E. B. Lyon

B. LYON, of Dayton, Ohio, is a native of Chaplin, Windham county, Conn.; was born on the 17th of December, 1840, and is a son of John W. and Sarah (Hagar) Lyon. When he was about ten years of age his parents re'moved to Massachusetts, and in that state he received the greater part of his education.

E. B. Lyon enlisted, October 3, 1861, as a member of company K, Twentyfourth Massachusetts volunteer infantry, and was in active service until October 8, 1864, when he was mustered out at Chapin’s farm, having participated in twenty-four engagements, aside from numerous skirmishes. After the close of the war he came to Ohio and located in Dayton, where he has since made his home, and where he has secured the esteem and confidence of the community. Upon his arrival here he secured employment in a paper mill, where he remained about a year, after which he became an attache of the freight department of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad. In 1868 he engaged in the manufacture of trunk supplies and excelsior, laying at that time the foundation for his present prosperous enterprise, whose business extends into the most diverse sections of the Union, and also into foreign countries. The industry had a very modest inception, and was the first of the sort ever projected in Dayton. But business sagacity, correct methods and personal integrity, coupled with unceasing and well-directed labor, did not fail of their reward. The well-equipped plant occupies about an acre of ground, while the buildings and mechanical accessories are of the most available order, so that the work of production is facilitated in every department. The principal products of the establishment are trunk slats and handles, and the output of the manufactory finds a ready demand in the domestic and foreign markets. Employment is given to a body of about thirty-five skilled workmen. In 1891 Mr. Lyon began the manufacture of excelsior, and this branch of the business has come into equal favor.

In politics Mr. Lyon renders an unswerving allegiance to the republican party, and has served acceptably as a member of the city council. On the 12th of March, 1891, he was appointed postmaster of the city of Dayton, this office having been tendered him without solicitation, and in face of the fact that there were several avowed candidates in the field. Within the time of his incumbency of this office he instituted many improvements in the service, among which may be noted the establishment of the night-collection service and the utilization of special mail wagons. The annual business of the office was increased by some $60,000, and his administration gave exceptional satisfaction to the public, gaining him endorsement from all classes, irrespective of party affiliations.

In his fraternal associations Mr. Lyon is conspicuously identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of Old Guard post, No. 23, in which he has passed all the chairs, having also served on the staff of the commander of both state and national departments. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor.

On the 4th of April, 1866, Mr. Lyon was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Broadwell, a native of Dayton, but whose death occurred in 1881. In 1883 he married Miss Sarah B. Broadwell, a sister of his first wife, but death’s summons called her into eternal rest in 1892. On the 24th of May, 1894, Mr. Lyon consummated a third union, being then joined in matrimony to Mary A. McQuiston, who is the daughter of the Hon. John F. Patton, exmember of the Ohio legislature, and founder of the Xenia Gazette. Three daughters were born of the first marriage, viz: Ella H., who is her father’s capable assistant in conducting the detail office work of his business; Sarah B., wife of Dr. O. W. Lounsbury, and Bessie W., deceased. Mrs. M. A. Lyon, who enjoys a wide popularity in the social circles of Dayton, was the department president of the Ohio Woman’s Relief Corps in 1891-2, and is now (1896) assistant national inspector on the staff of Mrs. Turner, of Boston, Mass.

In his long business career in Dayton Mr. Lyon has so conducted his affairs and so lived as to gain the esteem and respect of the people of the community. He has been enterprising, public-spirited and progressive, and his interest in the advancement of the material prosperity of the city has been manifested in a practical way, as he has been the pioneer in building, both for residence and manufacturing plants, in the east end.

aOL. WILLIAM McCLELLAN, clerk in the commissary department of the national military home at Dayton, Ohio, was born in Germantown, Pa., July 13, 1842, and is a son of William and Mary (Gillespie) McClellan, both of Scotch- Irish extraction. The father died when subject was but two years of age, and the mother, who never re-married, survived until 1893, when she expired in the Baptist home at Philadelphia, aged eighty-six years, the mother of two sons and two daughters, of which family the colonel is the only survivor. Thomas, his brother, was killed in the battle of Gettysburg; his elder sister, Elizabeth, died at twenty-nine years of age, and the younger sister, Anna, died when thirty-four years old. Both sisters had married, but left no children.

Col. McClellan was educated at Girard college, Philadelphia, and was then apprenticed to a whipmaker in Wellsville, York county, Pa., being thus engaged when the Civil war opened. On May 8, 1 86 1, he enlisted in company H, Seventh Pennsylvania infantry, known during the Rebellion as one of the regiments of the Pennsylvania reserves. He went through the peninsular campaign under Gen. George B. McClellan, his brigade at the time being in command of Gen. George G. Meade. Later, after the promotion of Gen. Meade, Gen. McCandless was placed in command of the brigade, Gen. Crawford’s division and Gen. Reynold’s corps. Col. McClellan fought in all of the battles in which the army of the Potomac took part, with two exceptions. He was at second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg, and also at the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee, having enlisted a second time, in 1863. Of his original company of 101 men, chiefly students and professional men, but eleven are now living.

After the war was ended Col. McClellan was employed on the Philadelphia & Reading railroad for fifteen years, when, on account of failing health, he came to the soldiers’ home, in 1881, and was here employed fourteen years as timekeeper, until the spring of 1896, when he resigned because of the great responsibility of the position, and entered the commissary department as clerk.

Col. McClellan was married in Chester,

Pa., in 1868, to Miss Emma Morris, the union resulting in the birth of five children, of whom two are now deceased. The survivors are William, Jr., a young man of twenty-six years and foreman of the tool-room of the Computing Scales works, of Dayton; George, eighteen years old, who is in the employ of the same company; and Mary, aged seven years, who is attending school. The two deceased were Mamie, who died at nine years, and Anna, who died when but three months old. On entering the home, the colonel brought with him his family, as he was furnished a residence by the management on account of his official position; but since the past spring the family have lived at No. 1637 West Second street, in Dayton. Col. McClellan was one of the organizers of encampment No. 82, Union Veteran Legion, and was honored by be:ng elected its colonel for three successive terms. He is also a member of Dister post, Grand Army of the Republic, and his religious affiliation is with the First Reformed church of Dayton, of which his sons are also members. In politics he is a stanch republican.

As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.