John Adam Lyons

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   JOHN ADAMS LYONS was born in Springhill township, Fayette county, Penna, July 10, 1824, and is of Scotch Irish and Welsh parentage.  He is a prominent member of one of the old and well-connected families of the southern part of the county.

   He is a son of Major Philip Lyons and Susan Morgan Lyons, the latter being a daughter of David Morgan, a well-to-do farmer of Fayette county, who died at the age of fifty four years, February 14, 1787.  Major Philip Lyons was a fine penman, a good mathematician, a successful farmer and stock-raiser.  When twenty six years of age he married Miss Susan Morgan and unto their marriage were born nine children: George Lyons; Mary Lyons; Nancy Lyons; Elizabeth Lyons; William Lyons; Morgan Lyons; John A Lyons; Margaret Lyons; and Samuel Lyons.  Philip Lyons was a major in the militia regiment, was well and favorably known throughout the county until his death in December, 1845.

   William Lyons, grandfather, emigrated from New Jersey to Springhill township in 1787 which was then almost a wilderness.  His capital for commencing business consisted of a few blacksmith tools, a good span of horses, and twelve and one half cents in money.  He was quiet, attentive to business and by half a century of hard labor and careful management, amassed a large estate.  At seventy one years of age, he died leaving to each of his six sons and three daughters a large well-stocked farm.

   John A Lyons was educated in the old Grassy Run schoolhouse of his native township under the subscription school system of his day.  In politics he is a republican.  He and his wife are unassuming, useful members of the Lutheran church at Morris Cross Roads.  In 1848 he cast his first presidential vote for Taylor and in 1852 he voted for Pierce, the anti-whig candidate.  In 1856 he cast his first presidential candidates in his life, Freemont and Blaine.  He was elected over a democrat in a township where his party was largely in the minority.  He was also appointed to the same office by the county commissioners and collected the township tax during the same year, having been appointed collector by the same authority.  In 1868 he was nominated by his party for the office of county commissioner, but was defeated owing to the county being overwhelmingly democratic.  He was school director for his township for eight consecutive years and has held several other township offices.

   In the spring of 1845 he was elected first lieutenant of the Springhill militia, received his commission of Colonel Mustard at Smithfield which he resigned the same day and joined the Georges Creek Cavalry serving with it for seven years.  In 1847 his cavalry received a call from the government to join General Taylor's forces to help defeat the Mexicans. The company voted almost unanimously to do so, but before it was ready to start peace was declared.

   John A Lyons married Miss Margaret Huhn, daughter of Henry Huhn and Eliza Showalters Huhn, January 21, 1847.  Of this union were born twelve children: William T Lyons; Susan Lyons, dead; an infant, dead; Henry H Lyons married Eliza Rhodes; Amzi F Lyons married Samantha Gance; Philip L Lyons married Ollie J Stentz; Alvin D Lyons married Elma Hill; Estella Lyons married Alvin J Stentz; John C Lyons, dead; Lou B Lyons married Belford E Lynn; Thomas Lyons and Benjamin F Lyons.

   Mr Lyons grew to manhood on his father's farm.  After becoming of age he engaged in farming and from 1845 to 1849 he rented his father's farm.  In 1849 he purchased 130 acres of his present farm near Morris Cross Roads and removed there.  Twelve years later he added twenty six acres to his original purchase.  In 1872 he built a large, handsome frame dwelling house near the center of his farm and four years later he erected a large barn near his residence.

   Mr Lyons has now almost retired from active business, lives in his beautiful residence near Morris Cross Roads, superintends his farm and enjoys the confidence, good will and respect of neighbors.