A-2 • MARCH 16, 2016 • HALLS/FOUNTAIN CITY Shopper news
Gen. Lawrence D. Tyson (1861-1929)
Lawrence Davis Tyson was born on July 4, 1861, the first son of Richard L. and Margaret Turnage Tyson, in Pitt County, N.C., near Greenville. The Tyson ancestors had been in Pitt County since the 1720s and, by 1860 at only 25 years of age, Richard Tyson owned a sizeable cotton plantation. By the end of the Civil War (1861-1865) the family’s net worth was markedly diminished but was still well above average. Young Lawrence first attended school on the family farm with his two younger sisters and, by 1873, he entered Greenville Academy. He won an appointment to West Point Military Academy by competitive examination, enrolled in 1879 and graduated in 1883. His first military action came in the mid-1880s when he served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Ninth Infantry fighting during the Apache Wars and participating in the capture of Geronimo. On Feb. 10, 1886, Tyson married Betty Humes McGhee, the daughter of Charles McClung McGhee, railroad financier and Knoxville’s leading businessman. By 1991 then 1st Lt. Tyson was appointed commandant of the University of Tennessee’s military science program, possibly due to the influence of his father-in-law. Lt. Tyson wasted little time markedly upgrading the program. He instituted classroom courses in tactics and began artillery training. Reflecting his West Point years, he held a weekly dress parade to instill military bearing and pride.
Jim Tumblin HISTORY AND MYSTERIES The ambitious professor simultaneously attended UT Law School and received his LL.B. degree in 1895. Two years later he resigned his army commission and began law practice in Knoxville with future Supreme Court Associate Justice Edward T. Sanford. He soon became president of the Nashville Street Railway Co., the first of many businesses he would lead. When the SpanishAmerican War began in 1898, Tyson was appointed by the President as a colonel in the volunteer infantry. He recruited and trained a regiment and led it to Puerto Rico. With the end of the war, he served as military governor of the northern sector of the island before he was mustered out of active service in 1899. Tyson resumed his law practice in Knoxville and became increasingly active in business. He founded and became president of the Knoxville Cotton Mills and the Knoxville Spinning Co. and was on the board of several coal- and iron-mining companies. He also had major interests in manufacturing and real estate and served on the boards of two banks. From 1902 to 1908 he served as a brigadier general and inspector general of the Tennessee National
Guard. As a Democrat, he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives (1903-1905) and was the first person up to that time to be elected speaker during his first term. Prior to the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, state Legislatures elected U.S. senators and Tyson lost the 1913 contest by only a few votes. When the U.S. entered World War I, Tyson volunteered and the governor Redesigned by George F. Barber in 1907, Tyson House is now home to the UT Alumni Affairs and placed him in command Development Offices. Photo Courtesy of the C.M. McClung Historical Collection of the Tennessee National Guard. He was soon commissioned as a brigadier In 1920 Tennessee Tyson, 68, passed away on general and his unit became Democrats promoted him Aug. 24, 1929. After serthe 59th Brigade of the 30th for the vice-presidential vices at St. John’s EpiscoDivision, the “Old Hickory� nomination. He withdrew pal Church, where he had division. After training at his name and seconded served as a vestryman, he Camp Sevier in S.C., the bri- the nomination of the was interred in Old Gray gade embarked for France successful candidate, Cemetery. A tall obelisk in May 1918. They fought Franklin D. Roosevelt. marks his family plat. alongside the British and Roosevelt and the He had served the Australians in Belgium presidential candidate, city as president of the through July and August. Gov. James M. Cox of second Appalachian During the Second Som- Ohio, lost the election Exposition in 1911, was me offensive (Aug. 21 to to Warren G. Harding a member of the Sons of Sept. 2, 1918), after three and Calvin Coolidge. the Revolution, a Mason days of tough combat, Gen. Tyson won the and president of the board Gen. Tyson’s brigade broke popular election to the of trustees of the Lawson through the German’s Hin- U.S. Senate in 1924 where McGhee Library (1916denburg line at perhaps its he sponsored successful 1925). In memory of their strongest point. The 8,000- legislation to grant son, he and his wife had man 59th Brigade was in retirement benefits given land on SutherGen. Lawrence D. Tyson (1861almost continuous combat to World War I veterland Ave. for Knoxville’s 1929). Awarded the Distinguished until Oct. 20. The Brigade ans. His other major first municipal airport Service Medal for his service in won nine of the 12 Con- concerns during his and provided the land World War I, Gen. Tyson was also a gressional Medals of Honor service in the Senate for Tyson Park. prominent attorney, businessman earned by the 30th Divi- were national defense, Betty Humes Mcand U.S. senator. Photo courtesy of the sion, more than any other world peace and ecoGhee Tyson (1865Lawson McGhee Library division. Gen. Tyson was nomic development in 1933), their only daughawarded the Distinguished the South. In 1926 he ter, Isabella McGhee Service Medal. sponsored legislation Tyson (Kenneth N.) When the armistice was authorizing the creation of his military service and the Gilpin, and two grandsons signed on Nov. 11, 1918, Gen. the Great Smoky Mountains loss of his only son, Navy Lt. survived the general. Charles McGhee Tyson, in Tyson returned to Knoxville National Park. Dr. C. Drew Gilpin Faust, and resumed his many busiWhile he was still serv- air combat over the North Gen. Tyson’s great-grandnesses. He bought the Knox- ing in the Senate in July Sea in the waning days of daughter, is currently the ville Sentinel and became its 1929, Gen. Tyson required the war, he had never fully president of Harvard Unipresident and publisher and hospitalization for exhaus- regained his health. versity and an acclaimed Gen. Lawrence Davis author of several books. resumed his role in politics. tion. Due to the rigors of
0 ( 11
5
&1&4
&"$4 ++) 40 *"4$ 0 &*&*" 00 ( 11 7) /7 4 (( +7041 &4 (( +" 52! . 0+ 9 ; $&( +0 40 *"4$ 0 * + (( 2 %,6<2 0 &+ 4 8 &( ( 0 8&1&4 .+0" # & ' +:&*" 4&8&4& 1 )&*&140; #
&( 4 1 0+ & 1 +" &( 4 1 + 0 )+0*&*" +17
0 +% )- 4 : 0 &1 0+"0 ) +0 *&+0 7(41 01+*1 9&4$
$;1& ( &)&4 4&+*1 ,< 5<%,, , .).
*40 ( -4&14 $70 $ + +7*4 &* &4;
8 *&*". ( * 01 8 &( ( +* 4$ 9 1&4 .
! # " !& $
# !
! % "
" " !& " ! ' !
! " !& ! !!
9!53
$# + , $ %
$, #)$
+1 (%)2
$
# (-++ %) ': :
' $ 1; >2 1 27%'' +- ) ! (%) +1 ,. ?
, -( ,' , . - ' . ,.&
& % ! ! ! ' $ " # ! ! ! ! $ ! ! ! %
< %1 1 2# ) 1 2 )7 / -% 0
)%( &
+:1 + ( 1:2# %) 2 ' $2 1; :2 2 9 -+'%2# 2 2+ - 2+ >+: ) ' ) -+'%2# 7 7# 2 ( 7%(
" * $ * / *!! & !/ # &% ) $$$ $
499 . 1+ < > 8 3$
** ' (%' )+17# + 7). %7> &
( $ ( $ % " !! ,% " !) " % ! % $* <<<.< < 2#%)". +( 1+ < > 1 2# )+=;%''