Riley Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Homer Lyman
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
HOMER LYMAN, who is now conducting the livery business in Manhattan, is a representative of the veterans of the late war, one of the brave defenders of our country, who, having borne an honorable part in preserving the integrity of the Union, have since done much to advance its prosperity, and have so greatly aided in the upbuilding of the young, enterprising and flourishing States of the West. He has been a resident of Kansas for nearly thirteen years, and has been variously connected with its interests.
He was born in the town of Jericho, amid the beautiful scenes of Chittenden County, Vt., Sept. 7,1837. His father, Erastus Lyman, was a native of the same town, and a son of one of its early settlers, who improved a farm there, on which he spent his last years. The father of our subject was reared and married in his native State, and remained a resident there till after the war, when he removed to the city of Winona, Minn., where he made his home till his death, which occurred in Iowa while he was traveling in that State. The maiden name of his first wife, mother of our subject, was Sarah White. She was horn in the town of Sheldon. Franklin Co., Vt.. and was a daughter of Deacon Samuel White, a man well known in that vicinity. She died in Vermont, in I860.
When the subject of this sketch was fourteen years old. desiring to learn the printer's trade, he entered the oflice of the Messenger at St. Albans, and in a three years' apprenticeship acquired a thorough knowledge of the art preservative in all its details. From there he went to Burlington, and first worked in a book-publishing house, and later on the Free Press, the Burlington Sentinel, and on the Times. In July, 1862, animated by the spirit of patriotism, he resigned his position to enlist in the army to do battle for the Northern cause, enrolling his name as a member of Company D, 10th Vermont Infantry, and serving with credit till the close of the war. He took part in many engagements, the most important of which were the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court-House, Cold Harbor and Gettysburg. Sometime after the latter battle he suffered from a severe attack of erysipelas, and was at once sent to the hospital at Washington, and thence transferred to Alexandria. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered he was detailed to take charge of the printing department of the clerk's office, a position for which his experience and ability amply qualified him. He continued in that position till the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. After leaving the army our subject went to Minnesota, and located on a farm near Winona, he farmed for a time, and then resumed his old occupation, entering the office of the Daily Republican, at Winona. and working at his trade there seven years. At the expiration of that time be turned his attention to work of an entirely different nature, opening an hotel, which he managed with good financial results till 1877, when he sold his property in Winona and came to Kansas. Here he first located in Woodson County, where he bought a farm of 240 acres, and for four years was actively engaged in tilling the soil. His next venture was to open an hotel in Yates Center, and also to establish himself in the livery business in connection with the hotel. He managed both successfully
till 1885, and in that year removed to Lindsborg, McPherson County, engaging in the hotel and livery business there, and in 1887 he came to Manhattan and leased the Commercial House, and started a livery. After running the hotel about eight months he sold out, but still continues to carry on the livery business, from which he derives a good income. His establishment is well fitted out with a good class of horses and carriages of various kinds, which are to let at reasonable prices, and he is well patronized by the people of Manhattan.
Mr. Lyman's marriage with Miss Anna Steadman was consumated in 1857. The following five children have been born of their union: Alice, Lizzie, Sarah, George H. and Frank. Mrs. Lyman is, like her husband, a native of Vermont, born among the green hills of Addison County, in the town of Starksboro, to Emanuel and Phebe (Hoag) Steadman.
Mr. Lyman's record during the war proved him to be a loyal and trustworthy citizen, and his career since those dark days has borne equal proof to that effect. He has the reputation of being an upright, straightforward, fair-dealing man, well endowed with intelligence, energy and thrift, and he and his wife enjoy pleasant social relations with their neighbors and other friends, whom they have won since they came to this city to make their home. Mr. Lyman was a charter member of Yates City Lodge No. 99, A. O. U. W.