Senator Dennis Aloysius Lyons View All Years

D. A. LYONS

MR PRESIDENT: Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life, character, and services of D.A. Lyons, late of Cresco, Howard county, Iowa, begs leave to submit the following report:

D. A. Lyons was born September 8, 1851, in Chicago, Ill., his parents being natives of County Waterford, Ireland, where they were reared and married. They emigrated to the United States in 1847, and moved westward to Iowa in 1868. He was reared upon the home farm purchased at that time in Burr Oak township, Winneshiek county. He acquired his early education in the graded schools of that township. On attaining his majority, he represented an implement firm of Cresco as a traveling salesman in their territory for a period of seven years. In 1879 he established an implement business of his own in Cresco, which he conducted successfully for thirty-one years. In 1910 he retired to give personal supervision to the upbuilding and management of his farms in Howard and Winneshiek counties.

The close relationship of the implement business, in which Mr. Lyons was engaged so many years, to the agricultural development of the country adjacent to Cresco, and his later activities, have recorded his name indelibly as one of the prominent and constructive builders of the community. His life’s record of service and accomplishments may well serve as an example to budding generations. His political allegiance was with the democratic party. He served as Mayor of Cresco for four years. In 1897 he was elected to the office of State Senator, his district comprising two counties which carried at that time a normal republican majority of twenty-four hundred. He was re-elected for two succeeding terms, a fact which stands as an unmistakable proof of his capability and devotion to the welfare of both community and commonwealth.

Through his senatorial service he thus left the impress of his individuality upon the history of Iowa as a member of the State Senate during the Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth and Thirty-first sessions of the General Assembly. His influence in public affairs, heightened by his outstanding personality, has been a potent one and the results of his labors have been far reaching and beneficial. He was a statesman of broad views and high principles.

Mr. Lyons passed to his reward on March 24, 1925, survived by his wife, two daughters and four sons and their immediate families. His death was deeply regretted by a large circle of relatives and friends. They knew him but to love and honor him. They will revere his memory and hold him forever in their hearts.

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved By the Senate of the Forty-first General Assembly of Iowa, that in the death of D. A. Lyons the state and the community where he lived have suffered the loss of an influential and honorable citizen; and

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the secretary of the Senate be directed to send an engrossed copy thereof to the family of the deceased.

CARL W. REED

B. J. HORCHEM

H. C. WHITE

Committee.