My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES B. LYMAN, who has been identified with the agricultural interests of this section of Hampshire County for many years, is a native of Chester, Hampden County, born October 22, 1828, son of Colonel Samuel and Miriam S. (Tinker) Lyman.

Colonel Samuel Lyman was born in Chester, May 21, 1787, and was there brought up on a farm. He was prominent in military affairs, and in the closing years of the War of 1812 spent some time encamped in South Boston, having been a member of the regiment commanded by Colonel Enos Foote. He was not engaged in any battle; but after his return home, having continued his membership in the home militia, he was made Colonel of the Fourth Regiment, First Brigade, of the Fourth Division of the Massachusetts militia. He was a man of deep religious convictions and a Deacon in the Congregational church of his native town for a score of years. In 1842 the Colonel removed to Southampton, and was here closely connected with the active work of the church during his remaining years. He attained a venerable age, his death occurring December 8, 1876. He was twice married. His first wife, Miriam S. Tinker before marriage, whom he wedded October 26, 1809, was a native of Chester. After her death Colonel Lyman married Julia Barnes Marble, and the record of all the children, except Charles B. Lyman, is as follows: Harriet, born October 10, 1810, died August 18, 1860. On November 6, 1833, she married Garry Munson, of Chester, by whom she had seven children: Myron, Edward, Wilson H. and Willard H. (twins), Samuel, Emma (deceased), and Cleora. Stephen Lyman, born December 24, 1811, was a grocer and railway agent in Southampton, where his death occurred in 1891. He married Julia S. Searle, of that town, and their children were: Martha L., born December 8, 1838; Harriet E., born December 14, 1843, who died September 3, 1844; Harriet B., born February 12, 1846; Stephen W., born October 10, 1850; and Frederic B., born December 3, 1853. Miriam B. Lyman, married November 27, 1845, to Francis A. Strong, now a miller and dealer in flour in Ripon, Wis., has four children: Eunice L., born March 14, 1849; Louis H., born April 25, 1852; Sarah E., born October 20, 1854, who died July 5, 1865; and Abbie A., born June 22, 1856. Rufus Lyman, a carpenter by trade, was married October 9, 1849, to Sarah A. Bartlett, who bore him three children: an unnamed daughter, born March 26, 1854, who lived but two days; Clarence M., born March 2, 1859; and Herbert B., born March 15, 1863. Samuel T., for many years Postmaster, express agent, and merchant in Huntington, and married April 17, 1849, to Augusta N. Kirkland, had six children, namely: Charles P., born December 29, 1851; Ella A. and Emma, twins, born March 19, 1854, who died in infancy; Eugene H., born February 1, 1857; Cassius S., born March 2, 1860; and Robert H., born March 3, 1864. Emma S. Lyman was married September 14, 1848, to Samuel N. Coleman, a farmer, and their children were: Frank B., born in September, 1849; Emerson N., born July 26, 1851; Carrie M., born June 30, 1853, who died September 16, 1885; and Ellen J., born August 16, 1855. Myra E. Lyman, born July 27, 1833, married Solomon Richards December 30, 1858, and their children were: George L.; and Solomon and Myra, born June 1, 1863.

Charles B. Lyman received an excellent common-school education in the place of his nativity. As soon as he was old enough he began to assist in the manual labor of the farm, becoming thoroughly familiar with agriculture in his early days. After reaching his majority, he continued on the home farm, to the ownership of which he finally succeeded. His mother having died in 1847, he cared for his father during his declining years. In addition to general farming, he has made a specialty of dairying and gardening, shipping butter, vegetables, chickens, and eggs to Springfield. Both he and his father have shipped their produce to that city for fifty-three years. Their goods are ever in demand, and bring the highest market price, their superiority being well recognized. In local affairs Mr. Lyman has always taken an active and intelligent interest. He has been Selectman four years, and is at present chairman of the School Committee. He is a zealous advocate of Republican principles, and uniformly casts his vote with that party. He is a member of the Franklin Harvest Club, having united with it twelve years ago. He was President of the Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden Agricultural Society, and is now a member of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. He and his family are connected by membership with the Congregational church, in which he is a useful worker, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school for several years.

On May 8, 1851, Mr. Lyman was united in marriage with Angeline Avery, who was born October 29, 1829, a daughter of Richard Avery, of this town. Three children have been born to them, of whom one. Flora A., born June 10, 1863, died March 25, 1864. Their son Arthur W. is engaged in market gardening adjoining his father’s farm. He married Anna S. Munson, and they have two children: Flora M., born on September 18, 1882; and Mary A., born on February 24, 1886. The other son, Charles L., born May 11, 1865, a farmer, living with his parents, married Etta F. Ranger, December 1, 1890; and they are the parents of one child, Harold L., born October 17, 1893.