Brief guide to manuscripts collections| William L. Clements Library The University of Michigan Lucius Lyon Papers |
Lucius Lyon was born near Burlington, Vt., trained as a civil engineer, and in 1821 went to Michigan to survey public lands. the 1833 territorial Democratic convention elected Lyon its representative in Congress. He served in the state constitutional convention in 1835 and was elected the first United States senator from Michigan. Before he could take his seat, however, he had to work for the adjustment of the boundary with Ohio and the admission of Michigan to the Union. Largely by his efforts the upper peninsula was made a part of Michigan. Lyon did not seek reelection and refused nomination for governor. He did accept the appointment of surveyor general for Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan in 1845 and retained this office until 1850.
Lyon owned extensive tracts of land in Michigan and Wisconsin. Throughout his life he was interested in a variety of internal improvements: Detroit water works; Galena, Ill., lead mines; the improvement of St. Joseph Harbor; silk culture, canals, railroads, and banks. He pioneered in sinking salt wells near Grand Rapids and in raising sugar beets on one of his farms. He was also informed on new agricultural methods, educational movements, Swedenborgianism, Indian affairs, and lumbering.
Public correspondence of Lucius Lyon, United States representative and senator from Michigan, surveyor general for Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
In this collection of more than 8,000 letters, Lyon's correspondents are mainly residents of Michigan, Wisconsin, northern Illionois, and Indiana, and certain easterners interested in land speculation, settlement, and Michigan politics. There is some correspondence with national Democratic Party leaders during the years Lyon was in Congress.
Gift of Mrs. James H. Campbell, 1925
| Homepage | Manuscripts | Collections | Staff | Hours and policies |
|---|