On 7 June 1838 only three years after coming to Montgomery County with his parents, Tyra Bishop married Rebecca Wilburn. That same month on 26 June 1838, he bought 40 acres of land in Section 9 of Township 49 North, Range 07 West in Callaway County and seems to have settled there. Six years later on 13 December 1844 he bought 40 more acres immediately to the west of his property. Ten years later on 19 December 1854 Tyra purchased the 40 acres next to the southwest of his property in addition to 160 acres one-half mile west in Section 8.