Simeon Lyman Family from Walpole As It Was and As It Is (1880)

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Surname: LYMAN
Source: Walpole As It Was and As It Is by George Aldrich, 
        The Claremont Manufacturing Co., Claremont, N.H., 1880, pages 316-318

LYMAN, SIMEON, was a poor boy who was brought up by Samuel Wiers, of this town, and when 
he became of age his foster father furnished him with tools to commence life at the trade of a blacksmith, 
in a shop that once stood on land near the Lyman homestead, on the east side of the highway. He 
married Diadama, dau. of James Allen, sen., and lived in a house near his shop till April 4,1846, when 
he d., aged 81. His ch. were:
I. Levi, m. Lovisa, dau. of Samuel Wiers. Mr. Levi Lyman lived, during a long life, on the spot 
where he was born, and probably no man who ever lived in town has done so many hard days’ 
work, or ever made longer days than he did; although it would seem he had no one to work for, 
as he lived and died without issue! He always had more or less hired help about him, and when 
in the field at work he was sure to lead them, which state of things continued to advanced life. 
His nervous sensations were not acute, as the following anecdotes will show. At one time, when 
preparing to start for Dublin, with a flock of sheep to be pastured there, his horse stepped upon 
the toes of one foot; but he did not stop to ascertain the injury done. A portion of the distance 
going thither he walked, in order to keep his sheep in the road. On returning, late at night, he 
said, "I thought my great toe did not feel quite natural, and on pulling off my boot I found it 
crushed and the nail off, besides other severe bruises on my foot." At another time he broke his 
arm, which for a long time necessitated the use of a sling. One of his townsmen, thinking it an 
opportune time to find him in the house, he wishing to make some settlement with him, was 
surprised to find him in his meadow, ditching, in a cold November blast. His sense of taste also 
partook of the same obtuseness. One day he was in his neighbor Burt’s garden, with others, 
and Mr. Burt, knowing his insensibility to taste, invited him to taste of a plant that was growing 
in his garden, the leaves of which were exceedingly bitter and stringent, and to tell him whether it 
was bitter or sweet. Mr. Lyman plucked two or three leaves and chewed them a moment, when 
he said, "I can’t tell exactly, but I should think, of the two, they were slightly bitter!" Mr. Lyman 
indulged in none of the luxuries of life, as seldom from home, except when business called him. 
He was sparing to himself, but liberal to others, when he chose to be. On one occasion he held 
a note of $1500 against a man in Northfield, Mass., who had been his hired man for several 
years. After his debtor had paid him the interest then due, Mr. Lyman remarked, "I think we 
had better square up, you’ve been a pretty good boy," at the same time presenting him with his 
note. He accumulated, by industry, frugality, temperance, and honesty, a landed estate, the most 
valuable of any in town. The amount of his entire property has not been publicly known, but was 
thought to have been from $75,000 to $80,000. When the infirmities of age and the loss of sight 
compelled him to remain in-doors, well knowing that the tide of life was fast ebbing, he was 
anxious about the disposal of his property. In his lonely meditations he sought out several poor 
but deserving people, who received from him liberal benefactions, and the balance went to his 
relatives. He died June 1, 1872, aged 78, bequeathing to posterity the example of a blameless 
life.
II. Allen, m. a Bicknell, and settled in the state of New York.
III. Jesse, was killed by the falling of a tree in New York.
IV. Lavinia, also m. a Bicknell, of New York.
V. Diana, m. Daniel Ross, and had one son, Levi, who is living in town and one daughter, who d., 
aged 16.