Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-12
OUR NEXT GOVERNOR.
The Career and Services of Hon. J..
Hoge Tyler.

OF his nomination. His father. Hon.
George Tyler, was Cor many years IA
member Of the House Of Delegates from
Caroline. His grandfather, Henry
Tyler. Of Spotsylyania county, was a de-
scendoot Of Henry Tyler, the great
grandfather OF President John Tyler. His
mother was Miss Eliza Hoge, the daBgh-
ter OF General James Hoge, OF Pulaski
county, from whom he inherited the
ola Hoge homestead, now known as
Belle Hampton" a beautiful, old coun-
try place lying in a lovely valley, sur
rounded by broad fields, while I'm every
direction the towering peaks Of lofty
mountains look down on the scene of
beauty at their bases. His mother, whose
name Is held in sacred memory by all
who knew her, lived but an hour after
his BIRTH and his grandparents brought
him, when but two weeks old, from Car
oilne county TO Pulaski county, swung
IN basket in the top Of one of the old
fashioned rocking carriages of that day.
This circumstance. a friend laughingly
said, had much 10 do with making him
an earnest advocate Of internal improve
ments. There, on the farm, he spent his
boyhood days, in the winter attending
the "old field schools" until no was about
II years old, when he left home TO
attend school in Caroline county. He
was afterwards entered at Minors
School, in Albemarle, but the tocsin of
war sounded and he entered the army
before he was II years old, and followed
the fortunes of the Confederacy, as a
private, until he surrendered with Lee
at AppOmattox.
Returning home, he found all his per-
al 4 II
much wasted but by hard work energy,
and perseverance. he soon was on the
road to prosperity. He at once took an
active interest in everything looking to
the advancement of his section. and he
was foremost in advocating the agricul-
tural, mining, and manufacturing inte-
rests that sprang up after the war. He
was recognized as a leader. and In 1877,
he became the candidate for the State
Senate, and was elected by a large ma
jority. In the Senate, as elsewhere, he
was outspoken for retrenchment and re-
form, and IT was mainly through his
efforts that a bill was passed that re-
suited In an annual saving to the state
OF thousands Of dollars, and ultimately
enabled the Legislature TO reduce the
taX-rate from 80 cents to 40 cents on the
500. lie was a member Of the Building
Committee that erected the Southwestern
Hospital, at Marion. building that for
completeness Us unexceled i'm the Union.
He was member Of the Board Of Visi-
tors and rector of the Virginia Agricul-
tural and Mechanical College, now the
Virginia Polytechnic Institute at Blacks
burg, and It was under his direc-
ton that the barracks building was
built and the experimental station" es-
frl Lot. fgs
years . member OF almost all tho Agri-
cultural societies Of the State, and a
prominent member Of farmers congresses
and assemblies, both State and national.
ON THE DEBT COMMISSION.
He was member of the State Debt
Commission, and the bold stand he took
to secure an extension Of the 2 per cent.
interest period from five to ten years,
when great pressure was brought to bear
to try TO induce him TO accept what
was urged by the bondholders-viz.: Two
per cent. for five years and = IL per cent.
for five years-shoWs the material I'm the
man. and his tenacity resulted i'm Sc
curing what he demanded and saved to
the state 475 900 in five years In 1883 his
friends pushed him for Congress, but
he withdrew in the interest of harmony
and was instrumental. to a large extent,
in securing the nomination and after
wards the election Of Hon. John A.
Buchanan, thus wrestling the Ninth Dis
trict from the Republicans, and placing in
the halls of Congress a Democrat for
several terms In 1889, no was the South
west candidate for Governor. but when
Hon. Phillip w. Mckinney received the
nomination. Major Tyler gracefully ac-
cepted defeat and pledged his support
to the ticket. A unanimous tender Of
the Lieutenant-Gover place was ac-
copied by him after strong appeals were
made by leaders Of all factions, and his
name on the ticket and voice on the
stump added great strength. and the
nominees were triumphantly elected. For
four years he presided over the delibera-
tions Of the Senate and his rulings were
always fair and impartial. Again in 1893
he was a candidate, but was defeated
for the nomination by the present Gov
ernor, Charles Y. OFerrall. Again, he
as gracefully accepted defeat and
pledged his support to the ticket. and
not for a moment did he sulk. but his
voice was heard all over the State, ad-
v0cating the ticket and also advocating
the free coinage of silver. In this. he was
ahead OF his party. and his views Of
1890 were the strong arguments in the
canvass of 1896.
HIS FAMILY.
Major Tyler married in 1865 Miss Sue
Hammet. daughter of Colonel Edward
Hammet. OF Radford, and the result of
the union is seven children-four sons
ana three daughters all unmarried and
all living at home. Major Tyler's relie-
ion is a part of his life. and the poor
and needy, white and black, as far as he
is known, speak in terms of endearment
of the man. His hand is ever ready TO
assist his home is open TO all, and no
one was ever turned away empty handed.
For sixteen years he was the superin-
tendent OF a little, country Sunday
school and each Sunday with Bible in
hand. he might be seen instructing the
bible class He is an elder in the Pres
byterian Church, and in Church, as well
as state. he has been foremost. Twice
he has been q delegate to the General
Assembly Of tho Southern Presbyterian
Church at Lexington. KY, and Dallas,
Tex. and twice he has been delegate
to tho Pan-Presbyterian Council. AT
Toronto Canada. and Glasgow. Scot
land Both times at the Pan-Presbyte-
rian Council he has been called on TO
preside at one OF the sittings To know
Major TYLER Is 10 love him. and no mat
ter what Office he fills, or TO what ONCE
he &c called, those who know him VIII
saw she will be Hoge Tyler still. In
personal appearance. he is striking
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