was born January 18, 1846
in Monroe Co., Mississippi. He was a son of James Lyon and Louisa
Olive Hanna Gunn. He married Julia Clementine McGuire in November
of 1872 in Pittsboro, Calhoun Co., MS. Julia was the daughter of
John McGuire and Elizabeth Smith.
On March 18, 1862, at Houston, Mississippi, James
L. Lyon age 16 years, enlisted in the Confederate Army. He tried
to enlist in 1861 with his college classmates in the famous 11th Mississippi,
"University Grays" Company "A", being only 15 years of age he was turned
away. Most all of the young boys from the South wanted to "get in
quick" before the War was over, they didn't want to miss out on all of
the fun. No one believed the War would last long. He would succeed the next year.
After his successful enlistment James joined
up with the 11th in company "H" and was in the Lee's Army of Virginia the
next month. On April 26, he was reported in the Williamsburg hospital
suffering from Fib Typhoides (typoid fever). He was back in the lines
in May and fought in many battles with his unit until July 3, 1863.
James Lawrence Lyon was wounded in the left leg
and severally wounded in the left arm, during Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.
He was captured, just short of the wall and marched off to prison.
He was admitted to the General Hospital in Chester, PA. In September
of 1863 he was transferred to Hammond, U.S.A. General Hospital at Point
Lookout Prison in Maryland. On October 4, 1863 he underwent the first
amputation of his left arm. He was listed as a prisoner of war for
8 months. He was exchanged about March 3, 1864 and admitted to the
Chimborazo Hospital #4, in Richmond, Virginia, where the upper third of
his left arm was amputated. On March 9, 1864 he was furloughed and
retired in April of 1864.
His regiment was in action at the following locations:
Seven Pines, Staunton, Ashland, The Seven Days' Battle, Gaines' Mill, White
Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Freeman's Ford (2nd Manassas), Waterloo Ford,
Manassas Plains, Groveton, Chinn's House, Goonsboro Gap, Sharpsburg (Dunker
Church), from Richmond to Goldsboro, NC., Blackwater bridge Suffolk, Fredericksburg
(attached to Heth's Div., A. P. Hill's Corps), Pennsylvania Campaign, Cashtown,
PA(7/1/63), Gettysburg (7/3/63 in famous charge up Cemetery Ridge, on the
extreme left of the Confederate line, Davis' Brigade).
James Lawrence Lyon returned to his home and
became a Postmaster, Lawyer and Judge.
James L. Lyon and Julia's children:
Robert L. Lyon, born 1873, Pittsboro,
Calhoun Co., Mississippi
Louisa E. Lyon, born 1875, Pittsboro,
Calhoun Co., Mississippi
Leslie Lyon, born Pittsboro, Calhoun
Co., Mississippi
Kyle Lyon, born Calhoun Co., Mississippi
Ludie Lyon
Jewel Lyon
Maybelle Julia Lyon, born November
6, 1878 Pittsboro, Calhoun Co., MS. Maybelle was married to Grafton French
Tommy Lyon, born Calhoun Co., MS.,
married in Murphysboro, TN., ? Wylie
James H. Lyon, born December 23, 1887,
Pittsboro, Calhoun Co., MS. died June 10, 1906, Okalona, Chickasaw
Co., MS. buried: I.O.O.F. cemetery, Okalona, MS
Eugenia L. Lyon, born September 18,
1889, Pittsboro, Calhoun Co., MS., died August 16, 1925, Chickasaw Co.,
MS., buried: I.O.O.F. cemetery, Okalona, MS.
Doyle Lyon, born 1892
Fred Carroll Lyon, born August 16,
1894, Calhoun Co., MS., died May 21, 1914.