Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-01-28
Aiscellamu.
Matthew Lyon.
BY JAMES PARTON,

that Matthew Lyon, wild lrishman of
Vermont, had been elected member of
the House of Representatives, and was
coming in June to take his seat at the
extra session of Congress. Nothing was
alleged against the new member except
that he made his way from poor emf
grant-boy to wealth and influence in his
adopted country. He was announced in
one of the Federalsts' papers of Phila-
delphia in the manner following:
Tomorrow morning, at eleven o'clock,
will be exposed to view the Lyon OF
Vermont This singular animal is said
to have been caught in the bogs of Hi
hernia, and when whelp transported
to America He differs considerably
from the African Lion he is more clam
orous and less msgnanimous. His pelt
resembles more the wolf or tiger, and
his gestures bear remarkable affinity
to the bear. He was brought to this
city in wagon. Many gentlemen who
have seen him do not hesitate to declare
they think him a most extraordinary
beast.
A welcome like that was not likely to
molify the irascible Irish blood that ran
in the veins of the Vermont democrat,
| 1t was true that Matthew Lyon had
come from Ireland, child nine years Of
age, without a penny and without a
friend, and that bis time till he should
be of age, was sold to pay his passage,
according to the custom of that early
day. The price paid for him was said
to be pair of three year-old bull stays.
His master took him to Vermont where
he served out his time faithfully, and by
attending winter schools obtained toll
erable education
When the war of the revolution be-
gan, he joined the army as a private,
and was promoted to the rank of cor
poral almost Immediately. But while
he was on post in Northern New York
under the command Of General Gates,
the men of the company became tired
of the idle life of the winter camp, and
went home for holiday. The officer
followed them. After spending a while
at home most of them returned to their
posts; but nothing would content Gen
eral Gates short of cashiering the off
GERS, our corporal among them. Lyon
not being man to stay cashiered, he
stated the facts to General ST. Clair, who
reinstated him, and he was appointed by
General Schuyler to regimental pay
mastership.
The war over he founded the village
of Fairhaven, in Vermont, in which
there was an excellent water-power, anC
where he became business man of the
true pioneer type. There was iron il
the neighborhood. He set men to dig
ging it; he established smelling fur
mace he cast hollow-ware he made
fiat-irons, spiders, kettles, oake-pans
dishes and griddles He set up papel
mill, and made types he established I
weekly paper, called by himself Th'
Farmers Library, but quoted by hi
enemies as though he had named it, TIL,
Scourge of Aristocracy and Repository
of Important Political Truth. He bull
saw-mill, the largest in the State, anC
near by it he manufactured nails Find
ing the material for his paper-mill diff
fcult to get, he invented a process fol
making paper out of bass-wood bark
His labors were so valuable to the com
munity that the legislature of Vernon
gave him authority to raise six hundred
bushels of wheat by lottery, to enable
him to enlarge his furnace and produc,
a greater variety of iron-ware.
In short, he proved himself to be ii
that northern wilderness true leader o
men. He married the Governors daugh
ter, and was held in esteem and admira
tion by the people among whom he liveC
and whose interests he promoted. III
showed intelligence, too, of other kinds
During the controversy which then agi
I tated the country between the Old anC
New, between those who wanted Amer
lea to be more spacious England, anC
those who wished America to be Ameri
ca, he embraced the principles which
posterity will probably decide to hav
been the nearest right. What more nat
ural, what more proper, than that hi
neighbors who knew him, and had beei
served by him, should elect him to rep
resent them in Congress? They did SC
and he took his seat. He was then fift
two years of age, well-looking, of decor
!, Gus department, and competent to tax
his share sn national legislation. Fl
!, was most warmly attached to democrati
principals, and much embittered agains
the aristocrats who derided him for tn
very reasons that constituted his specis
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