Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/321

 KYLE

KYNETT

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grandson of Judge Samuel and Rachel (Jackson) Kyle; gie.it-grandson of Joseph Kyle, a Revolu- tionary soldier, and a descendant of Samuel Kyle, proprietor of Cliflon Hall, near Cliambers-

burg. Pa. His fath- er, a civil engineer, served in the civil war. 1862-64. He was six feet six inches tall. James H. Kjle entered the Univer- sity of Illinois in 18- 71, where lie took a course in civil engin- eering, and was grad- uated from Oberlin college, A.B., in 1878. He was married, April 72, 1881, to Anna Belle Dugo of Oberlin, Oliio. He studied law^, but decided on the ministry as his profession, and was graduated from the West- ern Theological seminary, Alleglieny. Pa., in 1882. While studying theology he taught mathematics and engineering. He went to Utali in charge of educational work for the churcli board; was pas- tor of the Plymouth Congregational church at Salt Lake City, 1882-85, and subordinate officer of the Utah commission in 1883. In 1886 he set- tied in Dakota Territory, where he was pastor of Congregational churches at Ipswich and Aber- deen, and financial secretary of Yankton college. He supported the South Dakota Prohibition ticket in 1888; was elected to the South Dakota senate in 1890, and U.S. senator from South Dakota as successor to Gideon C. Moody, in 1891, receiving the combined Independent and Democratic votes. In 1897 he was re-elected for a second term, ex- piring Marcli 3, 1903. He served on the commit- tees on Indian affairs, territories, pensions, irri- gation and reclamation of arid lands, Indian de- predations, forest reservations and the protection of game, and was chairman of the committee on education and labor. He was also elected chair- man of the U.S. industrial commission. He died in Aberdeen, S.D.. July 1, 1901.

KYLE, John Curtis, representative, was born near Sardis. Panola county, Miss., July 17. 1851. He attended Betliel college, McKenzie. Tenn., and was graduated at Cumberland university, Lebanon, Tenn., LL.B., 1874. He was admitted to the bar in 1874, and sottli-d in practice in Sar- dis. Panola county, Miss. He was mayor of Sar- dis, 1879-81; was elected a member of the Missis- sippi senate in 1881, and a railroad commissioner of the state. He was chairman of the Democratic state committee in 1888, and was a Democratic representative from the second congressional dis-

trict of Mississippi in the 52d, 53d and 54th con- gresses, 1891-97. After the expiration of his term he resumed the practice of law at Sardis.

KYNETT, Alpha Jefferson, clergyman, was born in Adams county, Pa., Aug. 12, 1829; son of John and Mary (Pet- erson) Kynett, and of Pennsylvania Ger- man descent. He re- moved with his par- ents to Oliio in 1832; to Indiana in 1838, and settled in Des Moines county. Iowa, in 1842. He obtained a good education, princijjally under the tuition of a gradu- ate of Oxford uni- versity. He then en- gaged in teaching, and at the same time pursued the higher branches of learning, intend- ing to devote his time to law. He entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal cliurch in 1851, and was pastor of leading churches of the Iowa and Upper Iowa conferences. He was presiding elder of the Davenport district, 1860- 64, and in 1861 and 1862 he served on the staff of Governor Kirkwood in recruiting and hospital service and in the organization of Iowa as a branch of the U.S. sanitary commission. He founded and was in chax'ge of the church exten- sion work of his conference, 1864-66, and was then appointed corresponding secretary of the Church Extension society for the entire Metlio- dist Episcopal church, with headquarters in Phil- adelphia, which had been founded and organized through his influence at the general conference of 1864. Tins society was in 1872 brouglit under the control of the general conference as a board, largely through his influence. He was a delegate to tiie general conference. 1864-96, and was chief executive officer of the church extension work, 1868-99. While Dr. Kj-nett was in charge of its affairs the board collected and disbursed $6,- 240,000 and establislied a loan fund witii a per- manent capital of $1,044,000. In all more than $6,250,000 i)assed through his hands. He re- ceived the degree of D.D. from Ohio Weslej'an university in 1807, and that of LL.D. from Alle- gheny college in 1886. He was one of the found- ers of the National Anti-Saloon league, and at the time of iiis death was president of the Penn- sylvania Anti-Saloon league. He edited Chris- tianity in Earnest in the interest of cliurch ex- tension and saloon suppression; and is the au- thor of: Latvs and Forms concerning Churches (1897.) He died in Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 23, 1899.