Thirty-two years ago,
ALONZO LYONS came to Urbana. He brought with him his mother and youngest sister. He continued his residence in the county until his death, which occurred August 25
th, 1878. He was born in Coleraine, Franklin county, Mass., October 18, 1823. His father, James, and mother, Sophia (
MCCULLOUGH)
LYONS, were natives of the same state. Mrs. Lyons came to this county in 1854, from Clinton, Indiana, where she had lived after leaving Massachusetts. The marriage of Mr. Lyons with Miss Julia E.
BASSETT, of Castleton, Vermont, took place in Urbana, January, 17
th, 1855. Mrs. Lyons survives her husband and is still a resident of Tolono. The oldest child, Mrs. A. L.
CARNEY, resides at Portsmouth, Ohio; the other children, two sons and two daughters, live with their mother. Mr. Lyons came west in 1837, with his uncle, James
MCCULLOUGH, to Clinton, Indiana, and clerked in his uncle's store, for several years. Afterwards for a number of years he and his brother were partners in the mercantile business, at Clinton. In 1850 they opened a branch store at Camargo, in Douglas county, Illinois. In 1853, the partnership was dissolved, Alonzo taking the latter store. In February of the next year he opened a store in Urbana with Dr. Rollin Whitcomb in charge of same. In 1858, Mr. Lyons and family removed to Tolono where he resided and continued in the mercantile business until the date of his death, above mentioned. The business of Mr. Lyons necessitated long trips over the country. He was not deterred by stormy weather, if business called him. Many times he was compelled to drive across the open country; the trips were long, and frequently night came on when he was a long distance from home, or from any house. He had many exciting experiences in driving over the lonely prairies with but few land marks to guide him in his course. Once during a blinding snow storm, in the wide open prairie, he lost his way, and after struggling along attempting to strike the trail he almost gave up and feared he could never get home, but trusting to the instinct of his faithful though jaded horses, they pulled him through and brought him safely home, though many hours late, and very much exhausted and suffering from the severity of the storm. Mr. Lyons was always interested in any movement that had for its object the public good or welfare of the community in which he lived, and gave liberally of his means to aid such enterprises. In his religious belief he was a Universalist.
Politically he was an ardent and staunch republican, thoroughly imbued with the belief that the application of its principles to governmental affairs would insure great good and the perpetuity of our republican form of government. He took an active interest in politics and was recognized as one of the leaders of his party in the county. He was a man of more than ordinary intellectual ability. He read much and digested well what he did read. He was a pleasant and agreeable companion. In his death his family lost a kind hearted, good husband and father, and the community a valuable and worthy citizen.
