69 years 11 mos 10 days

ALEXANDER GRISWOLD TYNG.
Alexander Griswold Tyng was born in Prince George County, Maryland, on July 28, 1827. His father was Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, D. D., for so long a period Rector of St. George's (Episcopal) Church, New York, and his mother Ann De Wolf Griswold, the daughter of Rt. Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, Bishop of the New England Diocese for many years, and presiding Bishop at the time of his death. Along with his fine ancestry flowed into his blood a choice endowment, mental and spiritual. His home nurture was of the carefulest and wholesomest. His training in academy and college was under the best masters. His childhood and youth were chiefly spent in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, where his father was, during that time, Rector of the Church of the Epiphany. He was for three years a student in the University of Pennsylvania, but spent his final college years in Columbia College, New York. from which he graduated with honor in 1845, being second in his rank in. the class. He afterward entered upon the course of study for the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Theological Seminary at Alex- andria, Virginia, but was obliged, on account of failing health, to relinquish it after the first year. He spent more than a year in foreign travel, visiting Europe, where he was introduced to many notable persons through his father's previous acquaintance and visits, and had the rare pleasure and distinction of sitting with University dignitaries, famed scholars and government officials in the banqueting hall at Cambridge. Later he made an extended ocean voyage on board a merchant vessel, going to China and spending some months there.

He came to Chicago in 1848 to enter into mercantile life in the vast lumber interests conducted by his brother-in- law, George M. Higginson, Esq. A very unexpected Providence led him to Peoria, Illinois, in 1849, where the re- mainder of his life was spent. He was married on January 9, 1851, to Lucie Brotherson, eldest daughter of P. R. K. Brotherson. Esq., with whom he spent a most happy and useful life. He has been actively identified with the religious and business life of this city. "Mr. Tyng's residence here stretches over nearly half a century. During all this period he was in active business on his own account: one of the oldest, if not the oldest, grain-dealers in Illinois, a record which can scarcely be duplicated among our surviving citizenship. When he came here Peoria was just an ambitious, booming western village, without railroads or telegraph, and with the scantiest means of intercommunication and transport. No one has contributed more than he to its commercial advancement. He gave emoloyment to hundreds of laborers, advertised the town and attracted enterprises to it. His sanguine temperament, his optimistic views, his boldness and enterprise may now and then have brought loss upon himself, but they have benefited the community at large.''

Mr. Tyng's business career in Peoria was a conspicuous one. As early as 1852, in conjunction with P. R. K. Brotherson, he was engaged quite extensively in the pork-packing industry, .which they carried on for a number of years. Later the same firm were leading factors in the grain and general produce trade. Mr. Tyng having erected here one of the earliest grain-warehouses, which was located at the corner of Water and Walnut Streets. After the opening of the first railroad lines into Peoria, by the establishment of local agencies in the more important towns reached by the railroads, this firm did much to promote trade between the city and the country, and probably Peoria is indebted as much to Mr. Tyng for the development of its general produce trade as to any other single individual. In the latter part of his life Mr. Tyng was for a number of years Secretary and Manager of the Peoria Marine and Fire Insurance Company.

He was one of the wardens of St. Paul's Episcopal Church for twenty-five years, and of Christ Church (Reformed Episcopal) for twenty-three years. In Sunday-school work he was actively engaged during his entire life, and both Church and Mission Sunday-schools, as well as State and International Associations, were benefited by his interest and labors. He was a member of the first International Committee to select, for seven years, the Sunday- school lessons, representing with Rev. Richard Newton, D. D., of Philadelphia, the Episcopal Church on that committee. He was very public-spirited and patriotic. "He was at the head of the Christian Commission work in this State, went. to the front with supplies and personally ministered to the wounded, sick and dying, needy and desolate. The members of the Grand Army he counted heroes, every one, tp whom we owe an unspeakable debt. To every good cause, philanthropic, educational, reformative, he gave a helping hand. He never grew old, was the friend of young men, rescued not a few, and aided many in life's struggle." A citizen interested in the prosperity of the city, he was for years a member of the School Board, and a liberal donor to every project for the general good. "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," applies truly to him. Since the organization of the "Woman's Christian Temperance Union" it has had in him a devoted coworker and its stanchest friend. "For
more than twenty years his presence every week at Gospel Temperance meetings brought cheer and delight; his beautiful, stirring messages, his humble, faith-filled prayers awakened and quickened every heart. His loving word and sympathy reached to the lowliest and blessed many. At least one thousand times has his voice been heard in the local work, while his help and in terest went out to State, National and World's W. C. T. U. workers, among whom his name and memory are cherished."

His sons, who yet survive, are: Alexander G. Tyng, of Peoria; Dudley Atkins and Philip Brotherson Tyng, of Chicago; and Pierre Kissam and Lucien Hamilton Tyng, of Buffalo, New York. Mr. Tyng entered into rest July 8, 1897. His funeral services were held in Christ Church, and he was laid among his beloved relatives in Springdale Cemetery, near the city he loved so well, and in whose future he had great faith—the city of his labor and love, and in which "his works do follow him." He will live in the intellectual and religious life of this city, and in the institutions which he helped to found.

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, Volume II, 1902