 
Association, treasurer of the school district, and secretary of the 
Salem Cemetery Association, in the organization of which he was 
associated with George Sanderson and L. V. Schneider. He is held in the 
highest confidence and esteem in the county and has been called upon to 
serve as guardian and as administrator of important estates. Mr. Tyler 
is a staunch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and has 
ever shown a deep interest in public affairs. he has served for more 
than a decade and a half as member of the village council, being 
incumbent of this position at the present time. He and his wife are 
prominent and zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of 
whose board of trustees he is secretary, being also incumbent of the 
office of steward. Mr. Tyler has completed the circle of York-rite 
Masonry, being affiliated with the following bodies: Fortitude Lodge, 
No. 73, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Salem Chapter, No. 34, Royal 
Arch Masons; Constantine Council, No. 2, Royal and Select Masters; and 
Constantine Commandery, No. 17, Knights Templar, while he has also 
become a member of the auxiliary organization, the Ancient Arabic Order 
of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, holding membership in El Riad 
Temple, in Sioux Falls. He is identified with Salem Lodge, No. 28, 
Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he is financier. 

	On the 24th of January, 1877, Mr. Tyler was united in marriage to 
Miss Hattie Blackman, of Merrimack, Wisconsin, and to them were born 
three children, two of whom survive, Nellie L., the wife of Roy Palmer, 
of Chamberlain, South Dakota, and Grace L., who remains at the parental 
home. 

	The following obituary notice relative to the subject's mother 
appeared in the local press at the time of her death: 

	DEATH OF MRS. TYLER.—Maria Jane Tyler died at her home, in 
Merrimack, on Wednesday, February 17, 1904, aged seventy-three years, 
one month and seventeen days. She was born in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, December 31, 1830, and was married to Damon Y. Tyler, June 
12, 1853. They removed to Wisconsin in the fall of 1854, where she has 
lived until called home where sorrow is no more. She leaves a husband 
and four children to mourn her loss. The children are Leonora E. 
Quiggle, Lydia Sievers, Lewis A. Tyler and Lawrence S. Tyler. Mrs. Tyler 
joined the Baptist church in 1858, and her Christian life had always 
been bright until the final call from her Heavenly Father. Mrs. Tyler 
was deeply interested in the cause of temperance. For eighteen years she 
was an active member of the Merrimack Woman s Christian Temperance 
Union. Though not able to attend the meetings during the latter years of 
her life, her heart and soul were ever in the work, and her prayers 
continually arose to the throne of God for the final overthrow of the 
alcoholic despot. But her labors of love were not confined to the 
ladies' organization; she cordially sympathized with every effort to 
elevate humanity, to regenerate those in degradation and to purify the 
heart filled with corroding sin. Though sickness had compelled her to 
remain within the walls of her cozy home much of the time for many 
years, her life had been an inspiration to neighbors and friends through 
all the period of suffering and ebbing away of the vital tide. She was 
always thoughtful of others, always feared that she was a burden, always 
longed to go and be with Jesus. Gradually the "robe of flesh" wasted and 
weakened, but the immortal light beamed from her face in ever increasing 
beauty and radiance, until the tired lids for the last time closed over 
"the windows of the soul." In all her pain and weariness and long night 
vigils she was calm and patient and heroic. She was sustained by the 
undying faith in her Lord and Redeemer. The great desire of her heart 
was to throw off this "mortal coil" which bound her to the earth so that 
her spirit might soar to the mansions prepared for her in the glorious 
realms above. She loved her Master. Her life was devoted to Him. To the 
limit of her strength she worked for Him. In the hour of death and in 
the dark and chilling waters, she leaned upon His everlasting arms, and 
her last faintly articulated words were, "I want to go home today."