PERCIE ANN CLARK

PERCIE ANN CLARK
from ANNALS OF IOWA
Pages 582-583

Thomas Lyman, who resided in an early day at Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa, died at his residence in Downer's Grove, Illinois, on the 6th day of July, at the age of 70 years. He was born in Vernon, Oneida County, N.Y., March 10, 1824, the son of Rev. Orange Lyman, who came West in 1839, and settled upon government land near Downer's Grove. When the family arrived at Chicago the total number of houses was but 450. In the winter of 1838-9 Thomas attended school at fort Dearborn, returning in the spring to his father's farm where he remained until 1843. He then went to Grandville, Mich., where he worked as a clerk in a store until 1847. On Dec 3 of that year he was married to Miss Percie A. Clark, of Andover, O., who survives him. he and his brother, Stephen D. Lyman, were engaged for two or three years in merchandising at Rockton, Ill. In 1851 he settled in Maquoketa, where he started a general store, continuing in business until 1857, when he returned to Chicago. Ten years later he settled in the beautiful village of Downer's Grove, which was his home until his death. He was largely engaged in the real estate business, and was almost continuously a land owner in Iowa. One of the most interesting episodes in Mr. Lyman's life was meeting with old John Brown while the latter was aiding slaves to escape from Southern bondage. Brown had several closely covered wagons, each of which contained fugitive slaves on their way to the land of freedom. Mr. Lyman was on horseback and overtook the strange cavalcade several miles west of Des Moines. He saw at a glance that the members of the party were well armed, and ready any moment to defend themselves. A conversation at once sprang up between him and Brown, from which the latter soon learned that he had nothing to fear from Mr. Lyman who was a strong ant- slavery man. Four or five miles west of the city Brown turned off southward, crossing the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers at fords where there was less likelihood of meeting spies or U.S. Marshals than on the direct route. An account of this affair was published in the Des Moines Register several years ago. Mr. Lyman was a born sportsman, and in the old days when birds were plenty, came every year to Iowa during the shooting season. He was an able, far-seeing business man, a most genial, estimable gentleman, highly intelligent, and a lover of books and work of arts. He was a noted breeder of Jersey cattle, and had kept a fine herd of these beautiful animals many years. He had made for himself an ideal home at Downer's Grove, distinguished for refinement, old-fashioned courtesy and generous hospitality.

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