Lyon, John died 1862

LYON

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 9/24/2024 at 18:29:05

DIED - On the 30th day of January, in the Military Hospital of St. Louis, John Lyon, a private in Company C, 3d Regiment, Iowa infantry.

The deceased enlisted at McGregor with Capt. Sladden, in May last, and has followed the fortunes of his comrades ever since with the exception of a visit home on a furlough early in autumn. He was at the battle of Blue Mills Landing and behaved himself like a true soldier.

He leaves a wife and three children at McGregor.

John Lyon was born in Ireland, but had lived many years in the United States. To a sound head, ready wit, warm heart, he added a love of principle and patriotism that would do honor to the greatest hero of the war. It will be remembered that he did not enlist till the morning of the departure of the company, and while the steamer 'Canada' was lying at our wharf ready to carry "the boys" to Keokuk.

The writer of this tribute to his memory met him on that morning in soldier's clothes and inquired where he was going. The reply was, "I am going to fight for my adopted country." "But," said I, "John why didn't you enlist a month ago, like most of your comrades, and not surprise your friends in this way!" "Because, sir," said the noble-hearted soldier, "I am too proud to let Relief Committees take care of my wife and children while I have stout arms to labor for them. I intended from the first to enlist, but I chose to provide for my little home, rather than to tramp up and down the streets and idle away that time, while they and myself would be dependent on the liberality of the public."

The wife and children of a man capable of such sentiments must not be neglected.
A.P.

~Weekly North Iowa Times, Wednesday, February 5, 1862; pg 2

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Same paper & date, different column:
We were glad to see the welcome face of Capt. Sladden, of Co. C, 3d Iowa regiment. He returned with his wife on Saturday last - in measure recovered from his recent protracted illness. He brings the unwelcome intelligence that John Lyon, one of the best of our Irish adopted fellow citizens had died of erysipelas. We trust his widow and three children will not be allowed to suffer for any of the necessaries of life.