Comments on: Elijah Wilson Lyon and The Progressive Tradition among the Lyon Family of Southeast Mississippi http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/elijah-wilson-lyon-and-the-progressive-tradition-among-the-lyon-family-of-southeast-mississippi/ histories of unconventional southerners Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:45:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: renegadesouth http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/elijah-wilson-lyon-and-the-progressive-tradition-among-the-lyon-family-of-southeast-mississippi/#comment-6972 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:20:01 +0000 http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/?p=1950#comment-6972 The following comment from Judi Robertson was originally added to my post, “Why I Wrote the Free State of Jones.” I have re-posted it here for those interested in the Elijah W. Lyon family.

Vikki

Thanks for this blog! I’m a great grand daughter of Rufus U. Lyon, youngest son of Nicholas Lyon. I’ve been researching Elijah W. Lyon today to get his conflicting Civil War story straight. All the comments on your blog are very helpful and I will follow up by reading your book. Elijah W. Lyon enlisted in the 27th Regiment of the Mississippi Infantry Co H CSA. He was captured and sent to Camp Chase Ohio. On 3rd June 1863 he enlisted in Co F 11th Ohil Cavalry, a unit of 36 Union soldiers and 67 CSA POWs. His subsequent service with this unit was on the Overland Trail into Dakota Territory. Family stories indicate that he arrived home in Jasper County MS in chains. Some records indicate that he was a medical doctor, not a dentist. He did not invent Dr. Lyons toothpowder; that was the invention of Dr.Israel Whitney Lyon of Needham MA 1827-1907, who made a fortune from this product.

If you ever visit Jasper Co, do stop at Evergreen/Ebenezer Cemetery to the west of Heidelberg. It is on Co Rd 8 in Barton Green’s pasture. This was the cemetery for Ebenezer Baptist Church, rebuilt closer to town on HWY8. The little cemetery is lovely with wildflowers among the graves. Google it! Elijah’s grave always has a US flag so someone still knows about him. His son Rufus ordered his stone from the US govt in the 1930′s. And by the way, Nicholas Lyon was killed by Indians as he rode by the old Ebenezer church in 1858. Again, thanks for opening some new avenues of research.

Judi Robertson

]]> By: renegadesouth http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/elijah-wilson-lyon-and-the-progressive-tradition-among-the-lyon-family-of-southeast-mississippi/#comment-2204 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:36:09 +0000 http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/?p=1950#comment-2204 Thanks, Vikky. glad you like the post!

Your grandpa sounds like he fits right in with some of the Southerners who appear on Renegade South! (What is NB?)

Thanks for pointing out that I didn’t identify the California location of Poma College. I’ve corrected that.

There must be a connection SOMEWHERE between your Welborns and those who came to Jones county. We just haven’t found it yet.

Vikki

]]> By: Vikky Anders http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/elijah-wilson-lyon-and-the-progressive-tradition-among-the-lyon-family-of-southeast-mississippi/#comment-2203 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:24:09 +0000 http://renegadesouth.wordpress.com/?p=1950#comment-2203 Vikki,

I so love your blog! Enjoy the various comments and additional information posted by your readers. Only sorry that I don’t have any old MS family stories to contribute.
(My grandpa, Burton Bell Gentry 1892-1962) was born in NB and relocated with his family to Long Beach CA in 1900. He later became a blue collar Socialist via the Wobblie movement. Does this count? Probably not.

About Elijah Wilson Lyon and Pomona College. Sorry if this is a dumb question. (Can’t help it. All part of my DNA) But is this the Pomona College which is located in Southern CA?

Thanks for your time.

Vikky (Wilburn) Anders in San Diego. (Not related to the Welborns noted in your books. Different emigrant line. The Welborns noted in your book (reportedly) share a consanguineous relationship with President Barack Obama.

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