The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-07-26
PORTRAIT OF LYON
VALUABLE GIFT MADE DEPART
NENT OF ARCHIVES.
Picture Of States Last Lieutenant
Governor Donated Commonwealth
by His Son-Is a Fine
Work of Art.

The State Department of Archives and
History was presented yesterday with a
handsome life size oil portrait of the
late Hon. r. F. Lyon. the fourth and
The picture of Governor Lyon was
painted by Samuel Hoffman of Mont
gomery, and is said to be one of the
finest works of art which has come from
and will be given a place in the gallery
of the department just above the desk
over which Governor Lyon presided az
President of the Senate Of Alabama.
Colonel Robert l.. Lyon, a son Of Gov
ernor Lyon, presented the portrait to
the department.
Robert Fulwood Lyon was born at
Watltinsvile, Ga, December 15 1893.
His parents were Virginians. He received
his education at Athens, Ga, and moved
to Tuskegee. Ala. in 1S45. He studied
law under the late Judge David Clopton.
and was admitted to the bar in Tuske-
gee in 1876. He entered actively into the
practice of his profession, forming a part
nership with Judge Clopton, which con-
tinued for over twenty years. He was
married in 1916 to Emily Paine. daughter
Of Edward Paine, a distinguished lawyer
of Georgia. He was elected captain of q
volunteer company during the Mexican
war and served as such during this war,
his company being part of the LIST Ala
bama battalion.
Governor Lyon represented Macon
county in the Legislature during 1S49-5o
Macon county then constituted a part of
the present counties of Lee. Bullock and
Russell in addition to its present area.
He was a member of the State Senate in
1861.
At the outbreak of the war Governor
Lyon entered in the service as captain
of the Macon Guards 18th Alabama regi-
ment. He served with his company in
the Virginia campaign. participating in
numerous battles; an affliction OF the
spine superinduced by exposure, rendered
him unfit for military service, and forced
him to resign before the end of the war.
He was reelected to the State Senate
in 1863. He resumed the practice of law
at Tuskegee after the close of the war.
In 1872 without his knowledge his name
was presented to the Democratic conven-
ton for Governor and he received very
fiattering support, coming within few
votes of the nomination. While not a
candidate and not present at the conven-
ton, he was nominated for Lieutenant
Governor on the ticket with Governor
Houston in 1874. He canvassed the state
with Governor Houston and was elected.
The Democratic victory of this year was
the downfall of the Republican party in
this State Governor Lyon presided over
the Senate with great dignity and
ability.
He was elected to Congress from the
Fifth District in 1876 and served one
term. He retired from politics and from
the active practice of law and moved TO
Montgomery in 1884, where he looked after
his planting and financial interests. He
served for forty years as president OF
the board of trustees aof the Alabama
Conference Female College at Tuskegee
and was for many years a trustee OF the
A. and M. College at Auburn. late in life
resigning both positions.
He died in Montgomery October IL. 1901.
and was buried In this city at lakewood