In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1915) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions (1915), A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900)
ISAAC A. TYLER.
Among the native sons of Ohio who through an active business career have been identified with the Buckeye state and have ever contributed toward its material improvement, progress and advancement, is Isaac A. Tyler, who now follows farming on section 4, Jackson township, Preble county. He was born in Newbury township, Geauga county, on the 9th of September, 1832. His father, Cutler Tyler, was born at Western, now Warren, Massachusetts, on the 19th of November, 1794, and his tastes were in the line of mechanical pursuits. In early life he learned the carpenter’s trade, and at the age of eighteen bought his time of his father and entered upon an independent business career. He was not only self-reliant and resolute, but possessed great energy and physical power of endurance, as evidenced by the fact that he walked from Western to Boston, a distance of over seventy miles — in a single day, returning the following day.
In 1818, in company with Marsena Munn, his family and others, he came to Ohio, leaving Munson, Massachusetts, May 19th and reaching Newbury on the 28th of June. During the following autumn or winter he returned on foot to the Bay state, and in 1819 again started for Ohio with a horse and sleigh, but was obliged to leave his sleigh and secure a wagon before reaching his destination. Here, while others leveled the forests, he used the timber in the erection of dwellings for the pioneer families, and some of the earliest and best buildings in Burton and Newbury stand as monuments to his thrift, industry and capable workmanship. More for the purpose of securing a home than the following of agricultural pursuits, he purchased a farm in the southern part of Newbury township, Geauga county, and on the 13th of November, 1825, lie was married to Miss Sarab Fisher. The young couple began their domestic life in their log-cabin home situated near the site of their frame house which
Mr. Tyler afterward built and which he occupied until his death. It is now occupied by his daughter Ruth and her husband, John B. Waterton. There Mr. Tyler gradually gave more and more attention to the agricultural pursuits, frequently, however, finding use for his carpenter tools in making improvements on his own and his neighbors’ farms.
His work was durable and substantial and many of the structures which he erected still stand as monuments to his handiwork and bid fair to outlast even another generation. Such was not only the nature of his work but also of his word, which was as good as a “gilt-edged bond. He was just and fair in all his dealings and his opinions and judgments commanded the respect and confidence of all. For several years he filled the office of justice of the peace, and on other occasions filled different township offices. He reluctantly accepted these and never sought political preferment, but his fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability and his integrity in the discharge of official duty, greatly desired that he should serve them in some such capacity. When between the ages of forty and fifty years he made a public profession of religion and was baptized, but united with no church. He was, however, a firm believe in Christianity, was a liberal contributor to the support of the gospel and maintained family worship in his own home. His wife was an active and devoted Christian woman, holding membership in the Congregational church. They were also warm friends of the cause of temperance, of education and of true reform, and not only ministers but temperance and scientific and antislavery lecturers also enjoyed the generous hospitality of ’Squire Tyler’s home. Reared amid such circumstances and home teachings, it is not strange that of his six children who lived to years of maturity not one has ever used tobacco or alcoholic stimulants as a beverage. The poor and needyfound in Mr. and Mrs. Tyler their greatest friends and never sought their aid in vain. He was indeed a charitable man whose benevolences were executed in the spirit of the mandate, ‘“Let not your right hand know what your left hand doeth.” He was one of the first and most active in planning and furnishing funds for the brick house and school room at Newbury, and his funeral was the first service held in the church room.
One little incident in his life shows that his disposition to overcome difficulties is worthy of mention. During one season, when he was building one of his barns, he was also having a well dug, and on a certain day while looking into the well he fell in. As he did so some of the toes on one of his feet wore bent over backward. Dr. Ludlow proposed setting them, an operation which Would require him to keep quiet for some time and thus keep him from his work. Mr. Tyler, however, wished them to be cut off. This the doctor refused to do; so with the chisel and mallet with one blow Mr. Tyler severed them from his foot, after which the doctor dressed the injured member and with a block nailed to the sole of his shoe and the upper leather cut from the toe, the father of our subject resumed work on his farm again.
