There is documentation to show that the Richard Brown LYON (b. 1846, MI) who married Alice WATSON in Ontario, Canada, was the son of William & Nancy (CAHOON) LYON, and that this Richard had a son, Ray Richard LYON, from a prior marriage to an "Adelaide," and that he is the Richard B. LYON in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses of Kent Co., MI, in the 1880 census of Osceola Co., MI, and the 1901, 1911, and 1921 censuses of Ontario, Canada.

There is documentation showing that an R.B. LYON (b. 1840 — see age on marriage record) married and divorced Henrietta STURGIS in Kansas, then "ran off" with Martha LOCKWOOD, had two children with her in Minnesota, then disappeared.  Both Henrietta and Martha claimed to be widows in the 1900 census. 

What I cannot find is anything to document that the man in Michigan and Canada (b. 1846) is the same man as the one in Kansas and Minnesota (b. 1840).

Secondary sources claim they are the same man and have naratives describing this man's life, especially the period between 1880 and 1900 when we have no census (the lost 1890 census would probably resolve the issue).  Without those stories, the credibility of which is unknown to me, I wouldn't even begin to consider that these records belong to one man.  If you believe they are one and the same, please share the evidence.

My dog in this fight is that I'm the administrator of the LFA Lyon(s) DNA project, and a male LYON descendant of Martha Bell's son, Ulysses Clair LYON, has been Y-DNA tested, so his test results have major significance for this line of LYONs (see #29716 in the results table).  I am temporarily rejecting the alleged connection because a solidly documented line is needed here — as it is for all Y-DNA test subjects.  We really do need a certain identification for Ulysses's father.

Tentatively, this Henrietta STURGIS —
Birth:  9 Sep 1840, Sturgis, St. Joseph Co., MI
Death:  5 Mar 1927, Grand Rapids, Kent Co., MI
Occupation:  homemaker
Father:  John STURGIS
Mother:  Ardillacy MILLER

Most secondary sources leave Henrietta's parents unidentified.  I have connected her, here, based on strong circumstantial evidence (see below).  She "fits the bill" perfectly, and no other Henrietta STURGIS comes close.  Both her parents died in the 1870s, so that's when their children dispersed.  What we need, now, is an obit or something similar that mentions her one-and-only ex-husband was — or was not(!) — R.B. LYON.

Note:  This Henrietta STURGIS is being mixed up with the Henrietta STURGIS (1836->1900) who was born in, lived in, and died in Worcester Co., MD.  These are two decidedly different women.

Martha's mother died shortly after she was born, and she must have been given to another family to raise because I do not find her with her father in the 1870 or 1880 censuses, nor anywhere else under her birth name.  Her parents names are given on her marriage record to Isaac WELTY, so we know who they are, and Martha is listed next to her widowed father in the 1900 census.

— born in Evart Twp., Osceola Co., MI:
4.  Ray Richard LYON, b. 16 Mar 1876 
5.  Jessie Adelaide LYON, b. 1881, Evart Twp., Kent Co., MI

1a.  Kansas Marriages, 1840-1935 (online at familysearch.org):

Name	R B Lyon
Age	47
Spouse's Name	Henrietta Sturgis
Age	47
Event Date	27 Sep 1887
Event Place	Independence, Montgomery, KS
GS Film Number	1404632
Reference ID	216

Our subject is only 41 years old at this point.

1b.  Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928:  Schedule B Marriages: District of Rainy River, pp. 533-534 (online at Ancestry.com; Image #11 of 50):
The image of the second page (right half of this table) is missing at Ancestry, but obviously must exist because they've indexed the date (blue font).

NAMES OF PARTIES

AGE

RESIDENCE WHEN MARRIED

PLACE OF BIRTH

Bachelor Widower Spinster Widow

OCCUPATION OR PROFESSION

NAMES OF PARENTS | FATHER—F. | MOTHER—M. N.B.—Always give Maiden Name of Mother.

NAMES OF WITNESSES

RESIDENCE OF WITNESSES

DATE AND PLACE OF MARRIAGE

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION

BY WHOM MARRIED

License or Bans (L. or B.)

DATE OF REGISTRATION

Groom. Lyons Robert Brown

53

Emo Ont

Michigan

Widdower

Farmer

Wm Lyons

F.

9

Nov

1904

Nancy Cahoon

M.

Bride. Watson Alice Matilda

37

West Superior

Jamaica, W.E.

David Watson

F.

Elizabeth Matheson

M.

