California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 JUDGE GEORGE A. LYON.� One of the old "forty-niners" in Cali- fornia, and a resident of Lake county from 1858 until his death, there were few better known residents of this region than the late Judge Lyon, a man whose intellect and strength of character gave him high standing among his fellow citizens and naturally made him prominent in the old days, when every man's services to the community were of vital importance. A native of Canada, he was born August 8, 1821, and was about ten years of age when his parents moved to the state of Pennsylvania. A year later they moved again, this time to Ohio. George A. Lyon had exceptional educational advantages for his time. After receiving a common school training he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pa., when a youth of nineteen, attending that institution for two and a half years. Then he was obliged to discontinue his studies because of ill health, and he passed the next two years teaching school in Canada. Returning to Pennsylvania he became engaged in the manufacture of pig iron, following it for two years, when his venture was terminated by the destruction of the building and machinery by fire. At that time he received the appointment of deputy sheriff in Mercer county. Pa., holding that office until March, 1849, when the gold fever drew him westward. He set out across the plains with ox teams for California, and arrived at Sacramento September 1st, soon afterward commencing mining, which he followed that winter in Amador county. For some time afterward he was engaged in merchandising, opening a store at Jackson, and six months later, in partnership with two other men, starting another store, in Sacramento. The partners ran both establishments for one year, when Mr. Lyon sold his interest to the others and engaged in hotel-keeping, in Placer county, continuing the business for six years. Removing thence to Sacramento, he lived there until September, 1858, when he came into Lake county, settling on the property five miles southwest of Upper Lake, where his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred L. Boardman, now reside, Mr. Boardman owning only a small part, however, of the Judge's holdings. He acquired the ownership of nine hundred acres, located at what is known as Black Point, between Lakeport and Upper Lake. Here he soon became well known, being elected justice of the peace in 1859 and serving three years in that office, and he was always known as "Judge" Lyon among his large circle of friends and acquaintances in this part of the county. He led an active and useful life, and is remembered as one of the substantial citizens of his time, a man who did his share to place the affairs of the community on a proper basis and maintain good government. His demise occurred at his home, June 29, 1885. On March 18, 1846, Mr. Lyon married Miss Prudence McKean, who was born in Pennsylvania, and she left a family of eight children, namely : George A. (who is well known all over Lake county in his capacity of horticultural commissioner), Sarah E., Carlos A., Clara M., James M., Edward E., Ada A. and Mabel C. The mother died June 12, 1873. For his second wife Judge Lyon married, June 10, 1874, Mrs. Emma L. Ranard, who was born in Jo Daviess county. Ill., and who crossed the plains in 1853 with her parents. Of this marriage four children were born, as follows : Edith L., Mrs. Christie, of San Francisco: Walter S., a farmer at Upper Lake; Roberta, Mrs. Wilfred L. Boardman ; and Myrtle V. Mrs. Reynolds, the two last mentioned also residents of Lake county.