LYMAN, Sylvester 1821-1923

LYMAN, SHARAR

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/17/2011 at 21:49:54

#1:

103-Year-old Man
Dies at St. Ansgar

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Oct 23 - Sylvester Lyman, the oldest person in this part of the state, died Saturday evening at the advanced age of 103 years and 10 days.

The deceased was born October 17, 1820.

Up until within a few days of his death he was in the enjoyment of fairly good health.

[Waterloo Courier, Monday, October 29, 1923]
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#2:

NOTES:

Sylvester Lyman's tombstone at Sunset View Cemetery, Cherokee County, Iowa, says:

S. Lyman
born: October 7, 1821 in Canada;
died: October 27, 1923

(Credit: DM Scott)

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#3: (Biographical story)

CHEROKEE MAN IS
NEAR 100 MARK

Born in Ontario
Sylvester Lyman Has Spent
Greater Part of Life on Iowa Farms

CHEROKEE, IOWA, Oct. 12. -- Sylvester Lyman, here, will reach the age of 100 years this month.

Born in Ontario, he worked as a woodsman until he attained his majority. With two companions he set out for the states without a definite destination in mind. Traveling by land and by the Mississippi he arrived at Burlington, where he was employed by John W. Frazer.

Later at Mount Pleasant, at which place he arrived two weeks in advance of the first railroad train, with his brother-ln-law, Wyatt Chamberlain, he engaged in the work of plasterer and brick mason.

Several years later he moved to Hardin county and near Eldora, married Mrs. Sharar, nee Johnson, the mother of four children by her first husband. To Mr. and Mrs. Lyman were born four children, two of whom survive. They are William Lyman, of Goodell, Iowa, and E. E. Lyman, of Cherokee.

From Hardin county the senior Lyman drifted to Kansas and, in the vicinity of Smith Center, engaged with his brother Jesse in buffalo hunting.

On his return to Iowa (Prairie City) he brought in his wagon two buffalo calves, and these be exhibited enroute at school houses to pay his way. Removing from Prairie City he purchased a farm near Audubon. This he sold 16 years ago and purchased a farm near Washta. Again selling, he removed with his son Edward to Cherokee about 12 years ago.

Mr. Lyman is active and frequently walks down town, a distance of three-quarters of a mile. His memory of later events is poor.

While exact chronological dates are missing, his sons believe there is no doubt as to his age of 100 years. He was married after he had reached the age of 40. His son William is about 58 years of age.

[Moville Mail, Moville, Iowa -- Thursday, October 13, 1921]

(Credit: SB)

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#4: (Obit)

WASHTA LAND OWNER
LIVED A HUNDRED YEARS

Cherokee Chief: Sylvester Lyman, age 102 years father of E. E. Lyman of Cherokee, died Saturday morning at 10 o'clock at the home of his grandson, Pat Lyman of St. Ansgar, Iowa. The remains were shipped to Cherokee and funeral service held this morning from the M. E church. Interment followed in the Washta cemetery.

The deceased came to Iowa from Canada, settling at Mt. Pleasant, and was later married to Harriet Sharar at Eldora. From there they moved to Kansas and later came to Cherokee County where they settled on what was then known as the old Miles Whisman farm.

Four children were born to them. The deceased's wife died some 45 years ago. Three of the children died.

The place near Washta had been owned by Mr. Lyman for 22 years and up to the time of his death. The greater part of his recent years was spent at the home of his son, E. E. Lyman in Cherokee. Last May he went to make his home with his grandson, Pat Lyman, at St. Ansgar, where old age and its complications brought a long and useful life to a climax.

[LeMars Globe-Post, Thursday, November 1, 1923]