COLUMBIANA COUNTY OHIO - BIO: LYONS, Thomas (published 1887)
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF JAY AND BLACKFORD COUNTIES, INDIANA
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887
Page 311-312

        THOMAS LYONS, one of the wealthy farmers of Pike Township, resides
on section 34. He commenced life in Jay County with but little besides
strong hands and a determination that no obstacle could overcome, and
perhaps no man in Jay County has accomplished more, from so small a
beginning as he, and few have done more to develop the county from a state
of wildness of that of civilization. Mr. Lyons was born in Columbiana
County, Ohio, February 13, 1829, a son of Thomas and Eve (Apple) Lyons. His
mother was born in Pennsylvania of German descent; his father was of Irish
descent. They were united in marriage in Columbiana County, Ohio. In 1837
they moved to Perry County, where the father died in 1838. In 1850 our
subject's brother, Elijah Lyons, came to Jay County and located in Pike
Township, and a little later Thomas followed him and bought eighty acres of
heavily timbered land on section 26, of the same  township. His capital at
that time consisted of $180. He erected a log cabin and commenced clearing
his land. In 1852 he leased it to his brother-in-law, Enoch Drake, for a
term of five years, and returned to Ohio. In 1855 he married Amanda
Templeman, and in 1856 they came to Jay County and settled on the homestead
on section 26, Pike Township. In 1864 he bought and moved to the homestead
of his neighbor Edmond Rathburn. Steadily year by year, by industry and
economy, he added to his property until he became a large land owner. His
homestead contains 190 acres of finely improved land, and his substantial
brick residence and other buildings and improvements denote wealth and
prosperity. He has assisted his children to get a start in life by giving
to the different ones as seemed most fitting, land or money, not wishing
them to travel the weary road from poverty over which he so manfully made
his way. His wife, who shared the hardships and privations of pioneer life
and later the comforts of a good home with him, died in 1878. To them were
born eleven children -John, now of Kansas; Mrs. Amanda Smiley, of Randolph
County; Thomas and Elijah, also of Kansas; Mary, Jackson, Sarah and Eve,
the latter deceased. In 1882 Mr. Lyons married Miss Florence Harkins, and
to them have been born four children, but two of whom, Daniel and
Elizabeth, are living. In politics Mr. Lyons is a Democrat. He enlisted
during the war of the Rebellion and served nine months, a member of the
Twenty-third Indiana Infantry. He is a member of the Baptist church, as was
also the wife of his youth.


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