Albert W. Tyler, one of the leading members of the Reno county bar, was born at Fountain Green, Ill., Oct. 20, 1872, a son of Charles C. and Joan (Webster) Tyler. The Tyler family was of Scotch descent, established in America by five brothers, who came to this country during Colonial days and a number of the family served in the Revolutionary army during the war that separated the colonies from the Mother Country. Charles Tyler located in Illinois, in 1852, when that state was still the "far west" to residents east of the Alleghany mountains. Mrs. Tyler died two years ago, but the father still resides in Hancock county, Illinois, aged seventy-two years. He was one of the early white settlers of the locality and took an active part in public affairs and politics, being a stanch supporter of the Democratic party but would never accept public office. Soon after coming west Mr. Tyler opened a general mercantile store and has engaged in that business for over forty years. He was also postmaster for many years until he retired from active life, and now enjoys the sunset years in a well earned respite from toil. Five children were born to Charles C. and Joan Tyler: Charles S., the treasurer of Hancock county, Illinois; Mary F., at home; George, also at home in charge of his father's business; Albert W.; and Ethel Joan, the wife of Robert Brandon of Omaha.

Albert W. Tyler was reared in his native state, attended the public schools until he was fifteen, when he entered Carthage College, Illinois, and subsequently entered Yale University, where he graduated, in 1896. After leaving the university he taught school but had determined to make the study of law his life work and, in 1893, came to Kansas and spent three summers in the office of Whiteside & Gleason reading for the bar, to which he was admitted, in 1895, and now practices in the county, state and Federal courts. Some time after this he returned to Yale and took his senior degree in law at that institution. For several years Mr. Tyler was employed in the law office of Mr. Whiteside and then became a member of the firm, under the name of Whiteside, Simmons & Tyler. Upon the retirement of Mr. Whiteside the firm was known as Simmons & Tyler until 1909, when the partnership was dissolved, since which time Mr. Tyler has practiced alone. He has built up a satisfactory and gratifying practice and is recognized as one of the able attorneys of Reno county.

On Sept. 5, 1900, Mr. Tyler married Marguerite L., the daughter of Louis C. Pound of Hutchinson. Two children have come to the Tyler home: Charles Pound and Albert Wilson. Mr. Tyler has served as city attorney and was the Democratic candidate for judge of the Ninth judicial district in 1908, and was defeated by only 800 votes in a district having a normal Republican majority of 3,500. He was also a candidate for county attorney, but was defeated by only a small majority. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic order, Modern Woodmen of America, and in faith is a Presbyterian, being president of the brotherhood of the church.