Sanford W. Lyon, retired farmer and gallant soldier in the late Civil War, is a native of New York, born in the town of Naples in the year 1837, August 25. His paternal ancestors for a great many years lived in Vermont, removing to that state in the time of the colonies, and some of the family afterward emigrated to New York. Brunson K. Lyon, father of the subject, was a native of the Great Mountain state, as was also his wife, Pauline Wiley, but they were married in New York and there spent the remaining years of their lives, both dying in Naples at the age of fifty-seven years. Brunson K. Lyon in early life followed the profession of civil engineering and later carried on the mercantile business in connection with agricultural pursuits. His family consisted of seven sons and three daughters, of whom six are now living, scattered over various parts of the country, principally California, Oregon, New York, and Michigan.

Sanford W. Lyon was educated in the schools of his native town, and while still a lad began working for himself as a market gardener. He followed this vocation in New York until 1861, at which time he came to Michigan, locating in the vicinity of Grand Rapids, where he remained until entering the Federal service in August of the following year. Previous to coming west Mr. Lyon proffered his service to the country by enlisting, in 1861, in a company organized in Naples, N. Y., but which, owing to the prevalent belief that the war would be of short duration, was not ordered to the front. The second enlistment was in company B., Twenty-first Michigan infantry, which formed a part of the army of the Cumberland. Mr. Lyon was with his command through all its varied experiences in the campaigns of Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, and took part in a number of noted battles, including Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Bentonville, and many lesser engagements and skirmishes, in all of which he acquittal himself as a brave and gallant soldier. At the battle of Bentonville he was shot through the leg below the knee and also received a gun-shot wound in the left thigh; both of these injuries were very painful and sufficiently serious to render necessary his retirement from further active service in the field. Indeed, he has never recovered from his injuries, and will carry painful reminders of them with him to the grave. In September, 1863, Mr. Lyon was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and assigned to the command of company A., and it was while leading his men in the thickest of the fight that he received the wounds aforementioned.

Returning from the war, Mr. Lyon resumed market-gardening near Grand Rapids, which he carried on quite successfully until retiring from active life a few years ago. He has accumulated a sufficiency of worldly effects to make his remaining years comfortable, and is also the recipient of a liberal pension from the government to which he devoted the best part of his life during the dark days of the Rebellion.

Mr. Lyon, was married September 4, 1862, to Miss Harriet A. Tracy, daughter of Addison and Teresa (Reddington) Tracy. The parents of Mrs. Lyon were natives of Massachusetts, but for a number of years resided in Lorain county, Ohio, removing thence to Grand Rapids, when she was a child of five years. Addison Tracy was in the insurance business for a number of years in this city, and died in 1864; his wife died in the year 1872. The family consisted of four sons and six daughters, only three of whom are now living; one, besides Mrs. Lyon, lives in the vicinity of Grand Rapids, to-wit: Mrs. Emily Blalock.

Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have four children: Hurley H., Mrs. Mina Stoughton, Wiley S., and S. P.—the last two still with their parents. Politically Mr. Lyon has been a life long republican; frequently solicited to accept official positions by his party, he always declined, preferring to be a worker in the ranks rather than a standard bearer or a party leader. He is not identified with any church or religious organization, his only creed being to live a blameless life as far as in him lies, and to assist to the best of his ability his fellow-men in their struggles against adversity. He believes in using the good things of this life, and thinks that worldly wealth can only be appreciated when judiciously exchanged for its equivalent in worldly comforts and enjoyment, consequently he has always lived well. He has spent some time in travel, having twice visited the Pacific coast in company with his wife, and at this writing is making preparations for a third and much more extended trip. Few men in the community enjoy as great a degree of popularity as does Mr. Lyon. A patriot when patriotism of the Union a citizen interested in everything having for its object the public welfare, a neighbor who exemplifies by his daily walk and conversation the Golden Rule—his name well deserves a place in this volume.