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Tyson was born in Mound City, Missouri.
In 1931, John moved to Springdale, Arkansas, with his wife Helen and infant son Don, hauling hay, fruit, and chickens for local growers.
In the 1940s, Tyson purchased a broiler farm in Springdale and began cross-breeding the high-meat yield New Hampshire Red Christy chickens with other birds.
In 1947, he incorporated Tyson Feed and Hatchery, which was active in three phases of chicken farming: supplying chicks to farmers, selling feed to farmers, and transporting chickens to market.
By 1952, when son Don dropped out of college to join the company as CEO, Tyson Feed and Hatchery was well established, but there was competition in the field and the market was concerned.
Through 1961, Tyson and his son set about increasing revenues, entering the commercial egg business in 1961 and going public, under the new name Tyson's Foods, in 1963.
John and Helen died in a train accident near Springdale in 1967.
Don Tyson succeeded his father as CEO of the company.
