Bio of Benjamin T. LYONS (b.1814 d.1888), Wright Co., MN

=========================================================================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information
on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities,
as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is
obtained from the contributor of the file.
These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or
presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to
use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written
consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter,
and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent.

If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives 
Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm
Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find 
the submitter information or other files for this county.

Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Rebecca B Frank
=========================================================================

Bios from:  Mitchell, William Bell, 
History of Stearns County, Minnesota.  Volume II.  
Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr. and Co.  1915.

Page 959 + 960

Benjamin T. Lyons, one of the earliest settlers of Lynden township, is 
remembered as one of the founders of the county.  His memory is honored 
and revered throughout the community in which he lived, and his kindly 
influence still lives in his descendants.  He was born on a southern 
plantation in Warrentown, Virginia, and as a youth found his way to Ohio.  
He was there married, October 15, 1839, to Lydia Wince, also of Virginia, 
and settled down to farm life in Newark, Licking county, Ohio.  In 1854 
they moved to Illinois and located in Champaign county.  It was in 1856 
that they set out for Minnesota with two yoke of oxen, one pair of horse,
one cow and a colt.  They reached St. Paul September 10 and camped for a 
month on the present site of that city.  In October they drove to Clearwater, 
and secured 160 acres in section 17, Lynden township.  The family took 
up their home in two log cabins, equipped with an old fashioned fire place.  
They had lost their freight and had to make the best of such home made 
furniture as they could manufacture.  The beds were made by boring holes 
in the walls and driving in stout poles for a frame.  About three years 
after their arrival the family moved to section 6, in the same township, 
where they secured 160 acres of wild land.  Here they also lived in a log 
house, and stabled their stock in a log barn.  Later other buildings 
were erected.  Benjamin T. Lyons died November 27, 1888.  He was born
December 11, 1814.  His wife died July 27, 1877.  
She was born January 16, 1816.  He was a staunch Democrat in politics 
and held many offices.  He was an official in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church.  Benjamin T. Lyons was the son of Robert and Sarah (Tolson) 
Lyons.  Robert Lyons was a native of Virginia, a southern planter, 
and a soldier of the War of 1812.  The Tolsons were also well-to-do 
Virginia planters.  Lydia Wince was the daughter of Jacob and Ann 
(Hittle)Wince.  Jacob Wince was a Virginia Farmer.  In 1840 he moved 
his family to Ohio, and settled in Licking county.  It is interesting 
to note that when Benjamin T. Lyons came North, three of his brothers, 
Henry, Robert and John remained in the South.  Henry became a Baptist 
clergyman.  Robert and John joined the Confederate army.  Robert was 
killed at the Battle of Winchester.  John, who served as lieutenant, 
was wounded and take prisoner.  Lieutenant John Lyons also had a son, 
who served int eh Confederate army.  On the Union side, Benjamin T. 
Lyons had two sons, John and James Lyons, who did valiant service for 
the Stars and Stripes.  They fought on the Union side at the battle in 
which their Uncle Robert was killed.