The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1920-09-11
THOMAS H. LYLES
One Of St. Pauys Pioneer Git
liens Answers the Last Call.

Mr. Thomas Henry Lyles, a leading
and highly respected citizen of ST.
Paul, died at Bethesda hospital
Thursday, Sept. 2, 1920, in his 18th
year, following an operation for kid
ney and bladder trouble, from which
he has suffered for the past three
years.
Mr.. Lyles was born in historic
Frederick City, Md, in 1843. He was
the son of Joseph Lyles, a local
minister, and half brother to Jo-
seph Shreeves, prominent minister
of Washington, d. G.. He came to
St. Paul in 1874 and engaged in the
barber business, in which he was
quite successful and accumulated a
large amount of real estate.
About Is years ago he graduated
from the University of Minnesota as
an undertaken, and followed the
profession of embalmer and funeral
| director very successfully until the
time of his death; having devoted
wife of great business ability to as
sist him.
MIR. Lyles was active in politics
and though never a candidate for
Office he aided other colored men
Through his influence Maj. John
Becht was, in 1876, elected sheriff of
Ramsey county by 1856 majority
just the number of colored voters at
that time-and during his term COL
ored men were appointed as jurors:
In 1881 L. w. Thomas was appointed
upon the police force, and in 1884 a
colored fire company was formed; in
1885 the Western Appeal (now THE
APPEAL) was established, all large
ly through his influence. The first
colored lawyer and doctor in St. Paul
located here through his influence.
The Civil Rights bill. passed by the
legislature; in 1885, he championed,
and he was father of the law for
closing barber shops on Sunday.
In religious work he was always
active, first in Pilgrim Baptist church
and then in the founding of St.
James A. M. E. church in 1876.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lyles organized lit
erary societies among the colored
people and were instrumental in
raising much money for their pro-
motion. He assisted in the organiza-
ton of the colored Masonic Grand
Lodge in 1898 and served as Most
Worshipful Grand Master for two
terms. He was also charter mem;
Der of Gopher Lodge los I. B. P. O
! E. w. and was it's first Exalted
Ruler.
He has always been leader among
the coDored people and assisted them
to employment and advancement.
His funeral was held from his late
residence, 678 St. Anthony avenue
Monday, Sept. 6, at 2 o'clock p. M.
conducted by Revs. j. C. Anderson
J and B. H. Hodge, and at 2:3O O'Clock
at St. James A. M. E. church, Rev
J. c. Anderson officiating, assisted by
I the ministers of the other churches.
The funeral was under the aus
pieces Of the Masons, the Elks and
the order of the Eastern Star. The
church was packed to Overlooking,
being the largest colored funeral
ever held in Minnesota.
The services began with the sing
ing by the augmented choir, II Need
Thee Every Hour" Prayer by Rev;
Joseph S. Strong. Scripture reading
by Rev. "A. H. Lealtad and Rev.
Greer of the MI E. Memorial church.
Hymn, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere u
favorite Of the deceased, by choir,
with solo by Mrs. B. c. Archer.
Resolutions were read and memo
rails given from St. James Sunday
School by Miss Missouri Anderson
and the Sterling Club by MIR. B. c..
Archer. From Memorial Methodist
church by Mrs. King. From Oziel
Chapter o. E. S. by Mrs. A. B. Har-
ris, followed by poem by R. P. Jack
son.
From the Elks, also, followed by
an original poem by j, Tracy Young,
HE Careth." read by the very dear
friend of Mr.. Lyles, Travelling Dep
uty, I. B. P. O. E. w., George w.
Stewart.
Rev. J. G. Anderson read the obit-
uary containing the facts already
mentioned.
Atty. W. T. Francis eulogized the
deceased as a citizen.
Rev. Anderson preached. the funer-
al sermon.
The Masons performed their ritual
istic ceremonies.
The audience was given an oppor-
| tunity to view the remains and the
1uuSIdl u41cCLO1S, AlSCO6 " VOlu
formed the funeral cortege and the
remains were borne to Oakland ceme-
terry, where after the Masonic serv-
ices they were consigned to Mother
Earth.
The active pallbearers were all
past Masonic Grand Masters: George
l. Hoage, Mr. L. Barksdale. c. H.
Robinson, w. r. Morris, Jose n. Sher-
wood, F. B. Simpson.
The honorary pallbears were: Geo.
w. Stewart, j. H. Hickman, ST., Field
ing Combs. w. A. :Hilyard, Henry
johnson, J. @. Adams. ..--,, 49,. :
Scores of letters and kilograms of
coincidence were sent from all parts
of the country from: Ex-senator
Moses E. Clapp:; Washington, D. c.;
Judge R. H. Brill, St. Paul; Atty. F.
1. Chapman and others.
The floral tributes were very nu-
merous and very beautiful.
The deceased leaves to mourn his
loss: His widow, Amanda J. Chur-
Lyles, talented musician of Peoria
ILL.,; brother, VIM. J. Lyles; a niece,
Mrs. Jas. II. LOOMS; two grand nieces
Mrs. Harriet Loomis-O Oliver and Mrs
Ida Loomis- Brady: cousin, Mrs: Fir.
ston White and a host Of friends.