Son of Michael Lyons and Susan Cusack of County Cavan, Ireland.
John Lyons immigrated to the United States at the age of 20 years from County Cavan, Ireland. His journey would make history. He is a survivor of the SS Atlantic shipwreck and sinking after it hit a rock on April 1, 1873 on Marr's Head, Meagher's Island (now Mars Head, Mars Island), Nova Scotia. Lifeboats were lowered by the crew but were all washed away or smashed as the ship quickly filled with water and partially capsized. Survivors were forced to swim or climb ropes, first to a wave-swept rock, and then to a barren shore.
He arrived in Chicago a week after the shipwreck near where his uncle, Tom Lyons, also lived and described his experience to a reporter of The Inter Ocean newspaper:
He was traveling with his cousin, Philip Brady, and believes his cousin perished at sea. He and his cousin were awakened during the night by the tremendous crash on the rock and quickly headed to the deck, also the last time he saw his cousin. He headed for the steerage but before reaching, the vessel lurched heavily onto its side. He retained sufficient presence of mind not to throw himself into the water as others were doing and clung to a line. Heavy seas came aboard and carried off as it receded its shrieking prey he described. He held on for hours it felt until a line had been thrown from the steamer to the rock and he loosened his benumbed fingers to make his way to the line for his only chance of survival. Hand over hand with waves beating, he toiled forward toward life. Half the distance he stopped for rest when the man in front of him dropped and brushed his legs as waves swept the man away to his fate. He said this frightened him and he began to lose hope. His courage was revived when he glanced ahead to see exhausted strugglers being pulled to safety on the rock. When within a few feet of the rock, a wave washed over him, dragging him down and tore one of his hands from the line. He said he thought he was gone. At that moment, a boy on the rock removed a scarf from his neck and threw one end toward him. He reached out to grab it and entirely lost grip of the line as he was submerged into the ocean. The little fellow on the rock threw the scarf to him again and this time he succeeded in catching it by a small knot that had been tied and he managed to close his hand. John was taken to land in a boat and to a house to be cared for, and the next day he was carried to Halifax.
At least 535 passengers died, which included all woman and children. Nearly half of the passengers perished in this disaster.
John settled in Houston, Texas and married Angelina Arto Volsch on July 26, 1879 in Harris County, Texas. John and Angelina did not have children, however, he was a step-father to her daughter, Jennie.
John Lyons was a real estate investor and proprietor of Lyons House and also the Star and Crescent Hotel, both in the Fifth Ward of Houston. Lyons House was a boarding house, dining room, and provided a bar mostly to railroad men working nearby at the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Star and Crescent hotel advertised as having American and European plans with a lunch counter open day and night. Special attention was given to country trade and railroad men as it was near the railroad depot. He lost this hotel, entirely, to the great fire of the Fifth Ward in February, 1912.
Lyons Avenue in Houston was named for John Lyons. The Galveston Daily News reported in September 1894 that Lyons Avenue will open to lead out east of the city limits. The street will be 60 feet wide and will be 1000 feet within the city limits and over a mile outside. The newspaper writes that Lyons avenue is named for Mr. John Lyons, a leading citizen of the Fifth Ward and an active worker in bringing out the important improvement to the city. A ceremonial breaking of the ground was held and followed by a speech with then mayor, John T. Browne. Mayor Browne spoke of the value of the improvement to the city and county and said that it was a step in a direction that bespoke the right spirit of enterprise. The benefit to all persons along the new road, he said, must be seen at a glance, and the important service it was destined to do for Houston was greater than could be estimated at so early a stage. The credit of it he gave largely to Mr. Lyons. His remarks throughout were highly appropriate the reporter indicated. After his speech, refreshments were enjoyed and made a pleasant feature of the affair.
It should be known that there has been confusion regarding the origins of Lyons avenue found in other prints, especially current times. Years after the ceremony and opening of Lyons Avenue, John Lyons' brother, Michael, marries the daughter of Mayor John T. Browne and over a century later some believe this was the reason of the Lyons Avenue name. Documented history sources the origin is solely for John Lyons, a prominent community member and businessman of this location.
In 1904, The Houston Post reports that Mr. John Lyons, prominent in business and political affairs departed for an extended visit to the big St. Louis fair [Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair], Hot Springs, and other points of interest. His sole objective of the trip is to have an all around good time and get a well earned rest. The paper states it is not often John Lyons decides upon a trip and when he does everybody gets interested and the result was the expression of all sorts of good wishes upon the eve of his departure.
