Dallas County AlArchives Biographies.....Lyon, George Gaines 1821 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 14, 2011, 6:17 pm Source: See below Author: Smith & De Land, publishers GEORGE GAINES LYON, Attorney-at-law, was born in Washington County, Ala., January 11, 1821. He is a son of James Gaines and Rosa (Fisher) Lyon, natives of North Carolina. His father was a prominent lawyer, and, for several years. Clerk of the Circuit Court and Register in Chancery, in Washington County. In 182? he went to Mobile: engaged quite extensively in the real estate business and the practice of law, and was for a time Register in Chancery. He was the eldest brother of the Hon. F. S. Lyon, and nephew of the late George S. Gaines, who was one of the first settlers of Alabama. He remained there until his death in 184_. Our subject studied law at famous old Vale College Law School. Returning home, he began the practice in the city of Mobile, and after remaining there a short time he removed to Demopolis. He was admitted to the bar in February, 1840, and subsequently admitted to practice before the Supreme Court. Since coming to the bar he has been in the active practice at Demopolis, and has been eminently successful, both professionally and financially. During the war. Mr. Lyon held the office of Sequestrator, and was, in addition, one of the Commissioners of the Confederate Government. During the administration of Gov. John Gill Shorter, he was the Governor's Aid for West Alabama. Since the advent of Democratic rule at Washington Mr. Lyon is among those who have been favored, in consequence of his fitness and admirable qualifications for the holding of public office, and was by reason of this and without his solicitation made United States Circuit Court Commissioner. In this position, as elsewhere, he has given every evidence of his capacity for what he has undertaken to do. and Uncle Sam in no wise has reason to regret having thus favored one of his faithful and worthy citizens. Mr. Lyon, for a man of his position, capacity. fitness, influence and acceptableness to the people, has held very few offices. This has not been owing to that the office was not in reach, but because he has not been of that class of citizens. who are always anxious for political preferment. Among the conspicuous examples which we may cite in support of this fact was his declination of two nominations of the Whig party to run for the legislature, once, for the lower house and once for the senate: and also, of the office of chancellor, in 1868, an office which owing to its dignity, honor and lucrativeness, has always made it a prize eagerly sought after; but he turned aside from this, prefering, as much greater prizes, the pleasure of domestic life and the success of its professional labors. Mr. Lyon was married in April, 1850, to Miss Annie G., daughter of Allen and Mary A. (Diven) Glover, one of the leading and best families of Marengo County. To them have been born nine children, of whom James G., Allen G., Norman and Francis S. are all dead. Of the children who grew to maturity may be mentioned: Rosa, afterward Mrs. William T. Rembert, who met a dreadful fate in the burning of the Steamer "Gardner," on the Tombigbee River, in 1887; Susie D., wife of Julius P. Rembert, met the same fate as her sister, at the same time; George C., is now a prominent physician at Pulte Medical College, Cincinnati; Mary G. and Annie G. Our subject is a member of the F. A. & M., and an active and efficient member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Several years back, when the Grange movement started in the South, Alabama was no exception to the list of Southern States taking hold of the movement, believing it to be for her material good. Mr. Lyon interested himself very much in the movement, and gave it all the aid in his power. In 1875, he was appointed by Gov. George S. Houston, Commissioner of Immigration, and, in connection with it, took an active and aggressive part in the canvass of the southern portion of the State on the subject, which was then absorbing a considerable part of the public attention. Mr. Lyon's grandmother was a Gaines, sister of the late George Strother Gaines, and General E. P. Gaines, who were among the first settlers of Alabama, at St. Stephen's. Since the above sketch was written. Mr. Lyon's son, Francis Strother Lyon, died of Bright's disease, January 19, 1888, in the twenty-fourth year of his age. He graduated at the University of Alabama, in 1886, and, at the time of his death, was studying law in his father's office, with fine prospects before him. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land 1888 PART III. HISTORICAL RESUME OF THE VARIOUS COUNTIES IN THE STATE. COTTON BELT. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dallas/bios/lyon934gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb