| J. W. Lyon was born in Wake County, N. C., in 1824. He is one of five
surviving members of a family of six children born to W. W. and Mary (Oliver)
Lyon, who were both born in North Carolina, the former in Caswell County,
in 1796, and the latter in Wake County, in 1803. They were married in their
native State and came to Henry County, Tenn., about 1831, where the father
died in 1854 and the mother in 1879. Our subject was educated in a small
school near his home, and by his own efforts. November 23, 1851, he wedded
Jane Hinton, who was born in Madison County, September 10, 1827, and died
October 13, 1852. His second wife, whom he married in 1853, was born December
26, 1825, and died February 22, 1876, leaving five children: Sarah F. (Mrs.
E. A. Taylor), James B., Lou Emma (Mrs. J. P. Booth), L. H. and Ascenith
(Mrs. John Shaw). In 1848 Mr. Lyon located in Gibson County, which is now
a part of Crockett County. September 13, 1876, he married Mrs. Nancy A.
Byers, daughter of Eli Smith. She was born in Rutherford County in July,
1834. From 1854 until the breaking out of the war Mr. Lyon was magistrate
of his district, and after the close of that conflict, held the position
for some time and then refused further re-election. He owns over 800 acres
of very fine land and has his home place well improved and under good cultivation.
He has always taken great interest in internal improvements and has given
his hearty support to all enterprises for the public welfare. He has always
been a Democrat in politics, and although opposed to the principles of
secession, sympathized with the Southern cause. He has been a member of
the Masonic fraternity for many years, and he and wife belong to the Missionary
Baptist Church.
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