Imperial-Monterey-San Benito County CA Archives Biographies.....Lyons, Thomas W. G. 1874 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 23, 2006, 12:40 am

Author: F. C. Farr (editor, 1918)

THOMAS W. G. LYONS, owner of 320 acres of land in Water Company No. 5, near
Brawley, is a self-made man. He is one of the most progressive and influential
factors in the agricultural life of Imperial County. Mr. Lyons is very actively
listed among the pioneers of this section, coming to the Valley in the year
1905. He was born in Monterey County, California, April 23, 1874, the son of
Stephen and Mary (Driscol) Lyons, both being pioneers of Imperial County who
came here in 1904, and are now residing in Brawley. The family is of old English
and Irish origin and in tracing the lineage thereof many interesting items are
brought to light. Mr. Lyons received his education in the public schools in
various parts of California, leaving the public institutions at the age of
nineteen years. During his school days Mr. Lyons assisted very materially on the
home place and later continued in this capacity until he reached the age of 27
years. He then branched out and began farming for himself in Monterey County and
San Benito County for three years. Leaving San Benito County he went to San
Francisco, where he organized several mining corporations, one of them being the
Lyons Gypsum Company. Mr. Lyons remained in active charge of this corporation
until he came to Imperial County and acquired his present property by filing
thereon during the year 1907. When he came to the Valley in 1905 Mr. Lyons, in
conjunction with his father and brothers, operated a combined harvester, whereby
they harvested a field of barley on what is now the city of El Centro, including
numerous other places about the county. He followed this pursuit for some time
and also found time to take care of his mining interests in various parts of the
state. Mr. Lyons and his family contributed largely toward the development of
Imperial County. In passing it might be stated that Mr. Lyons organized the
Mexican Farm Lands & Cattle Company in Mexico. When the subject of this review
came to the Valley a vast desert stretched as far as the eye could see in every
direction. On his place there is a natural well which shoots water about sixty
feet above the surface of the ground. Mr. Lyons is doing general farming and is
meeting with unqualified success in the raising of barley, corn, cotton and
alfalfa for the market. He leveled all his ground and made all commanding
improvements about the place. He has a finely situated home, which is one of the
features on his property. He continues to hold his mining property and mills,
warehouses and spur track at King City, Monterey County, California. Politically
he is a Republican and has never aspired for office. He is a member of the
Native Sons of the Golden West and of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Lyons was
married at Royal Oak, Michigan, June 12, 1907, to Miss Margaret C. Murray,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry D. Murray, of Royal Oak, where the family settled
in the early days. Mr. Murray has passed away and is buried in the Royal Oak
cemetery. Mrs. Murray is at present residing at Oakland, California. Mr. and
Mrs. Lyons have two sons: Edward W., who was born in Monterey County,
California, February 28, 1909, and Robert S., also born in Monterey County,
March 12, 1911. The parents of Mr. Lyons raised six sons and five daughters:
Ella, who is buried in San Francisco; Molly, residing in Monterey, California,
the wife of Lewis Rudolph; Catherine, wife of Oscar J. Burns, Los Angeles; Rose,
a Sister of Charity at El Paso, Texas; Stephen P., Edward J., John P., Leo J.,
and Frank L, and Irene, a Sister of St. Joseph's, Tucson, Arizona, whose
parochial name is Sister Rose Mary.

Additional Comments:
From:

THE HISTORY
OF
IMPERIAL COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
EDITED BY
F. C. FARR

IN ONE VOLUME
ILLUSTRATED
Published by ELMS AND FRANKS
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918


Printed by Taylor & Taylor, San Francisco


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