The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-04-04
a OF Capt. Lyon.

:. Death OF Capt. Lyon.
Capt. John Lyon, a we'll known citizen OF
this town, died OF apopleXy last SUNDAY
morning, April l, 1866, at 8 O'Clock, aged b
years.
He was dead before our people bad heard OF
his illness, and The new OF his death was a
surprise to everybody. Captain Lyon, up 10
the hour when be was stricken down, had
been for months In his usual good health,
and was seen upon the streets every day. NO
man OF his age seemed stronger or In better
physical condition. On the night before his
death he was especially happy with his
grandchildren, and he spent the evening Wild
them. %"Children's children are an old mans
CROWN Capt. Lyoa always took great pleas
ure in his grandchildren and that evening he
was notably happy with them. Sitting
around the cheerful fireside which had been
organized nearly forty years ago, ell enjoyed
Z the passing hours, none having any promoni'
tion of the sorrow that was TO come to them
in the morning. After a good. nights rest be
: and others of his household arose from their
beds as usual. In a little while Capt. Lyon
called from the yard for help, when the good
WlI6 "uOoS koNoo ho
him for 30 many years rushed to his side, and
with her help, he wakes into the house. AS
he walked In be said ~ am dying; and no
doctor is here" Almost before the family
was aware OF his condition, a physician wa.
sent for. Captain Lyon then made to his wife
some statements as to his business ahalrs,
and said /: 1T wish to be buried at Melrose. ]
am surely, dying" A little later he spok'
for the last time, when he said: ~ knew from
the first that this would be the end; but the
end is coming sooner than I expected" He
never spoke again. The physician arrived
about this time. When a question was asked
him, the sick man, without speaking, merely
moved his hands In recognition Of the faci
that he understood what was said to him
Almost instantly he became unconscious and
in q few minutes the soul Of our friend had
departed from its tenement OF clay.
Captain Lyon was a Confederate soldier.
who never faltered nor shirked a duty. He
loved the cause for which he fought, and ht
was loyal and true TO the flag Of his country
The members Of his company elected him az
one of their commissioned officers, and ht
was ever mindful OF their needs and their
welfare.
He belonged first to q company Of Minute
4 Men at Troy. These were not CALLED into
active service. He volunteered in 1850 as o
private In Company c, 7th 8. c. Vol.1niantry,
was promoted to Sergeant during the first
year. This Regiment bad volunteered for
one year. At the expiration ofthat time, al
volunteered for the war. The Company was
reorganized, when Capt. Wade Cothran wa'
elected Captain, Thos. Traylor first Lieutep-
ant, Hodge Palmer second Lieutenant John
Lyon third Lieutenant. Capt. Cothran was
soon badly wounded. A little later Thos.
Traylor was killed. leading the company In
q charge. At the battle OF Gettysburg Hodge
Palmer was captured. From that time I'll
the end Of the struggle Capt. Lyon was In
command OF the company, and was promo.
ted to Captain the last year OF the war. H.
was wounded three times. His sword belt
was shot of of him In the last battle OF the
war at Be%ntonville. His comrades say of him.
4 that he was always cool, always quiet, al
ways brave. He was one Of those that helped
10 make the Regiment famous, that gave t.
SKershaw's Division and Longstreet's Corps
q reputation for dee DIS Of renown.
While Captain Lyon was not in any sens.
q politician. the people recognized his bust
ness qualities and elected him several timer
10 the office Of County Supervisor. When b.
had served the terms for which he Wa,
elected, Captain Lyon determined to 60. into
the warehouse business and 1t vas through
his efforts that the Farmers Warehouse nov
stands as q monument to bis good judgment
and his:pnbllc spirit. he organized the Ware
house Company some six years ago, and b.
was q leader In teaching our people the ad
yantages OF q public warehouse.
Captain Lyon was distinguished for h'
strong convictions, and for his indomitabl.
energy. Having faith In himself bis activity
never ceased, and when the warehouse which
he and others had built. was sold. he made
arrangements for the building of anothe,
warehouse which Is now about ready for him
During the winter and while waiting for Lh,
completion OF his new warehouse he made a
business Of buying cotton. His surviving
children are Mr.. Alpha Lyon and DR.. John
Lyon, Of Ninety-Six, Mrs. W.. r.. Bradley,
Miss Josie Lyon, aud Mr.. Thomas Lyon OF
this city.
II the death of Captain Lyon the Associ-
ate Reformed church has lost an elder who
wal seldom absent from his seat during d.
vine service. Faithful and attentive, be war
q prop and a stay to the church which be
loved so we'll.
At three O'Clock on Monday the funeral
procession moved from the house 10 tho AS
sociate Reformed church. Confederate sol
diers formed In open ranks at the door, and
the,Masons, relatives and friends passed out
afterward.
Every pew In the church was occupied, ex-
cept those reserved for the pail bearers and
tine family. The aisles were filled with
friends who had no seats, while In the space
around the doors Of the church others unable |
70 f1nd room Inside, stood while the religious |
exercises were conducted by the pastor, Rev. |
e. b. Kennedy, who read portions Of the
Scriptures and spoke feelingly Of the work
and character OF our deceased brother. whore
life had exemplided SO many Of the graces
and virtues. In the death OF 80 good a man
the community and the church has lost q
valuable member, while the loss to the fami-
Ily ia irreparable. The music and The
prayers made an interesting part of the SER
Woe, at the conclusion OF which the pastor
Fannounced that further ceremonies would be |
had at the grave by 1.-THE Masons. A great
company vas present at the interment, and
every honor or mark of respect was shown.
The whole town was shocked at the death.
and II seems that each of our citizens felt
something ofa personal bereavement. Rela. |
twas triends and old soldIers cam from dis |