Owen P. Lyons (November 11, 1849 – 1933)New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906 was an American politician from Vinalhaven, Maine.
Life He was the son of John (1823–1862) and Bridget (1826–1901) Lyons.J. Gary Nichols Cemetery Collection, John Lyons He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, immigrated to Vinalhaven in 1867, and became an American citizen in 1874.
He was a professional stonecutter and jeweler. He was the director of the Vinalhaven's first band, the Vinalhaven Cornet Band, in 1870, and continued in that role for over thirty years. He founded Vinalhaven's first newspaper, The Wind, in 1884.Vinalhaven IslandMaine Register Or State Year-book and Legislative Manual, 1900About The Wind. (Vinalhaven, Me.) 1884-1884
He lost the 1886 state representative election to his brother, Thomas J. Lyons, by one vote. He was the only Democrat elected to the Maine Senate in 1892.Maine's Democratic Senator, The New York Times He resigned from that office in 1893,Maine register, state year-book and legislative manual - 1893-1894, p. 151 having received a recess appointment as postmaster of Vinalhaven by President Grover Cleveland on March 30, 1893. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 13, 1894, and served in that position until September 18, 1897.Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate, Volume 29, Issue 2Knox County postal history
Lyons served as a selectman for Vinalhaven from 1884 until 1886 and again from 1899 until 1902.A brief historical sketch of the town of Vinalhaven, from its earliest known settlementMaine Register Or State Year-book and Legislative Manual, 1899Annual report of the municipal officers of the town of Vinalhaven, 1902 He served as town clerk of Vinalhaven from 1889 until 1927. As of 1896, he was the Chief Engineer of the Vinalhaven Fire Department.Annual report of the municipal officers of the town of Vinalhaven, 1896 He continued serving in the fire department through 1907.Annual report of the municipal officers of the town of Vinalhaven, 1907 He served as one of Knox County's three commissioners from 1905 until 1910.Historical Listing of County Commissioners for the County of Knox
He was buried in St. James Cemetery in Thomaston, Maine.J. Gary Nichols Cemetery Collection, Owen Lyons
References