Joseph Lyman
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lyman was a Civil War
soldier, lawyer, and judge. In the 1880s, he was a two-term Republican
U.S. Representative from Iowa's 9th congressional district
in southwestern Iowa.
, in Ionia County
. After he attended the common schools in Ohio, he moved to Big Grove (later named Oakland
), Iowa, in 1857. He then attended Iowa College (later named Grinnell College
), in Grinnell, Iowa
.
After the outbreak of the Civil War in 1961, Lyman enlisted in the Union Army
. He initially served in Company E of the 4th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry
. He later served as an adjutant of the 29th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
, from October 19, 1862, to February 21, 1865, including service during 1864 as aide de camp and Inspector General on the staff of Brig. Gen. Samuel Allen Rice
. He was a major of the same regiment and aide de camp and acting assistant adjutant general on the staff of Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele
from February 21, 1865, to August 10, 1865.
After the war, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1866, and commenced practice in Council Bluffs, Iowa
. He initially served as deputy collector of internal revenue of the fifth district of Iowa, from 1867 to 1870. Later in his legal career, he became a judge of the circuit court in 1884.
In 1884, he was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
from Iowa's 9th congressional district, and served in the Forty-ninth U.S. Congress. Two years later, he was re-elected to a second term (in the Fiftieth U.S. Congress). However, he declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1888. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1889.
Lyman resumed the practice of law in Council Bluffs, where he died of paralysis, after a long period of sickness. He was interred in Fairview Cemetery.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
soldier, lawyer, and judge. In the 1880s, he was a two-term Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Representative from Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa’s 9th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1943. The district was configured four times, first as part of a nine-district plan, then twice in eleven-district plans, then again in a nine-district plan...
in southwestern Iowa.
Biography
Lyman was born in Lyons, MichiganLyons, Michigan
Lyons is a village in Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 726 at the 2000 census. Most of the village is within Lyons Township. A small portion extends west into Ionia Township.- Geography :...
, in Ionia County
Ionia County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
. After he attended the common schools in Ohio, he moved to Big Grove (later named Oakland
Oakland, Iowa
Oakland is a city located along the West Nishnabotna River in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,487. Formerly named Big Grove, Oakland is home to Nishna Heritage Museum...
), Iowa, in 1857. He then attended Iowa College (later named Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
), in Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,218 at the 2010 census. Grinnell was named after Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and is the home of Grinnell College.- History :...
.
After the outbreak of the Civil War in 1961, Lyman enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. He initially served in Company E of the 4th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry
4th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry
The 4th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 4th Iowa Cavalry was organized at Camp Harlan in Mount Pleasant, Iowa beginning in September 1861, and mustered in for three years service under the command of...
. He later served as an adjutant of the 29th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
29th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 29th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 29th Iowa Infantry was organized at Council Bluffs, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on December 1, 1862.The regiment was mustered out...
, from October 19, 1862, to February 21, 1865, including service during 1864 as aide de camp and Inspector General on the staff of Brig. Gen. Samuel Allen Rice
Samuel Allen Rice
Samuel Allen Rice was born in Cattaraugus, New York. He lived in Mahaska County, Iowa where he practiced law, was county attorney, and state attorney general . In the American Civil War, he was a colonel in the 33rd regiment of Iowa...
. He was a major of the same regiment and aide de camp and acting assistant adjutant general on the staff of Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele
Frederick Steele
Frederick Steele was a career military officer in the United States Army, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his successful campaign to retake much of secessionist Arkansas for the Union cause.-Early life:Steele was born in Delhi, New...
from February 21, 1865, to August 10, 1865.
After the war, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1866, and commenced practice in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
. He initially served as deputy collector of internal revenue of the fifth district of Iowa, from 1867 to 1870. Later in his legal career, he became a judge of the circuit court in 1884.
In 1884, he was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 9th congressional district, and served in the Forty-ninth U.S. Congress. Two years later, he was re-elected to a second term (in the Fiftieth U.S. Congress). However, he declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1888. In all, he served in Congress from March 4, 1885 to March 3, 1889.
Lyman resumed the practice of law in Council Bluffs, where he died of paralysis, after a long period of sickness. He was interred in Fairview Cemetery.