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Below is a family biography included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published by W. H. Beers & Co. in 1880.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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M. C. LYON & SON, farmers; P. O. Piqua. M. C. Lyon was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Oct. 22, 1808, and is a son of Samuel Lyon, who was born in New Jersey in 1780, and was brought up to farm labor, receiving a medium education; in 1792, he emigrated to Cincinnati, where he married Margaret Pendry; in 1831, they came to Miami Co., where he died in 1860, and she in 1865; their children were ten in number, of whom all lived to maturity. Mathias Lyon, the grandfather of our subject, was of English birth, and came to America about the middle of the eighteenth century, stopping in New Jersey, where he married, and where he and the most of the family, probably, died. M. C. Lyon was brought up to hard work, and received a limited education; he came to Miami Co. about the time that his father came, and located in Spring Creek Township, where he has spent nearly half a century; since residing in this county, many changes have taken place, a part of which was done by the manual and physical exertions of M. C. Lyon; he has, through industry and good management, accumulated nearly 300 acres of good land, of which 55 acres lie in Sec. 14, where he has good, substantial farm buildings, and is well situated. Upon Dec. 15, 1831, his marriage with Cynthia Ann Day was celebrated; their children are nine in number, of whom seven are now living. J. D. Lyon, the junior member of the family, was born in Miami Co. May 11, 1839, and was brought up to farm labor, receiving a medium education. On Sept. 17, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 1st O. V. I., to shoulder the weapon of war and defend his native country; while in the service, he participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and all the trials and hardships of Sherman’s march from Chattanooga to Atlanta; soon after this his time expired and he was discharged; thus we record an outline of J. D. Lyon’s military life and hardships, that may be handed down to our future generations, that they may look back over the pages of this history, and learn through what difficulties and trials their ancestors have passed. Upon Dec. 28, 1864, J. D. Lyon married Martha McKee; she was born in Shelby Co., Ohio; her death occurred March 3, 1866, leaving husband and one child to mourn her loss; he for his second wife married Mary R. Morrow; she was born May 1, 1847; they have by this union three children.

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This family biography is one of 964 biographies included in The History of Miami County, Ohio published in 1880 by W. H. Beers & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Miami County, Ohio History and Genealogy

View additional Miami County, Ohio family biographies here: Miami County, Ohio Biographies

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