Lake County Ohio GenWeb

James H. Tryon

This biography is taken from Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio, Embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake; Lewis Publishing Company, 1893.

Transcribed and submitted by Becky Falin, 1996.

James H. Tryon, who resides on Waite Hill, in Kirtland township, Lake county, Ohio, is a pioneer grape-grower in this vicinity for commercial purposes in the county. He is well informed on all horticultural subjects and has gained a wide practical knowledge from many years of experience. He deals extensively in all kinds of nursey stock and makes a specialty of grapes. For over a quarter of a century he has dealt with one of the standard grape nurseries, and is widely and favorably known.

James H. Tyron was born in the town of Vernon, Oneida county, New York, February 18, 1822, the son of Jesse Tryon, also a native of Oneida county, and grandson of Thomas Tryon, who was born in Middletown, Connecticut. Thomas Tryon emigrated to Oneida county, New York, in an early day, where he was engaged in farming for some years and where he died at the age of eighty-five. He was a Revolutionary soldier and was taken prisoner by the British when they had possession of New York city, and with his comrades was confined in the old Sugar House for a time and then was transferred to the prison ship that lay in the harbor, where he remained until released by exchange of prisoners.

Jesse Tryon [photo] was one of a family of twelve children. By occupation he was a farmer. He emigrated to Ohio in 1853, and located in Kirtland township, Lake county, were he died in 1872, at the age of seventy-nine years, his death resulting from injuries received from being accidentally thrown out of a wagon. He was a member of the Congregational Church. during the war of 1812 he was in the service of his country a short time before its close. The mother of James H. Tryon was before her marriage Miss Maria Graham [photo], who was a native of New York. Her death occurred in 1876. They had two sons, James H. being the older. The other, Hon. Hosmer G. Tyron, came to Ohio in 1846, and improved a farm on Waite Hill, Lake county, where he spent the rest of his life. He was elected to the State Legislature and had just completed serving his third term as a member of that honorable body when his death occurred.

James H. Tryon spent his boyhood days on the farm and received a district-school and academic education. At the age of eighteen he went to Wampsville, Madison county, New York, where he was employed as a clerk in a store for three years. Subsequently he clerked at Oneida and from there went to Rochester, same State, where he made his home for several years while he engaged as traveling salesman. He came to Lake county, Ohio, in 1855, and settled on Waite Hill in Kirtland township, where he soon afterwards turned his attention to fruit culture. In 1858 he set out a vineyard, it being one of the first vineyards, if not the first, of any size in the county. In 1862 he commenced shipping his crop of grapes, and has continued to ship every year since. A few years after he planted the vineyard he also set out a peach and pear orchard. For thirty years he has handled all kinds of fruit trees, buying and selling on orders. He has made a specialty of grapes, not only in raising the fruit but also in selling the vines.

Mr. Tryon was married in 1848 to Louisa Hills, a native of Madison county, New York, and they have had eight children, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Louise, wife of H.O. Wells, Kirtland, Ohio; James H., Jr., married and living in West Bay City, Michigan' Phoebe I., wife of Frank Hull, Omaha, Nebraska; Edmond H., a merchant of Willoughby; and George W., of New York city.

When he reached his majority Mr. Tryon first voted with the Liberty party. He was afterward a Free-Soiler, and is now a Republican. He, however, gives little attention to political matters. Mrs. Tryon is a member of the Congregational Church.