Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
John S. Lyle
John S. Lyle, attorney at law, Richmond, Ind., was born in Virginia in 1821, a son of David and Margaret (Scott) Lyle, his father a native of Rockbridge County, Va., ot Scotch descent, and his mother a native of the north of Ireland. In 1823 David Lyle, with his wile and two children, removed to Richmond, Ind., where his wife died in 1835, and he subsequently married Anne, daughter of Jeremiah Cox, and still later moved to Randolph County, where he died in 1851. At the time of his death he was a Justice of the Peace, and was a prominent man of the county. He was a brick-layer and stone-mason, and helped to build the first brick school-house in Richmond, on the site of the present First Ward School.
Of his family but two are now living — John S. and William B., of Crawfordsville, Ind. John S. was reared in Richmond, receiving his education in the common schools. In 1854 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and re-elected in 1858. In 1862 he raised Company B, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, and was elected Captain, and soon after promoted to Major of the regiment; served three years and participated in many hard-fought battles. When a boy he entered the Palladium office to learn the trade of a printer. After serving out his apprenticeship he entered school. In 1841 he left school and went to work for Arnold Buffun, to print an Abolition paper at Newport. Two years later it was succeeded by the Free-Labor advocates. In 1842 he went to Philomath, Union County, Ind., to print a Universalist magazine for Jonathan Kidwell. From there he went to Cincinnati and worked in the Chronicle office. In 1844 he returned to Richmond. After his return from the war he was appointed Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, and served till 1879. In 1871 he was elected City Attorney and served four years. For the past four years he has been Justice of the Peace.
He was married in 1844 to Caroline Finley, youngest sister of the late Hon. John Finley. They have one son, now a resident of Minneapolis, Minn., and an adopted daughter, who married John S. Hunt, eldest son of Clayton Hunt, and who now resides in Minneapolis, Minn.
Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2