Lyon, John

John Lyon, son of John and Mary (Armstrong) Lyon, was born in Ireland and came with the family to Pennsylvania in 1763. On the death of his father he came into possession of one-half of the homestead farm, his brother Samuel inheriting the other half by the will of their father, dated December 3, 1779. John resided on the farm for a time and then disposed of it to the Sterrett family. John Lyon removed to Butler county, Pennsylvania, where he died in the year 1820. His wife was Mary, daughter of Captain Thomas Harris. The issue of their marriage was: Thomas Harris, John, see forward, James, Margaret, Mary, Catherine and Nancy.
John Lyon, son of John and Mary (Harris) Lyon, was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, probably upon the Lyon homestead farm, now in Juniata county, in the year 1781. He was a farmer and settled in Butler county, probably removing there with his father and family. The Lyon farm was at Glade Mills, Butler county, Pennsylvania. John Lyon married Ann Harper, and their issue was: Gordon, Harris, George W., Harper, John, Catherine, Mary, Joseph, Thomas Wilson.
George W. Lyon, son of John and Ann (Harper) Lyon, was born at Glade Mills, Butler county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer, and a member of the Presbyterian church (Seceder). He was born in the year 1829 and gave up his life on a Southern battlefield, September 6, 1863. His occupation was that of a farmer. His political creed was Republican, and his religious belief Presbyterian (Seceder). Mr. Lyon enlisted in July, 1861, in Company 1, First Pennsylvania Reserves (Cavalry), Colonel John P. Taylor's company, of which he was lieutenant. He was killed at Warrenton Junction, Virginia, while skirmishing against Moseby's guerrillas. He is buried in James Chapel churchyard, Gastonville, Pennsylvania. George W. Lyon married, in 1850, Louisa Crooks, born at Glade Mills, Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1830, daughter of Samuel and Louisa (Priest) Crooks, Butler county residents. Mrs. Lyon now (1911) aged eighty-one resides in Pittsburgh (North Side), is active and enjoys good health. The children of George W. and Louisa (Crooks) Lyon are:
John Mercer, auditor of Penn. R. R. Co., Pittsburgh, Penn.; m. Essa Burgess, and has Ella, and Louisa, who m. Henry M. Pfahl;
Harris David, m. Grace Taylor, of Columbus, O.; d. 1910; no children;
Samuel George, traveling auditor Penn. Co.; m. Cora Foster, of Steubenville, O.; children: Cora Louise (Mrs. Thomas P. Richey), Elizabeth (Mrs. Howard C. Lake), of New York City, Virginia, Helen Margaret;
Lola, m. Edward McClure; and has son, George Lyon McClure;
William Thomas, see forward.
William Thomas Lyon, son of George W. and Louisa (Crooks) Lyon, of Butler county, Pennsylvania, president of the Guardian Trust Company of Pittsburgh, was born in Gastonville, Washington county, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1861. The residence of the family in Washington county was but a temporary one and they soon returned to Butler county, which has long been the home of a great many of the Lyon name. William T. was educated in the county schools, and is a graduate of Duff's Business College, Pittsburgh. In the year 1884 he entered the employ of the Union National Bank, Pittsburgh, here he was continuously in service for twenty-two years, rising through the various grades of promotion to the position of assistant cashier. In the fall of 1906 he resigned his position with the bank to give his entire attention to the management of the Republic Manufacturing Company of which he was president. This company were brass founders and makers of machinery. On January 12, 1909, Mr. Lyon was chosen president of the Guardian Trust Company. This office he now holds (1911). Mr. Lyon is a supporter of the Republican party. His church membership is with the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh (North Side), of which he is a trustee. He was for some time president of the Young Men's Christian Association and is now a director. He is treasurer of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, and was for years its secretary. He belongs to the Duquesne Club of Pittsburgh and affiliates fraternally with the Masonic order, belonging to Crescent Lodge, No. 576, and in the Scottish Rite has attained the thirty-second degree. Mr. Lyon is unmarried.

Source Information:
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania Founding Families, 1681-1911. [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Electronic reproduction of Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, Vol. I-III originally published in 1911.