R. F. Lyons Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1890-1891 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	R. F. LYONS, of Carthage, was born at Poughkeepsie, New York, and 
was still a child when his parents removed to the Illinois metropolis. 
He was educated in the Chicago schools and remained in that city about 
eighteen years, at the end of which time he removed to Winneshiek 
county, Iowa, where he embarked in the farm and live-stock business. He 
continued in this line with fair success until he decided to go farther 
west and eventually became a resident of Lake county, South Dakota. In 
the spring of 1883 he settled in Miner county and built the first grain 
elevator and general merchandise store at Carthage, with which 
enterprises he has ever since been connected. Mr. Lyons was elected as 
a member of the constitutional convention which met at Sioux City in 
1889. In fact he was quite active in politics as a Democrat and lent 
his best efforts in establishing his party in power, always being ready 
for necessary work of organization and campaigning. After the great 
Democratic triumph of 1892, which led to the election of Mr. Cleveland 
to the presidency, Mr. Lyons was appointed postmaster of Carthage.

	Mr. Lyons was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Shea, who died, 
leaving two daughters, and subsequently he married Miss Sara A. Donlay, 
of Winneshiek county, Iowa, and by this union there have been born 
eleven children.