John Lyons did not return to his home or family in Ireland. He stated that he would not travel by sea again after his shipwreck experience of 1873. Also residing in Texas were two uncles and three siblings, but remaining in Ireland were his parents and other siblings. He wrote with love to them as discovered in saved family letters and he sent monetary gifts in "pounds" as remembrance, as well as sufficient pounds to his mother and family after his father's death to buy a family home for them in Ireland.
He died suddenly at Lyons House, also his home. His obituary in the Houston Post indicates before conducting Lyons House, he was an engineer for the International and Great Northern Railroad Company.
Brother: Thomas Cusack Lyons
Sister: Alice Lyons Riordan
Brother: Michael Cusack Lyons
Other siblings that remained in Ireland: Mary, Matthew, Patrick, and Susan.
Uncle: Thomas Lyons
Uncle: John Lyons
The uncles are brothers to his father, Michael Lyons.
Bio written by Denise Fouts for my 2nd great-uncle, John Lyons.
John Lyons immigrated to the United States at the age of 20 years from County Cavan, Ireland. His journey would make history. He is a survivor of the SS Atlantic shipwreck and sinking after it hit a rock on April 1, 1873 on Marr's Head, Meagher's Island (now Mars Head, Mars Island), Nova Scotia. Lifeboats were lowered by the crew but were all washed away or smashed as the ship quickly filled with water and partially capsized. Survivors were forced to swim or climb ropes, first to a wave-swept rock, and then to a barren shore.
He arrived in Chicago a week after the shipwreck near where his uncle, Tom Lyons, also lived and described his experience to a reporter of The Inter Ocean newspaper:
He was traveling with his cousin, Philip Brady, and believes his cousin perished at sea. He and his cousin were awakened during the night by the tremendous crash on the rock and quickly headed to the deck, also the last time he saw his cousin. He headed for the steerage but before reaching, the vessel lurched heavily onto its side. He retained sufficient presence of mind not to throw himself into the water as others were doing and clung to a line. Heavy seas came aboard and carried off as it receded its shrieking prey he described. He held on for hours it felt until a line had been thrown from the steamer to the rock and he loosened his benumbed fingers to make his way to the line for his only chance of survival. Hand over hand with waves beating, he toiled forward toward life. Half the distance he stopped for rest when the man in front of him dropped and brushed his legs as waves swept the man away to his fate. He said this frightened him and he began to lose hope. His courage was revived when he glanced ahead to see exhausted strugglers being pulled to safety on the rock. When within a few feet of the rock, a wave washed over him, dragging him down and tore one of his hands from the line. He said he thought he was gone. At that moment, a boy on the rock removed a scarf from his neck and threw one end toward him. He reached out to grab it and entirely lost grip of the line as he was submerged into the ocean. The little fellow on the rock threw the scarf to him again and this time he succeeded in catching it by a small knot that had been tied and he managed to close his hand. John was taken to land in a boat and to a house to be cared for, and the next day he was carried to Halifax.
At least 535 passengers died, which included all woman and children. Nearly half of the passengers perished in this disaster.
John settled in Houston, Texas and married Angelina Arto Volsch on July 26, 1879 in Harris County, Texas. John and Angelina did not have children, however, he was a step-father to her daughter, Jennie.
John Lyons was a real estate investor and proprietor of Lyons House and also the Star and Crescent Hotel, both in the Fifth Ward of Houston. Lyons House was a boarding house, dining room, and provided a bar mostly to railroad men working nearby at the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Star and Crescent hotel advertised as having American and European plans with a lunch counter open day and night. Special attention was given to country trade and railroad men as it was near the railroad depot. He lost this hotel, entirely, to the great fire of the Fifth Ward in February, 1912.
Lyons Avenue in Houston was named for John Lyons. The Galveston Daily News reported in September 1894 that Lyons Avenue will open to lead out east of the city limits. The street will be 60 feet wide and will be 1000 feet within the city limits and over a mile outside. The newspaper writes that Lyons avenue is named for Mr. John Lyons, a leading citizen of the Fifth Ward and an active worker in bringing out the important improvement to the city. A ceremonial breaking of the ground was held and followed by a speech with then mayor, John T. Browne. Mayor Browne spoke of the value of the improvement to the city and county and said that it was a step in a direction that bespoke the right spirit of enterprise. The benefit to all persons along the new road, he said, must be seen at a glance, and the important service it was destined to do for Houston was greater than could be estimated at so early a stage. The credit of it he gave largely to Mr. Lyons. His remarks throughout were highly appropriate the reporter indicated. After his speech, refreshments were enjoyed and made a pleasant feature of the affair.