Death came to him unexpectedly and he passed away April 3, 1857. He was returning from Cleveland and while he was descending the hill west of Chagrin Falls he was observed in a reclining position in his wagon, and when help reached him he gave a few gasps and all was over. Thus at the age of sixty-two he quickly passed away, leaving many friends on this side the dark river sorrowing, but not without the bright hope of meeting him in the home beyond. His memory remains as a blessed benediction to all who knew him, and surely the world is better for his having lived. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Fisher, and to her husband was ever a faithful companion and helpmeet on life’s journey, aiding him in all his work that tended to make the world better. She carefully reared her family of eight children, four of whom are yet living, namely: Isaac A.; Ruth, wife of John B. Waterton, who resides on the old homestead; Reuben, an attorney in Wyoming, Ohio, and John W., an attorney of Cleveland.
On his father’s farm Isaac A. Tyler spent the years of his minority and in the common schools acquired his preliminary education, which was supplemented by study in the Oberlin College and in the Burton Academy. At the age of twenty he began teaching, following that profession through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he worked upon the farm until his father’s death. After his marriage in 1859 he removed to Butler county, Ohio, but in 1860 came to Jefferson township, Preble county, where he purchased eighty-eight and a half acres of land and engaged in farming on his own account. He continued his teaching through the winter of 1864 and then abandoned that profession in order to devote his time exclusively to the operation of his land. He continued in Jefferson township up to 1883, when he took up his above in Jackson township, where he has since resided, here having two hundred and sixty acres of land, which constitutes one of the best improved farms in the county.
On the 31st of March, 1859, Mr. Tyler was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Hetzler, a native of Germantown, Montgomery county, born October 9, 1830, and a daughter of Samuel and Catherine Hetzler. Her father was one of the native sons and well known agriculturists of Montgomery county, whither his father had come in an early day. The latter took up his above on Brown’s run and there spent his remaining days.
Mr. and Mrs. Tyler had two children: Samuel C.,a hardware merchant of Norwalk, Ohio; and John William, at home. The mother died in 1877 and in 1879 Mr. Tyler married Miss Louisa Jane- Downing, a native of Darke county. Her mother belonged to the Morrison family, who were among the earliest settlers of Jefferson township, coming from Kentucky to this county in the year 1806. By the second marriage there was one child, now deceased. Mrs. Tyler also passed away July 3, 1895.
In his political views Mr. Tyler is a stalwart Republican. In early life he was a member of the Congregational church, but since coming to this locality has not identified himself with any organization, tie is, however, an earnest Christian gentleman, contributes of his means to the support of the church and is one of the well known and highly respected residents of Preble county. In his business affairs he has prospered and is to-day one of the substantial agriculturists of his community. Although sixty-eight years of age he possesses great energy and physical endurance and does as much work as any man on his farm. His characteristics have led to the development of a worthy manhood, and in all life’s relations he has commanded the respect, confidence and good will of those with whom he has been associated.
As printed in A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
ISAAC A. TYLER.
It is maintained superficially that the history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the historian or the appreciation of mankind. A greater mistake never was made, for no man is great in all things. By a lucky stroke many achieve lasting fame, who, before, had no reputation beyond the limits of their immediate neighborhood. It is not a history of the lucky stroke which benefits humanity most, but the long study and efforts that made the lucky stroke possible, t It is the preliminary work, the methods, that serve as a guide for the success of others. Among those of Preble county, Ohio, who have achieved success by steady efforts is Isaac A. Tyler, a farmer and pioneer citizen of Jackson township, and the proprietor of “Fairview Farm,” a well-ordered tract of one hundred and thirty acres, situated nine miles northwest of Eaton, Ohio, on a part of the northeast quarter of section 4.
Isaac A. Tyler was born in Geauga county, Ohio, September 9, 1832, the son of Cutler and Sarah (Fischer) Tyler, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. Cutler Tyler came to Ohio, locating near the point where later he married Sarah Fischer. Both were well educated and made good records as teachers in the public schools. They lived and died near Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Tyler served three months in the War of 1812. His wife was a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Tyler was a public-spirited man and both he and his wife were useful people. They were the parents of six children, who grew to manhood and womanhood, and two of whom are now living. These children are Abel, Isaac A., Ruth, Reuben, John and Sarah Sophia. Ruth is the widow of John Waterton, who was born in England. Reuben served his country as a soldier in the Civil War and was an attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio. John also served in the Civil War and was an attorney in Cleveland, Ohio. Sarah died in her twenty-seventh year just before she was to have been graduated from a medical college.
Isaac A. Tyler was reared on a farm and received his elementary
As printed in History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.