Spafford L Tryon (1833 - 1896)

Born 3 Nov 1833 in Jefferson, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Lydia Roxanna Tryon — married 29 Sep 1869 in Chippewa County, Michigan, United States

Descendants

Died 10 Jun 1896 at age 62 in Dowagiac, Cass, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Michael Tryon [send private message], Michael Maranda [send private message], and Linda Green [send private message]

Biography

SPAFFORD TRYON, late of Dowagiac. Spafford Tryon, for many years one of the leading lawyers of southwestern Michigan, was born in a farm in Jefferson County, New York. His father, Luther Tryon, was a farmer, a native of Deerfield, Massachusetts, and a man of sterling worth. His mother, Ann Bradley, was a native of Maine. Both parents were of English descent and the ancestors of both were early settlers of New England. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving with the rank of captain under Arnold at Quebec and Valley Forge, and under Sullivan against the Indians. As a boy, Spafford attended the country schools until he was qualified to teach. He then prepared himself for college at Middlebury Academy and paid his expenses with the wages of teaching. He matriculated in Madison University at Hamilton, New York, in 1859 and pursued the course for more than three years, but was obliged to leave before graduation on account of ill health. He began the study of law with Wakeman & Bryan, in Batavia, New York, in the fall of 1861, where he remained one year. His legal studies were continued at Albion in the office of Bezac & Bullard, prominent lawyers of the place, with whom he remained until the spring of 1864, although he was admitted to the Bar after an examination in Buffalo in 1863. The class of law students examined at the same time numbered thirty, only half of them passed the examination successfully. In 1864, Mr. Tryon, with Lorenzo Lapham, a college classmate and well-tried friend, came west and located for a time in Marshalltown, Iowa. Not finding business what they expected, they went to Council Bluffs where they engaged in the practice of law for a year or more. From there Mr. Tryon went to Sioux City, where he remained until 1869. He then returned east as far as Michigan, settled in Dowagiac and formed a partnership with F. J. Atwell, which was maintained for two years. Mr. Tryon devoted all of his activities and energies as well as the best powers of his mind to the study and practice of law. He was never tempted to leave the profession for public office. Well fitted by nature to comprehend the intricacies of law and having a taste for the investigation and study essential to such understanding, he became one of the most successful and learned lawyers in the State. His speciality in the practice of chancery cases, and in the Chancery Courts of the State he had few equals. He could have received political honors and the emoluments of political office if he had loved his profession less. Solicited frequently by leaders of his party to accept a nomination, he steadfastly and persistently declined, preferring the eminence that comes to one who is faithfully devoted to his profession. The only office which he ever filled was that of prosecuting attorney of Cass county for a single term. This was in 1872. Politically he accepted the principles and policies of the Republican party, but contented himself with a discharge of the duties of private citizenship under all circumstances. For twenty-six years he was employed in the most important cases tried in his county. He was married September 29, 1869, to Miss Tain Tryon, daughter of Lemuel and Lydia Forbes Tryon, of York, Livingston county, New York. A son, Edward, and a daughter, Helen A., were born of this marriage. The former studied law and was associated in practice with his father some time before the latter's death. Mr. Tryon died suddenly on the morning of June 10, 1896. His funeral was attended by the Bar associations of Cass, Berrien and VanBuren counties, and some members of the profession from Kalamazoo. Eulogies were pronounced by Judges Coolidge and Smith. [There follows what was said by the Rev. P. W. Perry, who conducted the funeral service.]^[1]

Will and Probate

Spafford was a successful lawyer and left a significant estate. The documents for his and Tain's probate are hundreds of pages. Spafford's will was written in 1872, before they had children, and is very brief. He leaves everything to Tain. Tain died shortly after and in her will left everything in trust to her children, with her niece, Nettie A. Tryon, as administrator. The following year son Edward sells all rights to the estate to Nettie with the exception of three parcels of land, 20, 29, and 7 acres in size which apparently remain his. When daughter Helen Anna died in 1911 her portion of the property, about 150 acres, is sold at auction with the proceeds going to Helen Anna's daughter, Lydia Gillette, with Nettie as her guardian ^[2].

Research Notes

Administrator of his estate was Nettie A. Tryon. Nettie A. Tryon is memorialized at Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac, Cass County, Michigan. No dates on headstone. It is one of a group of three identical headstones: Julia P. Tryon, 1827-1895 and Edward Tryon, 1823-1885, who are are Tain's sister and brother. Another set of Tryons at the cemetery are: Tain L. Tryon, 1834-8 Oct 1897, Spafford Tryon, 1833-10 Jun 1896, Anna VanTuyle, 2876-1911, John F. Tryon, 1839-1884, and Hugh Tryon, 1874-1875.

Spafford is found in the Luther Tryon Family Bible 1781 to 1833 published in 1847.

This note from Ancestry message boards appears to be relatively accurate: William's son Luther b. 1781. d. June22, 1865, Lawerence, Van Buren Co. Mi. William's wife Nancy Ann Bradley d. Jan 22, Peoria, N.Y. Luther's daughter Laura Married David Goodenough shortly after arrival in MI. He died leaving her with small children to raise. She died in 1891/2 buried in Lawerence, MI. Her brother Spofford/Spafford was a prominent lawyer in Dowagiac, Cass Co. MI. He married his 2nd cousin Lydia AKA Tain Tryon. Their 1st child Hugh b. 1874 d.1875. Next they had a daughter. Helen Anna AKA Anna Helen b. 1876. She 1st married Irvin Gillete in Decatur, Van Buren Co. MI. I Don't know what happened to him. They had a daughter Lydia Irene. She then married a Van Tuyle. After Spafford died June 10, 1896 in Dowagiac and Tain Oct. 8th, 1897 in Dowagiac, Helen and Lydia moved to CA. with Tain's sister Nettie whom they had been living with. Lydia Irene married Thomas Roy Davis. They had a son Roy Davis. She died Feb, 13, 1937 in Los Angeles, CA. Helen Anna d. Mar. 19, 1911 in L.A. CA. and was back to Dowagiac for burial. Spafford and Tain also had an adopted son Edward b.1872 in MI. A cousin, Coy Winthrop Hendrix came to live with them.

Sources

1. ↑ Bench and Bar of Michigan, pp. 279 - 81 (Ancestry.com)
2. ↑ Spofford Tryon in the Michigan, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1784-1980, Probate Date: 2 Feb 1899, Cass, Michigan

• Stafford Tryan in the 1850 United States Federal Census, Covington, Wyoming, New York, age 18, in the household of Luther and Ann Tryon

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHHX-L43 : 17 October 2014), Spafford Tryon in household of Gurbill H Wheeler, Michigan, United States; citing p. 33, family 285, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,167.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWSM-6LH : 10 August 2016), Spafford Tryon, Dowagiac, Cass, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district ED 78, sheet 637B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0575; FHL microfilm 1,254,575.

• "Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH83-WM5 : 9 December 2014), Spafford Tryon, 10 Jun 1896; citing Dowagiac, Cass Co., Mi, reference v A p 248; FHL microfilm 1,021,048.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/152971564/spafford-tryon: accessed 26 May 2023), memorial page for Spafford Tryon (1833–10 Jun 1896), Find a Grave Memorial ID 152971564, citing Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac, Cass County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by Judith D (contributor 48139146).