It should be known that there has been confusion regarding the origins of Lyons avenue found in other prints, especially current times. Years after the ceremony and opening of Lyons Avenue, John Lyons' brother, Michael, marries the daughter of Mayor John T. Browne and over a century later some believe this was the reason of the Lyons Avenue name. Documented history sources the origin is solely for John Lyons, a prominent community member and businessman of this location.
In 1904, The Houston Post reports that Mr. John Lyons, prominent in business and political affairs departed for an extended visit to the big St. Louis fair [Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair], Hot Springs, and other points of interest. His sole objective of the trip is to have an all around good time and get a well earned rest. The paper states it is not often John Lyons decides upon a trip and when he does everybody gets interested and the result was the expression of all sorts of good wishes upon the eve of his departure.
John Lyons did not return to his home or family in Ireland. He stated that he would not travel by sea again after his shipwreck experience of 1873. Also residing in Texas were two uncles and three siblings, but remaining in Ireland were his parents and other siblings. He wrote with love to them as discovered in saved family letters and he sent monetary gifts in "pounds" as remembrance, as well as sufficient pounds to his mother and family after his father's death to buy a family home for them in Ireland.
He died suddenly at Lyons House, also his home. His obituary in the Houston Post indicates before conducting Lyons House, he was an engineer for the International and Great Northern Railroad Company.
Brother: Thomas Cusack Lyons
Sister: Alice Lyons Riordan
Brother: Michael Cusack Lyons
Other siblings that remained in Ireland: Mary, Matthew, Patrick, and Susan.
Uncle: Thomas Lyons
Uncle: John Lyons
The uncles are brothers to his father, Michael Lyons.
Bio written by Denise Fouts for my 2nd great-uncle, John Lyons.
Son of Michael Lyons and Susan Cusack of County Cavan, Ireland.
John Lyons immigrated to the United States at the age of 20 years from County Cavan, Ireland. His journey would make history. He is a survivor of the SS Atlantic shipwreck and sinking after it hit a rock on April 1, 1873 on Marr's Head, Meagher's Island (now Mars Head, Mars Island), Nova Scotia. Lifeboats were lowered by the crew but were all washed away or smashed as the ship quickly filled with water and partially capsized. Survivors were forced to swim or climb ropes, first to a wave-swept rock, and then to a barren shore.
He arrived in Chicago a week after the shipwreck near where his uncle, Tom Lyons, also lived and described his experience to a reporter of The Inter Ocean newspaper:
He was traveling with his cousin, Philip Brady, and believes his cousin perished at sea. He and his cousin were awakened during the night by the tremendous crash on the rock and quickly headed to the deck, also the last time he saw his cousin. He headed for the steerage but before reaching, the vessel lurched heavily onto its side. He retained sufficient presence of mind not to throw himself into the water as others were doing and clung to a line. Heavy seas came aboard and carried off as it receded its shrieking prey he described. He held on for hours it felt until a line had been thrown from the steamer to the rock and he loosened his benumbed fingers to make his way to the line for his only chance of survival. Hand over hand with waves beating, he toiled forward toward life. Half the distance he stopped for rest when the man in front of him dropped and brushed his legs as waves swept the man away to his fate. He said this frightened him and he began to lose hope. His courage was revived when he glanced ahead to see exhausted strugglers being pulled to safety on the rock. When within a few feet of the rock, a wave washed over him, dragging him down and tore one of his hands from the line. He said he thought he was gone. At that moment, a boy on the rock removed a scarf from his neck and threw one end toward him. He reached out to grab it and entirely lost grip of the line as he was submerged into the ocean. The little fellow on the rock threw the scarf to him again and this time he succeeded in catching it by a small knot that had been tied and he managed to close his hand. John was taken to land in a boat and to a house to be cared for, and the next day he was carried to Halifax.
At least 535 passengers died, which included all woman and children. Nearly half of the passengers perished in this disaster.
John settled in Houston, Texas and married Angelina Arto Volsch on July 26, 1879 in Harris County, Texas. John and Angelina did not have children, however, he was a step-father to her daughter, Jennie.
