MARK LYON

Alameda County

Biographies

MARK LYON

MARK LYON. Characterized by the same energy, business aptitude and integrity that distinguished his sturdy English ancestors, Mark Lyon holds a high position among the most respected residents of Alameda county, where he has lived for more than two score years. A man of great industry, activity and enterprise, he has been intimately associated with the industrial progress of the Santa Clara valley, and by wise judgment and prudent forethought has accumulated a competency. He is now living retired from active labor on his home ranch, which is located about three-fourths of a mile from Irvington, on the Centerville road, and is now managed by his son-in-law, Frank H. Copeland. A native of England, Mr. Lyon was born in Yorkshire, April 8, 1829, and was there brought up on a farm.

Emigrating to the United States when a young man, Mr. Lyon landed in New York City on March 31, 1852, and for a year and a half was there employed as a laborer. Starting then by the Nicaragua route for California he arrived in San Francisco in December, 1853, and a day or two later went to Grass Valley, Nevada county, to try his luck as a miner. Finding no water in that locality, he came down to the Santa Clara valley and worked on a ranch near San Jose for a short time. Returning to Nevada county in February, 1854, he was engaged in mining with various partners for more than two years, being quite fortunate in his labors. Giving up mining in August, 1856, having then accumulated about $2,000, Mr. Lyon returned to the eastern coast, intending to buy a home and settle there permanently. Not content, however, he soon came back to the Pacific coast, making both the eastern and the return trips by the Isthmus of Panama, and for two years worked on a ranch near the Mission San Jose. Subsequently, in partnership with ten companions, he purchased the Eagle diggings, at Pike Flats, Grass Valley, and was there prosperously engaged in mining until November, 1862, when he disposed of his interests in the claim at a good advantage. Locating then near Irvington, Alameda county, Mr. Lyon bought sixty acres of land, on which he was engaged in general farming for nine years. Wishing then to secure better educational advantages for his children, Mr. Lyon sold out, and bought his present ranch of thirty acres, on which he has made improvements of practical value, rendering it one of the most attractive, productive and desirable of any in this neighborhood. This he now rents to his son-in-law, with whom he is living retired, enjoying to the utmost the reward of his many years of toil.

Mr. Lyon married first, in November, 1862, Mary Fitzpatrick, a native of Ireland, who came to this country when a girl. She died in 1867, leaving two daughters, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of Augustus Ferrara, residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Mary, who died a short time after her marriage to Fred Merhmann. Mr. Lyon married for his second wife Mary F. Madden, who was also born in Ireland, and of this union two children have been born, namely: Annie T., a successful teacher in Alameda county, who married Frank H. Copeland; and Ida J., who died at the age of twenty-three years. She married John Coackley. Evincing a warm interest in the general welfare and advancement of the community, Mr. Lyon has ever been among the foremost to encourage the establishment of beneficial enterprises, and for twenty years rendered efficient service as school director. In his political views he coincides with the Republican party, and is one of its stanchest adherents.

Transcribed by Marie Hassard 22 September 2015.

Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 783-784. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.

ALAMEDA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES

BACK TO GOLDEN NUGGET LIBRARY'S ALAMEDA DATABASES

Golden Nugget Library