James Jerome Lyon was born in West Pembroke, New York, on July 27, 1837. He enlisted in Company B, 1st Michigan Infantry on April 29, 1861, at Jackson, Michigan, and was mustered into service on June 4, 1861; he was mustered out at the end of his 90-day enlistment on August 7, 1861, at Detroit, having participated in the Battle of First Bull Run on July 21, 1861.

Lyon enlisted in Company H, 24th Missouri Infantry on October 9, 1861, in Leslie, Michigan, as the company’s first sergeant. He was promoted to first lieutenant on December 1, 1861.

Lyon was commissioned a captain on July 16, 1862, and assigned as company commander of Company H, 24th Missouri Infantry. On September 29, 1864, he was promoted to major, and on December 28, 1864, he was transferred to the 21st Missouri Infantry.

The 24th Missouri was involved in the battles of Pea Ridge, Pleasant Hill, Tupelo, Franklin, and Nashville, although for most of 1863 Lyon was on detached duty in St. Louis, and for most of 1864 and 1865 he served on the staff of Major General Andrew J. Smith.

Lyon was promoted to lieutenant colonel on April 20, 1865; he was promoted to colonel and regimental commander of the 21st Missouri Infantry on August 17, 1865.

Colonel Lyon and the 21st Missouri Infantry were mustered out on April 19, 1866. He lived in various locations following the war, including the Montana Territory and San Francisco, California, and died on February 24, 1913, in the California Veterans Home in Napa County, California.

Carte-de-Visite by Unknown Photographer

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 11656