Hudson H. Lyon Biography, 1895

Brief Biography of Hudson H. Lyon

Written about 1895

 

The following is taken form the Weekly Gazette of East Hartford, Conn., and will be of great interest to residents of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] and vicinity:

  

At the head of the teaching corps in the schools of East Hartford--and there are twenty-eight in the corps--is Principal H.H. Lyon of the High School.  This fall Mr. Lyon entered on his third year in charge of that institution, one of the most successful and popular teachers ever connected with the school,  he stands as the representative in this town of his vocation.  This brief synopsis of the main points in his life is of interest to the public and to his scholars and former scholars and to all interested in the cause of education.

 

Hudson H. Lyon was born in Bainbridge, Chenango county, N.Y., February 1, 1857.  He is the oldest child of Horace and Mary M. Lyon of that town.  His father conducted a large dairy farm, on which our subject grew up to manhood, his environment emphasizing the qualities of prudence, thrift, industry and reliability which were his by heredity.

 

His schooling he received in District No. 5.  He was rounded out with four years in Bainbridge Union school.  On completing his course there he began the campaign of life, choosing teaching as his occupation.  From time to time he has taken private courses under leading instructors, among them Professor Davis of Harvard.  Last summer he attended the National Summer School of Methods at Glens Falls, N.Y.

 

My Lyon first taught in Guilford, N.Y., in the South Hill district school.  For sixteen years he taught in Chenango, Delaware and Broome counties and in other portions of Central New York.  Among the schools over which he presided were village schools in West Bainbridge, Coventryville, McDonough, Guilford, Masonville and Harpursville.  The one in Masonville was a union school and the one in Harpursville was during the second year placed under the charge of the Regents of the University of the State of New York.  In 1888 Mr. Lyon received a state certificate from the superintendent of public instruction, A.S. Draper.  In Masonville, Harpursville and Windsor he was in charge of teachers' examinations, representing the state department of public instruction.

 

In addition to his occupation of school teaching Mr. Lyon has engaged in several commercial undertakings.  He has raised large crops of berries and small fruits on his farm in Bainbridge.  In the West Bainbridge creamery he was junior partner.  His vacations have been devoted to these and similar interests.

 

In 1893 Mr. Lyon succeeded Mr. Ostrander as principal of the High School, coming from Harpursville at the opening of the school year.  Mr. Lyon teaches mathematics and sciences in the school.  In them he has particular success.

 

Mr. Lyon has also taken an active interest in discharging the duties of a good citizen in regard to politics.  He acted as inspector of elections in Bainbridge for nine years prior to 1893, representing the Republican party.  In 1884 he was collector of taxes in his native town.  For the following three years he was excise commissioner.  In 1886 licenses were refused to all saloon keepers applying.  For some years Mr. Lyon was one of the trio composing the Republican town committee in Bainbridge.  He has acted as delegate in district and county conventions.  In 1891 he was one of the seven delegates representing Chenango county, which has a population of 45,000, in the Republican state convention  This placed J. Aloat Fassett in nomination for governor and John W. Vrooman for lieutenant governor.  For two years he was president of the East Hartford Teachers' association. 

 

[Comment:  Hudson H. Lyon, 1857 - 1950, was a former Bainbridge historian who made many contributions to the preservation of Bainbridge history]