The daily sentinel., 1906-05-12
HE ANSWERED
THE SUMMONS
swiftly and Stealithly Came Death
and the Life Of James A. Lyons
Brought 10 a Close.
A LIFE OF USEFULNESS
The Ending Of a Varied but Hon.
Ored Career Veteran Of the
Civil War.

captain j. A. Lyons. one of the val
ley's most prominent and best known
/ citizens had suddenly and without
warning from the Angel of Death.
/ passed from life into the great I'm
! known Beyond. Scores of friends of
l the deceased could hardly believe that
l the report was true knowing that
Capt Lyons had been enjoying good
/ health
The end came this morning at
about $50 o'clock at the home on
/ Ouray avenue. A stroke of apopleNy
was the means that death used in
ending the long. useful and varied
career Of Capt, Lyons.
The venerable gentleman had been
in apparent good health all spring
and has given his time and atten-
tion to the management of his ranch
es. Yesterday he and his son, Mr.
Frank Lyons spent the entire day at
the ranch just east of the city which
Capt. Lyons purchased during the
winter, Capt Lyons put in a hard
days work and returned home quite
tired but In good spirits and made no
complaint of feeling unwcll He re-
tired at the usual hour This morn
ing about $40 O'Clock he Awokc and
rising from his bed said to his wife:
Il wonder if il is raining" lie went
to the window to look out and stat
ing that II was not raining returned
to bed. He was desirous of getting
an early start to the ranch but said 10
Mrs. Lyons that 1t was still early and
that he would lie down for n while
vet but did not desire TO go to sleep.
After Mr.. lyons had lain down Mrs.
Lyons spoke to him, asking him some
question. but her husband did not
answer her. She repeated the ques-
ton and still no answer She became
alarmed and In moment she real
lied that something was wrong. She
arose and alarmed the household and
DR. L. 5. Abbott the family physic
ian. was hastily summoned. but when
the physician arrived he found that
Mr.. Lyons was beyond the need of
human assistance. and had been dead
some minutes. He pronounced apo
pleXy the cause of death.
Evidently the aged gentleman had
passed away the moment he reclincd
on the bed Death came without a
struggle and not n moan passed the
lips as he went from life into eter-
nal rest II was quiet. calm and
peaceful sunset of a life that has been
filled with usefulness.
Captain James A. Lyons has for
several years been one of the most
prominent citizens of this county. He
was the senior member of the firm of
Lyons & Son one of the leading
mercantile houses of Grand Jhnd-
tion and being connected with various
business enterprises his position in
business circles was prominent one.
In Iowa he resided for nearly half
century and was for many years
prominent in state political circles.
he was widely known throughout that
state and the announcement of his
death will be received with sorrow
/ by hundreds of warm friends scat
tered throughout that commonweal-
{ tn
James Albert Lyons was born near
/ McConnelsville, Morgan county, ONO,
April 70, 1898. His boyhood days
were spent in his native state. In
l1S55 the family removed to Iowa ana
resided on a farm neaF Franksville
! Allamakee county. His father died
/ in tS5S and the young man was
thrown on his resources. In 1883 he
/ left the farm and going to Des Moines
! worked III lut plh - NfNAAh' AASh'ss
the leading hotel OF that city. After
about a year he found employment In
the lumber and logging business. He
then entered the employment of the
Government driving mule team
I through New Mexico and other terri
tories owing to poor health he latel
went TO Wisconsin and found en-
ployment in the pine districts. II
Nav 1861 he enlisted in the FRS
Iowa Cavalry. Col. Fitz Henry War
rem commanding, and served through
tbe greater part of the civil war retir
ING from service in the latter part o
1SG3 owing to suffering and disabil
ity from a severe wound he received
i'm an engagement. His military rec
ord was n most ereditable one.
In 1869 he removed to Guthrie
rnunty. Iowa and resided there unit
he removed to Grand Valley. Aite
several years engaged in farming h
! onened up a mercantile house on
ANAL scale which in years grew Il
large proportions and became mos
successful, lie won the high esteem
of his friends and neighbors and b'
came one Of the most important mel
Of that section of Iowa. Being
generous and earnest supporter OF al
enterprises that promised to beneh
the citizenship and the country. MI
4 T.yons was honored with eleetVe OF
fices bv the people. In 1883 he wa
nominated and elected as the Guth
rle county representative IN IN
twenfieth General assembly OF Iowa
uc was returned to the legislature D
Inn increased majority at the follow
ing election and through his record Il
the Iowa legislature he became know
in state politics and in 1856 ne wa wa
nut forward as a candidate for IN
Rcpublican nomination for state nudl
tor He received fhe nomination an
was elected by large majority II
was reelected again and again serN
fine three te-ms as state auditor iroi
IISSG 10 lS94. II is said that no ma
ever held tn, Office gaveaoiaolnh
al satislaction than Captain Lyons
His record was one of which any ma
ronld wen be proud of this tribnt
was Maid TO him by the press an
nrominent men of all parties whe
he retired in 1894. The Des Moine
state Register declared that ne weI
ont ont of Office with few fault tndei
md fewer enemies and thousands