The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-02-01
IDAHO'S FIRST FULL
DRESS GOVERNOR
EARLY JOURNALS OF LEGISLAT-
URE GIVE INTERESTING SIDE
LIGHTS on CAREER OF LYON

(The article published below, which
was compiled after considerable delv-
ing into the early records of Idaho
Territory, and which perhaps carries
more definite information regarding
Idaho's second territorial governor
than has ever been available for Star
Mirror readers, is from the pen of
Professor G. J. Brosnan, instructor in
American and Northwest history, in
the University of Idaho)
Hon. Robert o. Jones, Secretary of
State, and an alumnus OF the Uni
versity of Idaho, has presented to the
University of Idaho library a valuable
collection of the journals of both
houses of the Idaho Territorial legis-
lature covering the period from 1863
to 1890. These journals are the best
single source of information for the
political history of Idaho Territory.
Perhaps the most unusual and GER
tainly the most interesting documents
in the collection are the two annual
messages of Caleb Lyon, "of Lyons
dale" Idaho's second territorial gov
ernor. Lyons first message was de-
livered in the Hall of Representatives
in the little frontier capitol of Lewis
ton in 1864 His second oratorical
effort" was presented to Idaho's
third legislature at Boise City in 1865.
1t has been the habit of readers CT
Idaho history for over a half century
to speak of Caleb "of the Dale"-to
use the sarcastic sobriquet of a con-
temporary spaper-chiefly in
terms of jest and ridicule; yet care
full study of his career reveals a man
of positive genius in many directions
and leader who played a courageous
part in the eventful decades in which
his lot was cost.
Caleb Lyon, "of Ly0nsdale" as he
always proudly designated himself,
was Tdaho's first "full-dress" Gov
ernor. He was born at the mansion
house of his fathers country seat,
Lyonsdale, Lewis County, New York.
His father was a Harvard man,
member of the New York legislature,
and leading citizen of western New
York His mother was Mary Du Pont,
a grand niece of General Montcalm
of Quebec fame. At 49, Lyon was
graduated from Norwich University,
Vermont, and rounded out his educa-
tion bv spending several years in
European study and travel. In 1851,
he was awarded the honorary degree
of doctor of laws by his alma mater.
In 1S47, young Lyon joined the colors
in the war with Mexico, and true to
extraordinary capacity for getting in
to the vortex of sensational events,
he fought under the banner of VIM
field S. Scott in that generals trlum-
phal march from Vera Cruz to Mexico
City. Upon his return from Mexico,
Lyon became Americas first consul
to Shanghai, China, receiving his ap-
pointment from President James K.
Polk. In 1S49, at the close of Polk's
administration, he returned to the
United States by way of South and
Central America and joined the
throng Of gold-hunters then bound for
the California mines In September,
1919. he became Assistant Secretary
of the California Constitutional Con-
vention held at Monterey. While
serving in this capacity he presented
the design of the State Seal of Call
fornia which was the one adopted by
the Convention Although it was
Major r. S. Garnett, T. S. A., who was
the real author of the seal design, 1t
was the majors wish that Lyon should
present the design as his own WORK
Garnett's self-effacing suggestion evil
IDENTIFY pleased Lyon for that of1lclal
not only offered the design of the
seal as his own, but presented Dill
of 81 900 for his services.
In 1850 Lyon returned to New York
State and was Immediately elected to
the lower house of the state legls-
lature In the latter part of the same
year he was promoted to the State
Senate. At the close of his senatorial
term he departed for trip to Europe
and the Orient. While abroad, he
managed to gain some notorlety IN
diplomatic circles by becoming assocl-
ated with Captain Duncan n. Ingra-
ham. u. S. ~, in the rescue of
naturalized American citizen from the
Austrian brig, Hussar, at the port or
Smyrna, Asia Minor.
From 1S53-1S55 Lyon, as an 1nde-
pendent, represented the 23rd New
York District in Congress the
brightest pages in the Congressional
Globe for these years are the enc
which contain his speeches and re
marks" Upon the outbreak of the
Civil War in 1861, we find him with
Mcdowell at Bull Run and later with
Mcclellan in the Peninsula" 1t is
said that he fought IS battles in the
Civil War.
In February, 1864, President Lincoln
appointed Lyon Governor OF Idaho
Territory. He served as governor un-
til December, 1866, when he departed
for his native state, where he died
in 1875 at the age of SO years.