He was ambitious of honor, had much to say about political matters, was elected to represent Jefferson County in the first state legislature, and served at both the regular and called sessions. Lyons became disgusted with Iowa and went to California, and he settled down to business habits. He was several times a member of the legislature, and became a man of prominence and wealth. Mr. Lyons went to California via the Isthmus of Panama in 1849 and first located in Grass Valley, Nevada County, Cal., and as he was a lawyer by profession, practiced there, confining his practice to land laws almost exclusively. During the years of 1850-54 he served as state senator from Nevada County. The capital of California was then located at Bernicia and there he met and married his wife, Georgia Allen, who was a teacher in the public schools of that state. They were the parents of seven children.