John Lyon Born: March 4, 1809; Glasgow, Scotland Married: Janet Thomson Died: November 28, 1889; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Immigration: 1853 on "International"

John Lyon, Sr.

John Lyon, son of Thomas and Janet McArthur Lyon, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 4, 1803. While quite young, he was left an orphan and was given into the charge of an uncle. His mind was of an intellectual turn, and meager as were his opportunities, he devoted all his energies to the acquirement of knowledge. His efforts in the direction of self-direction were so successful that very early in life he had achieved quite a literary reputation through the publication of poems and articles in the local press.

He found that his conscience could not accept all the tenets of Presbyterianism (the established religion of Scotland) and so he joined the Baptists and became a preacher. In 1844, he heard Elder William Gibson preach the doctrines of "Mormonism," and being convinced of their truth was baptized into the Church on the 3 1 st day of March 1844 at Kilmarnock. He was soon ordained an Elder and appointed to preside over the Worcestershire, England Conference, and also presided over the Glasgow Conference one year, and was then released to gather in Utah.

Just before embarking for America, he published the first volume of poems ever issued by a member of the Church, under the title of "The Harp of Zion." The book was donated to the Perpetual Emigration Fund, and thousands of copies were printed and sold.

In February 1853, John Lyon, Sr. left Scotland and arrived in Salt Lake in September. He wrote articles for the Deseret News and other publications. He also acted as critic at the Salt Lake Theater for several years. For over 30 years, he was Superintendent of the Endowment House (until the dedication of the Temple). He was ordained a Patriarch by President Wilford Woodruff on May 7,1872.

He was the father of 19 children, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren, living and dead, numbered over 100. He died at the ripe old age of 87 years, on November 28, 1889. His home had been on 2nd Avenue and F Street.

Taken from Twentieth Ward History 1856-1979 by Ruth J. Marten

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