Charles Lyman 1810-1888

LYMAN, EDGECOMB, GRAVES, THORNTON, KAY, TUCK

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 9/17/2020 at 11:41:40

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Wednesday, March 7, 1888 page 4

Our community was shocked at the announcement of the sudden death of Judge Lyman which occurred at Wapello, March 1, 1888. Charles Lyman was born in Tioga county, Penn, January 13, 1810, and was consequently a little over 78 years old at the time of his death. When six months old his father's family moved into the adjoining county of Potter, where he made his home until his removal to Iowa in 1855. His father came from Vermont and was a descendant of that old Puritan stock of Lymans who came to this country from England in the middle of the 17th century. He was married February 11, 1829 to Miss Eveline Edgecomb. They reared a family of eight children, five daughters and three sons.

The aged wife and all the children survive him. Of these children, Mrs. Graves lives in Tennessee, Mrs. Thornton and Miss Mary in Wapello, Mrs. D. Kay in Marshall township, Mrs. Tuck in Mediapolis, Eugene near Grandview and Edwin Morning Sun.

Judge Lyman was always an ardent and unflinching Democrat and was, for many years, a conspicuous figure in Pennsylvania politics. Previous to the election of Frank Pierce, he published a Democratic Paper known as the Potter County Union. President Pierce appointed him to an important place in the pot office department in which he was continued during Buchanan's administration until 1860. In that year he was employed by the Fall Brook Coal Company, his personal friend, John Magee, of Corning, New York, being president of the company. Judge Lyman's influence and extensive acquaintance with public men made his services peculiarly valuable to the company in their efforts to secure necessary favorable legislation. The Company's mines being located in Pennsylvania, the Judge spent much of his time, for a number of years before the legislature of that state in its interest. In 1863 the exigencies of the war had so depleted their mining force and the orders for their coal so extensive that the Company sent him to Europe to secure alien miners. After accomplishing his purpose, he made an extended tour of Europe, being absent from home nineteen months. He made a second visit to Europe in 1868 in company with Duncan Magee, superintendent of the coal company, but was only absent three months owing to Mr. Magee's death which occurred in Germany.

Judge Lyman was a keen observer and a man of wonderful powers of memory. These, with his splendid aptitude to describe, his wide knowledge of public men and events, and extensive travels made him a wonderfully interesting and instructive conversationalist. he was a man of many sterling traits of character, not the least among which was his loyalty and devotion to his friends. We speak from experience in this respect. When genuine friendship was needed most Judge Lyman's devotion could all the more surely be relied upon. His ability and integrity were appreciated most by those who knew him best. He was the recipient of many positions of profit and trust from his old friends on Potter county, among them that Associate Judge. He was an intimate friend of the late Judge Gillis who died a few years ago in Mount Pleasant, this state, when both were residents of Pennsylvania. He also enjoyed the highest esteem of the late Senator Dodge, of this state. In the death of Judge Lyman, Louisa county loses one of her leading and most revered citizens. The family have the sympathy of all in their sad bereavement.