Biography - Ezra Tyler
Ezra TYLER, deceased, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1793, and lived near his birthplace during his youth, receiving a good common-school education, after which he engaged his services as clerk until he reached manhood, when he came West to Indiana and settled on a farm near Michigan City, where he married Miss Maria CONNAWAY; in a few years, he removed to Aurora, Ind., and there conducted a farm until 1846, when he sold out and came to Montgomery County, Ill., where he bought a farm of about five hundred acres indifferent sections in South Litchfield Township, about one hundred and sixty acres of which comprised that part of Litchfield City south of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad. This portion of the county was but sparsely settled when he came, and he was obliged to find market and trading points at Hillsboro, Carlinville and St. Louis. He erected a log cabin near the southeast corner of the city limits, now known as Tyler's Third Addition, where he lived five years, and then built the house now occupied by his son, Larkin, whose sketch is hereunto appended. Until the completion of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, he devoted his attention to farming, and afterward, in addition to his farming interests, he bought and enlarged a steam flouring-mill, located on the site of the present Planet Mills, and ran it several years; he then engaged in the manufacture of brick, and sold to different parties tracts of land, out of which three additions were made to the city. In politics, he was a Whig, and subsequently a Republican, and took an active part in public affairs. He died in the fall of 1872. He was the father of twelve children, all but one born in Indiana; but three are deceased; those living are, viz.: Mrs. James PARMLEE, now near Los Angeles, Cal.,; Jesse, John and Shelby, residents of Kansas; Mrs. Ed C. THORPE and Mrs. James THALLS. Those who reside in this county are Miss Almira TYLER, William and Larkin G. Larkin G. TYLER was born near Aurora, Ind., in October, 1845, and was but one year old when his parents moved to this county, where he has since resided, receiving his education here in the public schools. At the age of fifteen years, he engaged his services as clerk in the clothing house of A. R. MONFORTE, continuing his services one year, when the firm of Ludden & Forrester came here, and he engaged his services to them; the firm afterward became Luden & Taylor; he remained in that house some three years. In 1866, he engaged in the grocery business on Jackson street, and for eight years conducted business there. In June, 1877, he became Assistant Postmaster, serving for a short time, when he became agent for the American and the United States Express Companies, which agencies he retained until the latter was superseded by the Pacific Express Company, since which time he has conducted the agency of the American Express Company exclusively. He represents several fire insurance companies. He is a stanch Republican, and served as Alderman of Litchfield. In 1873, he married Miss LYTLE, of Carlinville.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 174-175.
