LYONS, M. J.

LYONS, BUTTERBAUGH, HOTY, HERRICK, COULEY, DUNBAR, MADSEN, HAYDEN, PROSIVOCK, PAULSON

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 3/13/2021 at 23:03:10

M. J. Lyons, proprietor of the Ideal Steam Laundry at Mason City, Iowa, has been engaged in this plant as manager for sixteen years, the last three years of this time being proprietor also. This laundry was established, in 1893, by Butterbaugh & Hoyt. Later, for a time, Mr. Hoyt conducted it alone; then sold an interest to L. P. Herrick, and the firm name became Hoyt & Herrick. Three years later Mr. Hoyt bought his partner's interest, and ran the business alone until December 10, 1906, when Mr. Lyons purchased the plant. It is equipped with the latest and most improved machinery, employs thirty-five to forty hands, and besides handling business for this section of Iowa, receives work from points in Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The capacity of the plant is about $1,000 worth of work per week.

Mr. Lyons was born in Mason City, Iowa, June 25, 1876, and was reared and educated here. At the early age of thirteen he became a wage worker, at the rate of one dollar per week, and from that small beginning worked his way up to the position he now occupies, that of proprietor of a prosperous concern.

Mr. Lyons’ parents, Patrick and Susan (Couley) Lyons, were early residents of Mason City, where his father died, about 1877, in the prime of young manhood. His mother subsequently became the wife of William Dunbar, a shoemaker of Mason City, now deceased. Mrs. Dunbar is still living here, her home being 510 East Seventh street. She has been a resident of this place since shortly after the Civil war, when she came here with her parents. The subject of this sketch is her only child by Mr. Lyons. By her second marriage she has six children, namely: Mrs. H. B. Madsen, Mrs. Charles Hayden, Mrs. Jack Prosivock, William, John and Mabel, all of Mason City.

Mr. Lyons is married and has a family of four children: Ammirta, Clifton, Wilmer and Laurine. Mrs. Lyons, formerly Miss Anna Paulson, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. K. C. Paulson, her father being a retired farmer and pioneer of Cerro Gordo county. Fraternally, Mr. Lyons is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Source: WHEELER, J. H. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Lewis Publ. Co. Chicago. 1910. Transcribed by Jennifer Gunderson (Mar 2021)