University of Virginia Library

JAMES HOGE TYLER

James Hoge Tyler

The name Tyler is of Norman-French origin—first Tiller,
then Tyler, the same crest—a demi cat, rampant and erased—
being appropriated in books on heraldry to both names. In
1202, there lived a Gilbert de Tiller, and in 1311, a Thomas le
Tyler was a member of the English Parliament.

The Tylers of Virginia trace their ancestry to Wat Tyler, who,
in the reign of Richard the Second, about 1381, led the commoners
of England in what is known to history as the "Wat Tyler
Rebellion." So successful was this rebellion against oppressive
taxation and other excesses of Richard's reign, that the king
sued for terms and was forced to sign a charter abolishing serfage,
reducing rent rates and taxes and giving freedom of commerce
in market towns. While in an interview with the king, at the
king's invitation and under promise of protection, Tyler was
treacherously slain and the stout resistance against oppression,
having lost the leader, weakened. The royalty-worshipping historians

of the fourteenth century, regarding it outrageously
insolent for a plebian to make any assertion of manhood, have
caused Wat Tyler to fare poorly in history.

The first member of the Tyler family to come to Virginia was
Henry Tyler, of Shropshire, England, who, with his wife and
family, settled on a small estate in "Middle Plantation"—near
Williamsburg, which was granted him for transporting six persons
to the colony.

This family has given many illustrious sons to America, among
them John Tyler, Sr., Speaker of the House of Delegates, member
of the Convention of 1788, Judge of the General Court of Virginia,
Governor of Virginia, Founder of the "Literary Fund" in Virginia
and Judge of the United States District Court.

John Tyler, President of the United States, and his son Lyon
Gardiner Tyler, author, scholar and for many years President of
William and Mary College, added further glory to the name.

The Tyler family has been represented in Caroline from the
formation of the county to the present day. The old deed
books of Essex county and the records of South Farnham Parish,
show that "William Tyler, of Caroline county," sold a certain
tract of land, lying in Farnham Parish, to Joseph Dunn as early
as 1749. This William Tyler died about 1767, and his son William
was the administrator of his estate. The County Court of
Caroline on November 3, 1767, appointed three commissioners
to settle the accounts of William Tyler as administrator for
William Tyler, deceased. The County Court record of August
8, 1767, shows that the latter William Tyler was one of Caroline's
Justices of the Peace, and the Caroline county assessor's books
for the year 1787 show that he was taxed with 1003 acres of land.
The Virginia Gazette of 1771, shows that he was at that time
Clerk of the County Court of Caroline. This William Tyler
was of the same lineage as President Tyler, and was the great
grandfather of James Hoge Tyler, Governor of Virginia 1898-1902.

James Hoge Tyler was born at "Blenheim," the beautiful
estate of the Tylers, of Caroline county, on August 11, 1846.
His father, the Honorable George Tyler, was a representative of
Caroline in the State Legislature, both before and during the
between the States. Mr. A. B. Chandler, for many years Commonwealth
attorney for Caroline, in his history of Antioch
Church (Disciples) of Bowling Green, which appeared in the
Chesapeake Christian (Richmond, Va.), of June 15, 1920, says:

"Brother George Tyler was a prince among men. Of all of
our brotherhood, during these fifty-two years, I think I am
not departing from the truth when I say he was the most cultured
of them all. His field of vision was very large, his erudition profound
and his judgments liberal and charitable. Learned as he
was he could discuss the Bible or the tariff with equal lucidity
and hold his end of the discussion in either. He was Chesterfieldian
in manners and gave you always a cordial grasp of the
hand, while his heart overflowed with love for all men."

James Hoge Tyler's mothers was Eliza Hoge, the daughter of
General James Hoge and Eleanor Howe of Pulaski county. His
mother dying at his birth, he was taken to the home of his
maternal grandparents in Pulaski county, where his early years
were spent and after the General's death he returned to his father
in Caroline county, who sent him to Edge Hill Academy, then
under the direction of Samuel Schooler, of whom see chapter on
Education and Educators. From Schooler's academy he was
sent to Minor's Academy in Albemarle, where he remained until
he entered the Confederate Army.

After the Civil War, Tyler decided to return to the old home
of his grand-parents, where he held some property and so was
soon settled in Pulaski, where he became active in public affairs.
He was elected to the State Senate in 1877 and was a member of
the Board of Public Buildings at Blacksburg and Marion, which
committee received special mention and commendation from the
Governor in a message to the State Legislature, because of the
economic manner in which its work had been accomplished.

He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1889 and in 1897
was nominated by acclamation as the candidate of the Democratic
party for Governor of Virginia. His service as Governor
was marked by a careful, economical policy, and by general
prosperity in the State. As Governor he met all current expenses
of the Commonwealth, including those of a special session of the
Legislature and a Constitutional Convention; gave an increase to
the public schools of the State of $21,000 and increased the
Literary Fund by the addition of $68,000 and left in the State
Treasury when he retired from office a sum of $800,000.

Among the beneficial measures, which received his support
and which were passed during his administration, were the
Labor Bureau and the Conditional Pardon System. The boundary

line dispute between Virginia and Tennessee was also settled
during his administration.

Mr. Tyler was married to Miss Sue Montgomery Hammett
in 1868 and to this union were born four sons and three daughters.

His biography may be summed up in the words of the gentleman
who nominated him for Governor: "A man whose personal
character cannot be assailed, whose political integrity requires
no defense, whose record is clear, whose purpose is high, whose
bravery and love of country have been amply proven on many
a hard fought field, whose fidelity to his party is an inspiration,
whose public career has illustrated the Jeffersonian virtues of
honesty, capacity and fitness, and whose private life is a benediction."

THE TYLER ARMS

Sable, on a fesse invected or, between three cats a mountain
passant guardant argent, a fasces in bend, surmounting a sword
in bend sinister proper, between two crescents gules, in the
centre chief point a rose of the third.

Crest:

A demi cat rampant and erased.

Motto:

Solo des Solus.