Terrell County Georgia - Biography - Lattie Lucius Lyon 1873 - 1909

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This file contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by 
Charlene Parker" <laurel43@bellsouth.net> Sep 2002 

LATTIE LUCIUS LYON
 
Lattie Lucius Lyon, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Lyon was born in Towns County, Georgia, February 16, 1873.  
In early life Mr. Lyon moved with his family from Towns County to Habersham County, near Clarkesville, 
where he received his early schooling.  He graduated from a college at Demorest, Georgia.  Later he 
attended Hiawassee College, then an Atlanta business college.  While yet a young man he realized that 
a higher education would fit him better for a life of service to humanity and God.  He attended the 
University of Georgia Law School, from which institution he graduated in 1895.  He returned to 
Clarksville, where he taught in the public schools of Habersham County, and later served for some time 
as County School Superintendent.
 
It was in Clarksville also that he was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law.  He soon 
established himself as an able attorney and counsellor at law, a brave defender of truth and 
righteousness and a man of integrity.
 
In 1901 Mr. Lyon made a tour of Florida and South Georgia seeking a place to locate for the practice of 
law.  At Colquitt Mr. Charlie Bush suggested Arlington as a good field, so in passing through he met 
Mr. H. M. Calhoun who wanted a law partner.  So they formed a partnership.  The firm was successful, 
and each member came to esteem the other as his best friend.  But in 1904 the partnership was dissolved 
on account of Mr. Lyon's desire to reduce professional business preparatory to entering the ministry.


On February 21, 1903, Mr. Lyon was happily married to Miss Cleone McClain, youngest daughter of the late 
Dr. and Mrs. G. N. McClain of Arlington.  To this union two daughters were born, Rebecca and Lattie, 
who are now respectively Mrs. A. W. Raymond of Punta Gorda, Florida and Mrs. Harry Olive of 
Arlington, Georgia.
 
From early life Mr. Lyon had been a consistent and active member of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
In 1904, five years before his death, he yielded to a call to the ministry, and was ordained in the 
Baptist Church for this great work.  Upon entering the ministry he was called to serve the churches 
at Kestler, Milford, New Bethel in Randolph County, and Herod in Terrell County.  Later he resigned at 
Kestler and New Bethel and accepted in their stead calls to Hillside and Colomokee, which places he 
served until his death.  During his work in the ministry he served as treasurer of the Bethel Association, 
and at the time of his death was a member of the Executive Board of that Association.  It was his plan 
to attend the Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky, to further prepare himself for what he intended to 
make his life's work, giving up all his other work for a larger service to God.
 
Mr. Lyon's general competence was recognized as a public and private citizen.  He was elected and 
served the town of Arlington as Mayor in 1905--1906, and was appointed by Gov. Hoke Smith as Solicitor 
of the City Court of Calhoun County to succeed Mr. A. L. Miller, who was elected to represent 
Calhoun County in the Legislature.
 
Mr. Lyon died on June 5, 1909, victim of an attack of typhoid fever contracted while visiting a family, 
members of one of his churches, of which every member had the disease.  He knew the risk he ran, 
that his stomach had been weakened in childhood by a serious illness, but such was his sympathy for 
his stricken friends that he did not count the cost to his friends.
 
Brother Lyon was one of God's chosen preachers, and had he lived no doubt would have developed into 
one of our greatest preachers.  He had all the qualifications for his chosen work.