Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 4. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 455.
 
MRS. MARY J. TYLER

     Among the prominent residents of the Rogue river valley may be mentioned
Mrs. Mary J. Tyler, a woman who for years has given her services to the
alleviation of human suffering and to those who require the aid of skilled and
soothing hands to carry them through the crisis when sickness overcomes them.
Mrs. Tyler resides in Merlin, Josephine county, where she owns several pieces of
property, having sold her homestead of one hundred and fifty acres which she
settled upon and obtained a patent for, many years ago. She was born in Knox
county, Illinois, a daughter of Hiram and Katherine Simpkins, both natives of
Pennsylvania. The family removed to Ohio at an early date and later settled in
Knox county, Illinois. The father fought in the Black Hawk war, rendering
valuable service to the state in that connection. The family removed to
Josephine county, Oregon, in 1872 and there the father passed away at the age of
eighty-seven years, while the mother's death occurred when she was ninety-one
years of age. They were the parents of. nine children, three of whom survive.
     Mrs. Mary J. Tyler received a common-school education and when the family
had become established in Oregon, took up a homestead on the Rogue river, upon
which she resided until she obtained a patent for her land from the government.
Comparatively early in life she took up the profession of nursing and in years
past journeyed on horseback all over Josephine county on her missions of mercy,
frequently riding as far as sixty miles on horseback to attend a sick person.
Some time ago she disposed of her homestead of one hundred and fifty acres and
in 1909 removed to Merlin, where she owns several pieces of property.
     Mrs. Tyler has four children: Henry and Hiram, residents of California;
Catherine, the wife of Milt Mason; and A. F., at home. Mrs. Tyler is well known
and favorably regarded in Josephine county and her services as a skilled nurse
are in great demand. She is highly esteemed by a large number of personal
friends and is regarded as one of the valuable residents of the community.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.