Thomas T. Dyke
1850-1920

Goodspeed 1889
By Fay Hempstead

M. T. Dyke, of the firm of Miller & Dyke, at Fort Smith, Ark., was born in Indiana, in 1856, and is the son of Nathaniel and Emily M. (Trester) Dyke. The Dyke family are descendants of the early New England Presbyterians, and were tenacious of their religious belief, and Grandfather Nathaniel Dyke was a veteran in the War of 1812. Nathaniel Dyke, father of our subject, was married to Miss Emily M. Trester, in Indiana, and five children were the result of this union, two sons and three daughters, only two sons now alive.

M. T. Dyke was educated in the graded schools of Indiana, and came to Arkansas in 1875, where he engaged in the lumber business, in the employ of J. G. Miller. Three years later he became a member of the firm, under the title of J. G. Miller & Co., remaining as such until 1887, when the firm title was changed to Miller & Dyke.

Mr. Dyke was married in Fort Smith, to Miss Myrtle M. Parke, daughter of Maj. Frank Parke, one of the oldest settlers of Fort Smith. This union resulted in the birth of two children: Mary Trester and Myrtle Parke.

Mr. Dyke is secretary of the building committee for the construction of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is church secretary, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Dyke is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society, also a member of the Missionary Society, and has taken an important part in society work.

Nathaniel Dyke, the third member of the firm of Miller & Dyke, came to Fort Smith in 1880, entered the employ of the firm, and became a member of the same January 1888. He is a K. P., is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, being steward of the same, and is organist and instructor of the church choir. He was also educated in the high-schools of Indiana, and has unusual musical talent. The firm of Miller & Dyke manufacture all kinds of doors, sash blinds, etc., and do a general lumber business.