John Lyons was a real estate investor and proprietor of Lyons House and also the Star and Crescent Hotel, both in the Fifth Ward of Houston. Lyons House was a boarding house, dining room, and provided a bar mostly to railroad men working nearby at the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Star and Crescent hotel advertised as having American and European plans with a lunch counter open day and night. Special attention was given to country trade and railroad men as it was near the railroad depot. He lost this hotel, entirely, to the great fire of the Fifth Ward in February, 1912.
Lyons Avenue in Houston was named for John Lyons. The Galveston Daily News reported in September 1894 that Lyons Avenue will open to lead out east of the city limits. The street will be 60 feet wide and will be 1000 feet within the city limits and over a mile outside. The newspaper writes that Lyons avenue is named for Mr. John Lyons, a leading citizen of the Fifth Ward and an active worker in bringing out the important improvement to the city. A ceremonial breaking of the ground was held and followed by a speech with then mayor, John T. Browne. Mayor Browne spoke of the value of the improvement to the city and county and said that it was a step in a direction that bespoke the right spirit of enterprise. The benefit to all persons along the new road, he said, must be seen at a glance, and the important service it was destined to do for Houston was greater than could be estimated at so early a stage. The credit of it he gave largely to Mr. Lyons. His remarks throughout were highly appropriate the reporter indicated. After his speech, refreshments were enjoyed and made a pleasant feature of the affair.
It should be known that there has been confusion regarding the origins of Lyons avenue found in other prints, especially current times. Years after the ceremony and opening of Lyons Avenue, John Lyons' brother, Michael, marries the daughter of Mayor John T. Browne and over a century later some believe this was the reason of the Lyons Avenue name. Documented history sources the origin is solely for John Lyons, a prominent community member and businessman of this location.
In 1904, The Houston Post reports that Mr. John Lyons, prominent in business and political affairs departed for an extended visit to the big St. Louis fair [Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair], Hot Springs, and other points of interest. His sole objective of the trip is to have an all around good time and get a well earned rest. The paper states it is not often John Lyons decides upon a trip and when he does everybody gets interested and the result was the expression of all sorts of good wishes upon the eve of his departure.
John Lyons did not return to his home or family in Ireland. He stated that he would not travel by sea again after his shipwreck experience of 1873. Also residing in Texas were two uncles and three siblings, but remaining in Ireland were his parents and other siblings. He wrote with love to them as discovered in saved family letters and he sent monetary gifts in "pounds" as remembrance, as well as sufficient pounds to his mother and family after his father's death to buy a family home for them in Ireland.
He died suddenly at Lyons House, also his home. His obituary in the Houston Post indicates before conducting Lyons House, he was an engineer for the International and Great Northern Railroad Company.
Brother: Thomas Cusack Lyons
Sister: Alice Lyons Riordan
Brother: Michael Cusack Lyons
Other siblings that remained in Ireland: Mary, Matthew, Patrick, and Susan.
Uncle: Thomas Lyons
Uncle: John Lyons
The uncles are brothers to his father, Michael Lyons.
Bio written by Denise Fouts for my 2nd great-uncle, John Lyons.
John Lyons immigrated to the United States at the age of 20 years from County Cavan, Ireland. His journey would make history. He is a survivor of the SS Atlantic shipwreck and sinking after it hit a rock on April 1, 1873 on Marr's Head, Meagher's Island (now Mars Head, Mars Island), Nova Scotia. Lifeboats were lowered by the crew but were all washed away or smashed as the ship quickly filled with water and partially capsized. Survivors were forced to swim or climb ropes, first to a wave-swept rock, and then to a barren shore.
