James N. Tyner
| James Noble Tyner | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 26th United States Postmaster General | |
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In office July 12, 1876 – March 3, 1877 |
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| President | Ulysses S. Grant |
| Preceded by | Marshall Jewell |
| Succeeded by | David M. Key |
| Member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 8th district | |
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In office March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1875 |
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| Preceded by | Godlove S. Orth |
| Succeeded by | Morton C. Hunter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 17, 1826 Brookville, Indiana, USA |
| Died | December 5, 1904 (aged 78) Washington, D.C., USA |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Politician, lawyer |
James Noble Tyner (January 17, 1826 – December 5, 1904) was a lawyer, U.S. Representative and U.S. Postmaster-General from Indiana. Tyner was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1869 serving three terms until 1875. While in the House, Tyner opposed granting railroad subsidies, promoted gradual western industrial expansion, and spoke out against Congressional franking privilege. In 1873, Tyner voted for the Salary Grab pay raise and bonus that prevented him from getting the fourth-term Republican Congressional nomination. President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Tyner Second Assistant Postmaster-General in 1875 then U.S. Postmaster-General in 1876 serving until 1877. Tyner served as Assistant Postmaster-General under President Rutherford B. Hayes until 1881. In October 1881 Tyner was forced to resign his Assistant Postmaster-General position by President Chester A. Arthur, for his assumed knowledge of Star Route postal frauds and for giving his son, whom Tyner had appointed Superintendent of the Chicago Post Office, a $1,000 salary increase. Afterwards, Tyner served as Assistant Attorney to the U.S. Post Office Department from 1889 to 1893 and from 1897 to 1903. Tyner was forced to resign his office of Assistant Attorney by Postmaster-General Henry C. Payne in April 1903, whereupon under investigation Tyner was indicted and put on trial for fraud and bribery charges. Tyner was acquitted from all charges for lack of evidence after his family controversially removed pertinent papers from his office safe. In poor health, Tyner died the following year. After a brief biographical article of Tyner in 1906, modern historical research on his life and career has been limited. Initially coming into Washington as a mid west Representative and reformer, Tyner's political career would be associated by controversy and scandal. He was the last surviving Grant cabinet who served in federal office into the 20th Century. Tyner, an expert in the Postal Service, was appointed and served as a delegate to the International Postal Congresses in 1878 and 1897.
James Noble Tyner was born in Brookville, Indiana on January 17, 1826. Tyner came from a prominent Indiana family. Tyner was one of twelve children. His father was Richard Tyner and his mother was Martha Sedgwick Willis Swift Noble. Tyner's grandfather, William E. Tyner, was a pioneer Baptist minister who preached in Eastern Indiana for many years. Tyner's father Richard was a prominent Indiana business man. Tyner's mother Martha's brother was Indiana Governor Noah Noble serving from 1831 to 1837 and another one of her brothers was Indiana U.S. Senator James Noble serving from 1816 to 1831. Tyner pursued an academic course and graduated from Brookville Academy in 1844. From 1846 to 1854 Tyner was engaged and worked in his father's business. Tyner studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1857 commencing practice in Peru, Indiana.
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