An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., 
The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 407-408

	PATRICK LYONS, one of Walla Walla's leading farmers and early pioneers, was
born in Ireland on the first day of January, 1835. He is the second of eight
children born to Michael and Bridget (Burke) Lyons, natives of Ireland. The
father died in 1882, aged seventy years, his wife surviving him until 1885, when
she died, aged seventy years. Until he attained his majority our subject
remained in his native land, but at that time he emigrated to Australia, to
endeavor to obtain a fortune in the mining regions of that country, leaving his
birthplace in 1856. During the eleven years that he remained in Australia he
made some money, but misfortune finally overtook him, causing him to lose all he
had accumulated, and he returned to Ireland, richer in experience, but not in
pocket. After three years spent in Ireland he decided to try his fortune again,
selecting America this time as his field of operation. Therefere, in 1869, he
embarked for the new country, landing in New York city. Here he secured passage
for San Francisco, via the Isthmus. He only remained in California a few days,
as he had decided to settle in Washington Territory. In the spring of 1870 he
located in Walla Walla county, and at once took up a claim of 160 acres of land
within eight miles of Walla Walla, on Mill creek, where he now has a farm of
2,000 acres of as fine land as can be found in the county, about 1,700 acres of
which is in a fine state of cultivation. On this land he has a good residence
and large barn, situated on the banks of the pretty little stream that flows
through his property. A good orchard and all the necessary outbuildings are also
found here, while everything is in a most excellent condition. When he purchased
his present farm he paid $30 per acre for it; now it is worth $60 per acre.
Besides his farming interests he owns in Walla Walla, on Dr. Newell street, a
fine residence, for which he paid $5,000. Here he resides during the winter in
order to obtain educational advantages for his children. All of his large farm
is under his personal supervision, and he raises an average of 25,000 bushels of
grain annually, and also raises all the stock necessary to carry on so large a
farm. It is very convenient for him to dispose of his grain, as the narrow-gauge
road passes very near his place; and as its purpose is to transport the grain of
his neighborhood to the large cities, Mr. Lyons is spared the trouble of hauling
it himself.
	Mr. Lyons was married in 1866, to Miss Frances Fahaly, a native of Ireland,
with whom he became acquainted in Australia, and there married. Since their
marriage Mr. Lyons has always found her a willing and efficient helpmate for him
in the accumulation of the large fortune he now possesses. Eleven children have
blessed their union, namely: Anna; Dalie, wife of J. P. Kent; John, Mary,
Thomas, Frances, Katie, Terasa, Joseph, Ned, and Grace, -- all at home except
the married daughter, who is living in Walla Walla. Mr. Lyons has been very
successful in his business ventures, although when he landed in California his
cash capital was represented by about $1,000. Now he counts his wealth by the
thousands.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.