The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-04-19
STORY OF MATTHEW LYON
Hon. II. w. Bailey Writes Of Famous
Fighting Irishman.

TO the huuand news.
am looking forward with pleas
ant anticipations to the forthcom-
ing book, written by Mason A.
Green of this city. former editor of
the Rutland Herald, giving the his
tory of the celebrated political cam
paign of 1902 in which Messrs.
Webb Mccullough. Proctor and
Clement were candidates for gov
ernor.
This campaign was the most eel
ebrated and the trials of the candi-
dates the most vexatious of any
within my recollection, but compar-
ed with the political doing in the
very beginning our statehood,
the 1902 campaign dissolves into
thin air For instance, your atten-
ton is invited to a brief statement
of Matthew Lyon, the famous fight
err of Fair Haven, whose career | con
slider the most remarkable of any in
our annals.
Matthew Lyon was born in Wick
low county, Ireland in 1746 and
came to America at the age of 10
years and became indentured for
the payment of his passage, as was
the frequent custom of those times.
Some years interviewed in which
little knowledge of him is obtain
able. He is next found in the ser
vice of Gov. Thomas Chittenden at
Arlington before Mr.. Chittenden's
election as the first governor of
Vermont Lyon having at that time
wife and four children Suisse
quently his wife died and he mar
ried Governor Chittendens daugh-
ter, Beulah, who bore him four more
children.
In 1916 he was in the continental
army under General Gates, in Cap
tain Fassett's company, was station
ed for while at Jericho and did
faithful service, obtaining the rank
Of colonel.
From 1878 to 1880 he was dep
uty secretary to the governor and
council, as well as clerk of the
court of confiscation.
Ills ulol appear III INC CT
mont legislature was in 1879 as the
representative from Arlington, and
he was elected to the three follow
ing sessions. In 1888 he removed
from Arlington to Fair Haven, pro
ceeded to organize the town, built
mills, started industries and in the
largest sense became the father Of
the town.
In 1898 he established and begar
printing a paper in his paper mill
called the Farmers Library" Sew
eral books were printed on this press
. in 1898, during one of his cam
paigns for congress, he published {
semi-monthly magazine called The
"Scourge of Aristocracy and Repos
tory of Important Political Truths
First Fair Haven Representative.
He was Fair Ravens first repre-
sentative, being chosen in 1888. re
ceiving 10 elections thereafter, whicl
gave him full Is years service il
the Vermont Legislature
In 1856 he was an assistant judg
= of the Rutland county court
Vermont was admitted to tn
union in 1891 and Lyon was a car
didate for congress that year, be
: ing defeated as he was twice there
after. Israel Smith and Isaac Ticf
nor afterwards governors Of Vel
mont, were his successful compel
tors. His fourth attempt in 1896 wa
successful. His first speech in col
gress was on November "a, 1897.
On January 30, 1898 the hero c
Fair Haven had an unhappy contr,
versy of words on the floor of tn
Z house, with Roger Griswold of Coz
1 necticut which came near a seriou
alteration. During this escapade h
spit in the face of Griswold. A re-
olution was introduced to expel NJ
Lyon for a gross indecency." whlc
O passed by a vote of 81 to a., lacl
= ing the necessary two-thirds requi
ed to expel a member
, A Legislative Fight.
Not being satisfied with the on