Harry was born at "Sunnyside" Farm near Staunton, VA. After the death of his father when he was just five, the family remained at "Sunnyside" for several years and then moved to St. Paul, Minn. with his stepfather. Harry attended Shattuck and played on their football team. Upon graduating in 1898 he joined the 13th Minnesota Volunteers, Company C with his future brother-in-law, Bertram Parsons. The unit shipped out in June 1898 from San Francisco for the Phillipines at the start of the Spanish American War. His Company was cited for extraordinary heroism during Manila's 'Night of Terror' on 2/22/1899. Harry advanced to the rank of First Sergeant. Following his return from the war he married Gertrude Edgerton. He joined the St. Paul Curling Club and played minor league baseball. After the death of Harry's grandmother, Sarah Lyon, in 1905, he sailed to England in 1906 to press the executors of his paternal grandfather's estate to send him the balance of his inheritance. By 1910 the family lived in Pendleton, Oregon where he sold Franklins for the Pendleton Auto Co. They lived at 226 Thompson (now S.E. 3rd St.). From there in 1911 he and his family migrated farther west to Portland where he worked for various dealerships to include the Braly Co. With the receipt of the balance of his inheritance Harry invested with Mr. Fred A. Cook in an early Paige & Jewett dealership, Cook & Gill, located on 11th & West Burnside. At different times he acted as sales manager of both the new and used car divisions & remained as a manager after he became a silent 50% partner in 1921. In 1926 recognition was given to his ownership interest and the company name was changed to Cook & Lyon when the dealership was moved to 554 Washington. In early 1930 Harry sold out and opened a Chrysler dealership on East 16th & Sandy Blvd. under his own name, Harry W. Lyon. Unfortunately by 1932 the economic crash destroyed his life's savings and investments & he lost everything including his lovely home in the Alameda District. Over the course of his pioneer years in the auto industry he represented Franklins, Scripps-Booth, Paige, Jewett, Graham-Paige, Plymouth & Chrysler autos.
Necessity required that he re-enter the work world & he joined his son-in-law in the beer, wine and liquor brokerage business. After working for Joe Brown for several years, the Roma Wine Company maintained his position as their district representative, a job that he held until he retired for the second time. He continued to live in Portland but spent summers at Seaside. Harry & Gertrude passed their final years at a retirement home, Capital Manor, in Salem, Oregon. During his long life many knew him as a crack shot, consumate fisherman, excellent cribbage player and great gentleman. His talent for whittling small toys and objects was long remembered by his grateful grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Necessity required that he re-enter the work world & he joined his son-in-law in the beer, wine and liquor brokerage business. After working for Joe Brown for several years, the Roma Wine Company maintained his position as their district representative, a job that he held until he retired for the second time. He continued to live in Portland but spent summers at Seaside. Harry & Gertrude passed their final years at a retirement home, Capital Manor, in Salem, Oregon. During his long life many knew him as a crack shot, consumate fisherman, excellent cribbage player and great gentleman. His talent for whittling small toys and objects was long remembered by his grateful grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Harry was born at "Sunnyside" Farm near Staunton, VA. After the death of his father when he was just five, the family remained at "Sunnyside" for several years and then moved to St. Paul, Minn. with his stepfather. Harry attended Shattuck and played on their football team. Upon graduating in 1898 he joined the 13th Minnesota Volunteers, Company C with his future brother-in-law, Bertram Parsons. The unit shipped out in June 1898 from San Francisco for the Phillipines at the start of the Spanish American War. His Company was cited for extraordinary heroism during Manila's 'Night of Terror' on 2/22/1899. Harry advanced to the rank of First Sergeant. Following his return from the war he married Gertrude Edgerton. He joined the St. Paul Curling Club and played minor league baseball. After the death of Harry's grandmother, Sarah Lyon, in 1905, he sailed to England in 1906 to press the executors of his paternal grandfather's estate to send him the balance of his inheritance. By 1910 the family lived in Pendleton, Oregon where he sold Franklins for the Pendleton Auto Co. They lived at 226 Thompson (now S.E. 3rd St.). From there in 1911 he and his family migrated farther west to Portland where he worked for various dealerships to include the Braly Co. With the receipt of the balance of his inheritance Harry invested with Mr. Fred A. Cook in an early Paige & Jewett dealership, Cook & Gill, located on 11th & West Burnside. At different times he acted as sales manager of both the new and used car divisions & remained as a manager after he became a silent 50% partner in 1921. In 1926 recognition was given to his ownership interest and the company name was changed to Cook & Lyon when the dealership was moved to 554 Washington. In early 1930 Harry sold out and opened a Chrysler dealership on East 16th & Sandy Blvd. under his own name, Harry W. Lyon. Unfortunately by 1932 the economic crash destroyed his life's savings and investments & he lost everything including his lovely home in the Alameda District. Over the course of his pioneer years in the auto industry he represented Franklins, Scripps-Booth, Paige, Jewett, Graham-Paige, Plymouth & Chrysler autos.
Necessity required that he re-enter the work world & he joined his son-in-law in the beer, wine and liquor brokerage business. After working for Joe Brown for several years, the Roma Wine Company maintained his position as their district representative, a job that he held until he retired for the second time. He continued to live in Portland but spent summers at Seaside. Harry & Gertrude passed their final years at a retirement home, Capital Manor, in Salem, Oregon. During his long life many knew him as a crack shot, consumate fisherman, excellent cribbage player and great gentleman. His talent for whittling small toys and objects was long remembered by his grateful grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Necessity required that he re-enter the work world & he joined his son-in-law in the beer, wine and liquor brokerage business. After working for Joe Brown for several years, the Roma Wine Company maintained his position as their district representative, a job that he held until he retired for the second time. He continued to live in Portland but spent summers at Seaside. Harry & Gertrude passed their final years at a retirement home, Capital Manor, in Salem, Oregon. During his long life many knew him as a crack shot, consumate fisherman, excellent cribbage player and great gentleman. His talent for whittling small toys and objects was long remembered by his grateful grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Gravesite Details
with Gertrude E. Lyon
