The Newtown bee., 1904-11-04
REDDING.

The Democrats of the 24th Sena- torial district in selecting Rufus A.
 Lyon as their nominee for senator chose wisely and well. The intellectu- al attachments of MT Lyon are no secret to the busy body of newspaper writers, one of whose number he was for many years. A descendant of old
 New England stock MT Lyon has during his varied career as news writer and editor covering a quarter of a century been brought in contact with practically all of the noted public men of Connecticut. Born in Bedding, the son of Alanson Lyon, in his day one of the larger and influential farm CTS of Fairfield County. Rufus was educated in the district schools of his town and in the kedding institute. His father was man of power in his community and prior to the Civil War was engaged at various times in pur- suits other than that of agriculture. At varying periods he carried on a lumber business, was manufacturer of hat boxes and was the owner of a brick kiln that, until the clay gave out, promised profitable returns. The father of our nominee died at the age of 55, in the fall of 1860. It used to be said of Alamson Lyon that in the days of his activities he could turn the vote of Bedding either way, so pronounced was his influence among the people of this community. When told of the re- port to this effect Rufus dryly re- marked that he wished, if it were true, that it might prove hereditary as he could recall no other achievement of his lamented sire at this time that he so desired to emulate. At the age of l5 Rufus was teaching in the district school of Bedding. Having seen three youth of his native town he went to Bridgeport where he began his news paper career as reporter upon the staff of the Evening Farmer, career which before his voluntary retirement from the field, embraced practically every sphere of usefulness in the pro- fession. After eight years on the Farmer he accepted position on the New Haven Register, where he did both reportorial and editorial work.
 Three years he remained with the Register when he returned to the Farmer to become the chief of it's news gathering force. The next ten years of his life were given to the Farmer, where as city editor he made name both for himself and for the paper. A
 pFOulSlOuS ldOOISl, LID CAOCuo1SC NO- cabulary and ready knack of phrasing gave his "copy" touch of real literary worth that caused his articles to be widely read and not infrequently copied and commented upon. By com mon consent "Rufe" Lyon was looked up to by his fellows in the profession as one of the ableSt newSpapermen in the state. He had wonderful grasp of actual conditions and his memory for names and data was remarkable.
 Of the many admirable characteristics which he possessed there was none more marked than his modesty. One had to work with "Rufe' Lyon to thoroughly appreciate him. He con- bined those qualities of heart and mind which appear to be gradually dis appearing in the composition of the modern newspaperman. MT Lyon was president of the Connecticut Press
 Association when that organization
 was at the height of it's success. He
 is secretary of tfe school board of Red ding and is serving his second term as an assessor of the town. Although it is not generally known MT Lyon was
 largely instrumental in obtaining the
 free rural delivery system for his community. A clear forcible speaker,
 thoroughly familiar with the political conditions of the state, the Democrats of the 24th senatorial district have as a candidate gentleman ideally equipped to represent that district in the state senate.|[ Bridgeport Farmer.