Lyon, John

  General Notes:

Religion: Presbyterian

Trade: Stone Mason and served as Bailiff of Arnprior in 1880

The following Lyon biography was compiled by Dr. John D. Lyon on Feb 22, 1987. Additional information supplied by Elizabeth Lyon on July 15, 1987. Left a copy of this information at the archives office in the basement of the Arnprior Library.

"John Lyon and Mary M. Catto came to Canada between 1853 and 1855, (the birth of the first child was in Scotland and the second in Canada). They most likely came in 1854. Probably landed in Montreal or Quebec City then made their way to Arnprior by flat boats. In her notes, Bev McKerracker stated the families went to Kingston, Ontario, where the women and children stayed while the men walked through the bush to Arnprior and prepared accomodations for families. Mrs. Lillie Jean Varley, youngest daughter of John Lyon is more of the belief of what has been stated by Dr. John D. Lyon as the compiled the Lyon Genealogy.

John Lyon was a stonemason. Among his work he was in Ottawa during the building of the 1st Parliament buildings which burned down in 1916.

James Lillie - Believed to be the father of Jane Lillie - second wife of John Lyon - was a farmer who emigrated from Fife, Scotland to Fitzroy Township, Carleton Country Ontario in 1846. He married Catherine Early.

William Lyon - (John's father?) was born ca 1800 in Barieff County Scotland. He married Margaret Keith in Kincardine, Scotland and lived in Aberdeen. Came to Arnprior Ontario area.

With John Lyon, came to Canada three sisters: 1) Charlotte who married Francis Kerr; 2) Margaret who married George Milne and Isabelle who married George Fraser. Also his grandfather. All married in Scotland.

Clarence Duncan Lyon, son of John Lyon and Jane Lillie. Born August 1, 1888, Arnprior Ontario. Dield June 1, 1968. Buried in Cataraqui Cemetery. Served with Royal Canadian Engineer 1914-1918, wounded. Received Military Cross. Worked until retirement with the Dept. of Highways, province of Ontario as a Civil Engineer. Married Margaret Stewart (Feb 8, 1895-March 9, 1965) on June 3, 1919. Children:
Robert Stewart
John Dodd
Elizabeth Jean
Lillie Isabel
Donald Duncan

Lillie Jean Lyon, daughter of John Lyon and Jane Lillie. Born June 5, 1893 Arnprior Ontario. Registered Nurse. Worked in New York City, N.Y. USA. Married Mark Marley (- to 1950) a banker in 1929. They resided in the USA where Mark Varley worked as a banker. lillie Jean returned to Canada. He died in California. In 1987 she was a resident in the Extendacare Nursing Centre in Kingston Ontario. No children.

John married Mary M. Catto on 31 Mar 1852 in Aberdeen, Scotland.

John next married Jane Lillie. (Jane Lillie was born circa 1886-1887 and died in Jan 1909 in Fitzroy Harbour, Ontario.)