Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-11-20
MAJOR A. j. TYNES.

EfapnlC1l SkeICn Oh tne ldle ~. %.
Tyncs. AT the request of some mem
bers of his family he commenced
some years ago, Il history of his life
and times, but never completed IT..
Facts and details are meaGcr. We be-
lieve the readers of this paper will be
Interested in the facts presented here.
Achilles James Tyncs was of Scotch
descent. The ancestral home was in
the Highlands, near the headwaters
of the Tyne river. His father was
Samuel Tynes. His mother, Frances
Hcrndon Haythe. She was Il Camp
bell county woman, and related to the
Norman family of that name in
Lynchburg and Botctourt county, II
daughter of Captain VIM. lIaythe, Il
soldier of the war of 1872.
Obcdiah Tyncs, father of Samuel
Tynes, moved to Virginia from South
Carolina. Samuel Tynes was born in
Halifax county, date not known. He
moved into Bedford county, and from
there to Montgomery county, Virgin
in. lie was Il bridge builder and mill
wright, his occupation ncccssitating
frequent moves, and his residences
cannot, therefore, be accurately or
definitely traced. From Montgomery
county, about the year 1884, he moved
to BotctOurt county, locating on the
James River, in the locality of Eagle
Rock, not far from the towns of Buch-
anan and Fincastle, and it appears
that his next move was to TaZewell
county, where he settled on small
parcel of ground, on the southside of
the creek, to the right of the road,
near the former residence of the late
Capt. Tynes, known as "Rocky Dell'i
at which place he died. His wife died
first, about the year, 1869.
Samuel Tynes" family consisted of
wife. one son, the subject of this
sketch, two daughters, Mrs. Palmer
st Clair, Roanoke county, and Mrs.
VIM. Davidson, of West Virginia.
Mrs. Palmer st. Clair was the mother
of Mrs. Henry Il. Hartman, of this
town. Miss Mary Tynes married
Hon. VIM. Davidson, Il representa-
tive at the time in Mercer county,
w. Va. legislature.
Major Tynes was born near Shaws-
vile. in Montgomery county, Novem-
Der ~, 1888, shortly before his father
moved to Botetourt. His childhood
was spent in his fathers home on the
James river. AS Il boy he attended an
cold field school," taught by man
named Baugh. Capt Tynes used To
say that he graduated at the Baugh
Academy" At the age of II years
he went to work with his father, in
the milling business. When he was
about 20 years of age he launched
out in business for himself. At that
time the Virginia and Tennessee Rail
way, now the n. & w. had not reach
ed Lynchburg, and passengers were
transported from Concord, some miles
east, to Lynchburg, and thence to AL
leghany Springs. Young Tynes' first
work in life for himself was the run
ming of this stage line.
Afterwards he became purchasing
agent for the railway which position
he held for quite while, giving it up
on account of his health. He took Il
vacation and rest ut the Allcghaney
Springs, and while there became su-
perintendent of the Springs. Either
before Or after this period, he served
for Il while as conductor on the Vir-
ginia & Tennessee Railway. In the
meantime, as stated, his father had
moved to TazcweIl. Young Tynes, as
will be seen from the above, while an
active, business young man, does not
seem to have remained at one occupa-
ton long at Il time due in part per-
haps to his health which was never
robust. Al the age of about "a years,
that is, in the year 1857, he came to
Tazewell on visit to his parents,
and this visit was turning point in
his life. Finding his mother in very
poor health, and his fathers finances
in rot the best shape, he determined
to remain with the old folks. His fa-
Their was operating small saw mill
on the creek nearby. Young Tynes
bought a half interest in the business,
and took over his fathers interest,
becoming responsible for all debts and
obligations previously incurred by his
father. Not long thereafter he added
q corn mill. 1t appears that the late
Capt. w. +. Pcery had operated for Il
while n wool carding business, and
had given it up Gin disgust" it is said.
Young Tynes secured the set of
cards, rugged up a woollen factory
and went to work. The coming
storm" of 1868, had already gather
ed. 1t found Young Tynes with his
mill property and a small plot of
ground, partly paid for. He dropped
freely to his country. He was commits
stoned major of Militia by Governor
Wise, and lent his efforts to securing
volunteers for the army.
Early in 1861 The Tazewell Troop
ers was organized. John Mcdonald,
of Wyoming county, now West Vir-
ginia, was elected captain, the late T.
P. Bowen, first lieutenant; A. j.
Tynes and Geo. w. SPOTS, second
lieutenants. Capt. Mcdonald was
first cousin to Edward Mcdonald, ia
Their of Mr.. Mcdonald, now with Har-
rison, Barns & Co.
He saw continuous service under
General McCausland, Col. jenkins and
others, as staff officer, and finally as
chief of the commissary department
of his brigade, with the rank of major
He surrendered with General Nc
Causland, at Charleston, w. Va. AT
ter the war he went to work to repair
his shattered and neglected business
erecting the first wooden factory in
Southwest Virginia, hauling his ma
chinery from Cincinnati and Lynch
burg, in wagons.
In the meantime, that is to say. in
the year 1864, on the second day OF
March, he married Miss Hariett