My Genealogy Hound

Capt. Samuel Lyon, miller of Gallatin, was born to the union of Hamilton and Frances (Royse) Lyon, in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1836. The father was born at Georgetown, Penn., in 1805, and was a blacksmith by trade. In 1825 he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he married. For the past thirty years he has lived in Johnson County, Ky. His wife, Frances Royse, was a native of Maine, and departed this life in 1843. Our subject made his home with his father until twenty years of age, he receiving his education in the common schools and at Farmer’s College, in Hamilton County. At the age of sixteen he commenced learning the iron molder’s trade, working as an apprentice about four years. In 1857 he came to Tennessee, and worked in Gallatin, Chattanooga, Nashville and Murfreesboro. At the breaking out of the war he found Tennessee rather unpleasant for him as he was a strong Union man. Accordingly he went to Kentucky, and in 1861 enlisted in Company L, Second Kentucky Cavalry (United States Army), remaining in service nearly four years. He was in the battle of Shiloh, Resaca, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Atlanta, Savannah and numerous minor engagements. He was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and in 1863 was commissioned as sergeant, later, of the same year, he was commissioned first lieutenant, and the following year was made captain, and served as acting assistant inspecting general and acting assistant adjutant-general, on the staff of Gen. E. H. Murray, commanding first brigade, Kirkpatrick’s cavalry division, during the last year of his service. He was one of the fortunate ones, for although four horses were shot from under him he escaped without a wound. Two years after the war Capt. Lyon went into the oil business, prospecting and boring for oil in southeast Kentucky. In 1867 he came to Gallatin, and assumed charge of the Gallatin Flouring Mills. The mill was erected in 1854, and in 1881 Capt. Lyon added a saw. The mill has a capacity of 50 barrels of flour, 25 barrels of hominy, and 150 barrels of meal. Capt. Lyon purchased the mill in April, 1887, and is now sole owner and proprietor. In 1867 he married Miss Julia B. Barker, of Gallatin, the daughter of Henry J. Barker, and to them were born four children: Henry, Charles, Lizzie and Hurst. Capt. Lyon is a Republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is a Mason, a member of the K. of H., K. of P., a Good Templar, and his wife is a member of the Episcopal Church.