Pioneers of Marion County by Wm. Wm. M. Donnel, 1872

Horace Lyman

Horace Lyman was born in New York, from whence he was moved to Kentucky when quite young. From there he went to Ohio, and from Ohio, to Van Buren county, Iowa, in 1839. From there, in company with Stanford Doud, he came to his county, in April 1843, and camped on Cedar, near what is still known as Haymaker's Mill, where he marked out a claim, built a bark shanty for a temporary shelter, and make his claim in due order on the first day of May. In the autumn following he sowed some wheat, and then, during the winter of 1844, in partnership with Doud and Haymaker, after which Doud sold his interest to Lyman and Haymaker.

It was not until sometime in '45 that Mr. Lyman succeeded in moving his family to his new home; and, during the time previous to this he was compelled to make frequent journeys to his old place in Van Buren county, for provisions, going on horseback, and carrying such equipage as was needed for camping out. As has been heretofore stated, the roads then were little better than Indian trails, and the streams unbridged; these journeys were attended with more or less danger, particularly during high waters. On one occasion, in attempting to ford a small stream called Soap Creek, the animal he was riding sank out of sight, forcing him to abandon it in the middle of the stream and struggle for his life. Encumbered as he was, Mr. L. scarcely hoped to escape drowning; but by such exertions as are made only when life is at stake, he reached the shore opposite where he had entered the stream. When the horse rose to the surface he spied his master and followed him. Alonzo Doud, who was in company with Mr. Lyman on this occasion, hesitated to enter any large stream till it should be proved safe to do so by Mr. L. going in advance. Fording Soap Creek was not safe, but Doud had either to go back alone or make the adventure. He chose the latter as the safer and succeeded even better than his companion.

Mr. Lyman now lives near the western border of Mahaska Co., to which place he moved in '64. He is now an extensive farmer and stock dealer.