Ross Milton Tygart

ROSS MILTON TYGART. For thirty-five years the name Tygart has had honorable associations with Smith County history. Ross Milton Tygart is proprietor of the leading hardware store of Lebanon, as successor to his father, the late James Milton Tygart, who was one of the most widely known and esteemed citizens of that locality.

James Milton Tygart was born in Clark County, Iowa, November 10, 1855. He grew up and married in that county and followed farming in his earlier days. In 1883 he came to Smith Center, farmed southwest of that town for two years, and in 1885 moved to a farm four miles west of Lebanon. From the farm he retired in 1892 and then gave much of his time to grain buying. In 1895 he and Henry Johnson established a hardware store at Lebanon, but sold out in 1896. In the latter year James M. Tygart established the present business conducted by his son. This is a large store with a trade extending in a radius of many miles around Lebanon, and for ever twenty years has been known for its reliability of goods and the equally reliable mercantile principles which govern every transaction.

James Milton Tygart was active in the business almost until the last. He died at Lebanon June 18, 1918, at the age of sixty-two years, seven months and eight days. He was noted in that community for his generous character, his genial personality, his wholesouled hospitality and his friendliness with all classes of people, whether they were patrons of his business or not. Many things indicate this general esteem in which he was held. For fourteen years he was member of the City Council at Lebanon, and was always active in the life of that town. He was a charter member of the Masonic and Ancient Order of United Workmen lodges at Lebanon, and was a republican in politics.

November 14, 1878, James M. Tygart married Miss Ida Jenkins. She was born in Clark County, Iowa, in 1861, and is still living at Lebanon. She was the mother of two children: Ethel, wife of J. L. Felton, cashier of the Lebanon State Bank, and Ross Milton.

Ross Milton Tygart was born at Lebanon April 2, 1887. As he grew to manhood he attended the local schools, graduating from high school in 1904, and was a student in Lindsborg College through the sophomore year. In 1906, returning from college, he entered business with his father and rapidly acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the details of the trade and was well qualified to become his father's successor. He now manages the business for his father's estate. He is a republican, is affiliated with Oak Lodge No. 287, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being past master of the lodge, and is a member of Lebanon Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Smith Center and Lebanon Camp No. 1391 of the Modem Woodmen of America. In 1912, at Lebanon, he married Miss Etta Housel, daughter of J. E. and Christina Housel. Her parents reside at Lebanon, her father being a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Tygart have one son, Ross Milton, Jr., born January 4, 1917.

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