Rising Free
19th Century African American
History
Bedford County tnt (this and that)
Salemville, South Woodbury Township
James H. Lyons Obituary, 1 December 1899
"James H. Lyons
"James H. Lyons, colored, died at his home in Salemville on Friday night about
eleven o'clock. He was aged seventy-four years. Decedent came to Salemville when
a boy and has resided there ever since. For many years he conducted a general
merchandise store. He was the first postmaster at Salemville and, with the
exception of two terms, filled that position since the office was established. A
short time ago he was appointed to succeed Postmaster King, who recently
resigned. He was supervisor for a long time. His wife died about fifteen years
ago. He is survived by ten or eleven children. Mr. Lyons was a member of the
Brethren church. He was an intelligent, sober, honest and industrious citizen."
Notes
We find James Lyons living in Woodbury Township in the
1850 census. He is listed as a 21 year-old farmer, living with Sarah
Lyons, age 17, and a child, George, age 3. The residence next to his is
occupied by the Benjamin Lyons family, consisting of Benjamin, age 70, Polly,
age 39, Richard, age 21 and Catharine, age 16. All persons in both
families are listed as having been born in Pennsylvania. Ten years later,
in the 1860 census, James Lyons, age 35 (note the age discrepancy from the 1850
census), is the head of a large family that includes Benjamin F., age 9, Mary
A., age 7, Catharine, age 6, Nancy J., age 5, Sarah, age 4, David J., age 3,
Amanda, age 2 and the infant James L, seven months old. Living next to the
James Lyons family is Mary Lyons, age 64, and Sarah Lyons (James' wife), age 29.
Sarah is listed as a "house maid." Mary Lyons owns $4,000 in real estate
and James owns $1,000 in real estate. Everyone is listed as having been
born in Pennsylvania, except for Sarah Lyons, who was born in Maryland. In
1870, Sarah is back in James' household, and the couple have added six
additional children since the last census.
The Historical Sketches of Morrison's Cove, by Rev.
Karns, tells us that James Lyons was appointed postmaster of Salemville on July
19, 1882. He held that post for over ten years, and was appointed again on
November 16, 1899. He served in that position until his death.
Sources
Bedford Gazette, 1 December 1899. Digital copy from
Ancestry.com, www.ancestry.com Forwarded
by Pat Holt. Ms. Holt notes: "I am [the] granddaughter of one of your
lumens, Cal Bell of Altoona. I came across this obit. today while looking
through the Bedford Gazette of Dec. 1, 1899. The Gazette is in
Ancestry.com and it is copyrighted. I felt so good when I read about Mr. Lyons
and what he accomplished and how he was remembered I thought that I would send
it to you."Census of the United States, 1850, South
Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, page 220.
Census of the United States, 1860, South Woodbury
Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, page 593.
Census of the United States, 1870, South Woodbury
Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, page 648.
Karns, Rev. C. W., Historical Sketches of Morrison's
Cove, Altoona, PA, Mirror Press, 1933, page 295.
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