He arrived in Chicago a week after the shipwreck near where his uncle, Tom Lyons, also lived and described his experience to a reporter of The Inter Ocean newspaper:
He was traveling with his cousin, Philip Brady, and believes his cousin perished at sea. He and his cousin were awakened during the night by the tremendous crash on the rock and quickly headed to the deck, also the last time he saw his cousin. He headed for the steerage but before reaching, the vessel lurched heavily onto its side. He retained sufficient presence of mind not to throw himself into the water as others were doing and clung to a line. Heavy seas came aboard and carried off as it receded its shrieking prey he described. He held on for hours it felt until a line had been thrown from the steamer to the rock and he loosened his benumbed fingers to make his way to the line for his only chance of survival. Hand over hand with waves beating, he toiled forward toward life. Half the distance he stopped for rest when the man in front of him dropped and brushed his legs as waves swept the man away to his fate. He said this frightened him and he began to lose hope. His courage was revived when he glanced ahead to see exhausted strugglers being pulled to safety on the rock. When within a few feet of the rock, a wave washed over him, dragging him down and tore one of his hands from the line. He said he thought he was gone. At that moment, a boy on the rock removed a scarf from his neck and threw one end toward him. He reached out to grab it and entirely lost grip of the line as he was submerged into the ocean. The little fellow on the rock threw the scarf to him again and this time he succeeded in catching it by a small knot that had been tied and he managed to close his hand. John was taken to land in a boat and to a house to be cared for, and the next day he was carried to Halifax.
At least 535 passengers died, which included all woman and children. Nearly half of the passengers perished in this disaster.
John settled in Houston, Texas and married Angelina Arto Volsch on July 26, 1879 in Harris County, Texas. John and Angelina did not have children, however, he was a step-father to her daughter, Jennie.
John Lyons was a real estate investor and proprietor of Lyons House and also the Star and Crescent Hotel, both in the Fifth Ward of Houston. Lyons House was a boarding house, dining room, and provided a bar mostly to railroad men working nearby at the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Star and Crescent hotel advertised as having American and European plans with a lunch counter open day and night. Special attention was given to country trade and railroad men as it was near the railroad depot. He lost this hotel, entirely, to the great fire of the Fifth Ward in February, 1912.
Lyons Avenue in Houston was named for John Lyons. The Galveston Daily News reported in September 1894 that Lyons Avenue will open to lead out east of the city limits. The street will be 60 feet wide and will be 1000 feet within the city limits and over a mile outside. The newspaper writes that Lyons avenue is named for Mr. John Lyons, a leading citizen of the Fifth Ward and an active worker in bringing out the important improvement to the city. A ceremonial breaking of the ground was held and followed by a speech with then mayor, John T. Browne. Mayor Browne spoke of the value of the improvement to the city and county and said that it was a step in a direction that bespoke the right spirit of enterprise. The benefit to all persons along the new road, he said, must be seen at a glance, and the important service it was destined to do for Houston was greater than could be estimated at so early a stage. The credit of it he gave largely to Mr. Lyons. His remarks throughout were highly appropriate the reporter indicated. After his speech, refreshments were enjoyed and made a pleasant feature of the affair.
It should be known that there has been confusion regarding the origins of Lyons avenue found in other prints, especially current times. Years after the ceremony and opening of Lyons Avenue, John Lyons' brother, Michael, marries the daughter of Mayor John T. Browne and over a century later some believe this was the reason of the Lyons Avenue name. Documented history sources the origin is solely for John Lyons, a prominent community member and businessman of this location.
In 1904, The Houston Post reports that Mr. John Lyons, prominent in business and political affairs departed for an extended visit to the big St. Louis fair [Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair], Hot Springs, and other points of interest. His sole objective of the trip is to have an all around good time and get a well earned rest. The paper states it is not often John Lyons decides upon a trip and when he does everybody gets interested and the result was the expression of all sorts of good wishes upon the eve of his departure.
John Lyons did not return to his home or family in Ireland. He stated that he would not travel by sea again after his shipwreck experience of 1873. Also residing in Texas were two uncles and three siblings, but remaining in Ireland were his parents and other siblings. He wrote with love to them as discovered in saved family letters and he sent monetary gifts in "pounds" as remembrance, as well as sufficient pounds to his mother and family after his father's death to buy a family home for them in Ireland.
He died suddenly at Lyons House, also his home. His obituary in the Houston Post indicates before conducting Lyons House, he was an engineer for the International and Great Northern Railroad Company.
Brother: Thomas Cusack Lyons
Sister: Alice Lyons Riordan
Brother: Michael Cusack Lyons
Other siblings that remained in Ireland: Mary, Matthew, Patrick, and Susan.
Uncle: Thomas Lyons
Uncle: John Lyons
The uncles are brothers to his father, Michael Lyons.
Bio written by Denise Fouts for my 2nd great-uncle, John Lyons.
Gravesite Details
The grave does not have a marker. Another user has mistakenly added a photo marker for an older uncle in the same plot. Glenwood written records reflect on map that this grave is for an older uncle by same name.
