A native of Morgan county, Ohio, Mr. Lyon was born on April 12, 1838. In 1855, with his parents, he was in Allamakee county, Iowa, where he farmed until 1856. He then went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and engaged as a government freighter from that place to New Mexico. He was later found in the lumber regions of Wisconsin and was there until 1861. He returned that year to McGregor, Iowa, and enlisted in Company K, First Iowa Cavalry. He was shot in the shoulder in an engagement with Quantrill's band in Missouri and was discharged in 1862. In October of that year he was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood as second lieutenant of Company A, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry. Mr. Lyons was compelled to resign later on account of old wound. In 1864 he went to Independence, Iowa, then to La Harpe, Illinois, where he was a merchant until 1868. In that year came to Guthrie county and engaged in farming. In 1870 he was in the dry goods business. In 1883 Mr. Lyons, was elected to the lower house of the general assembly, serving two terms to the satisfaction of his constituency. On his retirement from the legislature he was nominated by the republican state convention for auditor of state to which office he was elected serving in that capacity for three terms. In 1893 he was a candidate for governor, but was defeated by Frank Jackson, who was elected and served one term. In 1862, he was married to Miss Ellen Taylor, who was also a native of Ohio. Mr. Lyon was made a master mason by Orange lodge of this place, belonging also to the Chapter and Commandery. He was active in the Methodist church, and took a prominent part in its affairs.

A native of Morgan county, Ohio, Mr. Lyon was born on April 12, 1838. In 1855, with his parents, he was in Allamakee county, Iowa, where he farmed until 1856. He then went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and engaged as a government freighter from that place to New Mexico. He was later found in the lumber regions of Wisconsin and was there until 1861. He returned that year to McGregor, Iowa, and enlisted in Company K, First Iowa Cavalry. He was shot in the shoulder in an engagement with Quantrill's band in Missouri and was discharged in 1862. In October of that year he was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood as second lieutenant of Company A, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry. Mr. Lyons was compelled to resign later on account of old wound. In 1864 he went to Independence, Iowa, then to La Harpe, Illinois, where he was a merchant until 1868. In that year came to Guthrie county and engaged in farming. In 1870 he was in the dry goods business. In 1883 Mr. Lyons, was elected to the lower house of the general assembly, serving two terms to the satisfaction of his constituency. On his retirement from the legislature he was nominated by the republican state convention for auditor of state to which office he was elected serving in that capacity for three terms. In 1893 he was a candidate for governor, but was defeated by Frank Jackson, who was elected and served one term. In 1862, he was married to Miss Ellen Taylor, who was also a native of Ohio. Mr. Lyon was made a master mason by Orange lodge of this place, belonging also to the Chapter and Commandery. He was active in the Methodist church, and took a prominent part in its affairs.