2.  1850 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):
Richard B. LYON (æ 4, b. MI) is living in the Town of Lowell, Kent Co., MI, with his parents (q.v.).
Martha A[delaide] BROWN (æ 8, b. NY) is living in Norwich, Chenango Co., NY (pp. 200B-201A), with her parents, Wm. H. BROWN (æ 36, b. NY) and Emily A. (æ 31, b. NY), et al.
Henrietta STURGIS (æ 9, b. MI) is living in Sturgis, St. Joseph Co., MI, with her parents (q.v.)

3.  1860 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):
Richard LYON (æ 14, b. MI) is living in the Town of Lowell, Kent Co., MI, with his parents (q.v.)
Can't find Martha Adelaide BROWN or her father.
Henrietta STURGIS (æ 19, b. MI) is living in Sturgis, St. Joseph Co., MI, with her parents (q.v.).

4a.  1870 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #34 of 78):  Lowell P.O., Lowell, Kent Co., MI, Roll M593_682, p. 456B, PN 34, 270/272, enumerated 28 Jul 1870, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1870 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

Lyon Richard	25	M	W	Farmer		300	Michigan
____ Addie	28	F	W	Keeping House			New York
____ Charly?	2	M	W				Michigan
____ Joseph	4/12	M	W				"			Feb

4b.  1870 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):
Henrietta STURGES (æ 29, b. MI) is living in Sturgis Twp., St. Joseph Co., MI, with her parents (q.v.).
Can't find Martha Bell LOCKWOOD.

5a.  1880 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #1 of 23):  Evart Twp., Osceola Co., MI, Roll 600, p. 158A, PN 2, SD 2, ED 226, enumerated 3 Jun 1880, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1880 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

1880:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

9

10

13

21

22

23

24

25

26

22

22

Lyon Richard B

W

M

35

/

Farmer

MI

NY

NY

"  Adelaide

W

F

38

Wife

/

Keeps House

NY

NY

NY

"  Charley W

W

M

12

Son

/

MI

MI

NY

"  Floid B

W

M

7

Son

/

/

"

"

"

"  Ray R

W

M

4

Son

/

/

/

"

"

"

5b.  1880 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):  can't find Henrietta STURGIS or Martha Bell LOCKWOOD.

6.  1885 Kansas State Census Every-Name-Index/Images.  Kansas State Historical Society (online at Ancestry.com):  not found.

7.  1890 U.S. Census:  the 1890 Census Population Schedules were destroyed.

8  1895 Kansas State Census Every-Name-Index/Images.  Kansas State Historical Society (online at Ancestry.com):  not found.

9a.  1900 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #3 of 16):  Rose Twp., Payne Co., OK, Roll 1341, p. 179A, SN 13, SD 9, ED 189, enumerated 23 Jun 1900, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1900 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

1900:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	11	12	13	14	15	19	20	21	22	23	24	27
217	224	Lyons Mattie B	Head	W	F	Jun 1870	29	wd	2	2	IA	VT	IN	Farm Laborer	0		Y	Y	Y	H
		_____ Clair U	Son	W	M	Apr 1893	7	S			MN	MI	IA	At School		5
		_____ Violet	Dau	W	F	Dec 1895	4	S			MN	MI	IA

Listed next to Martha's widowed father, Jacob LOCKWOOD (æ 77, b. Aug 1822, VT).

9b.  1900 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):  Henrietta STURGIS (æ 59, b. Sep 1840, MI/PA/NY; nurse) is living in Sturgis, St. Joseph Co., MI (p. 213A), with a sister-in-law.  She is describing herself as a widow with 0/0 children.  Typically, widows do not go by their maiden name, which suggests this woman is, indeed, R.B. LYON's ex-wife, who was known in the divorce proceedings to have returned to her maiden name.

10.  1901 Canadian Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #5 of 14):  Emo, Algoma Dist., ON, p. 5, enumerated 19 Apr 1901, official enumeration date 31 Mar 1901 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

1901:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Canadian Census Mean.(missing columns contained no data).
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	14	15	16	17	20	29	30	31	33
59	59	Lyons R B	M	W	Dom	W	Jan 18	1846	54	USA	1897	Eng	American	Free Thinker	Farm lab?	/	/	/	/	Eng

Boarding w/SNYDER brothers.

11a.  1910 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #10 of 22):  Valley Road, Soldier's Home Pct., Ada Co., ID, Roll T624_221 (Book 2), p. 6A, SN 6A, SD 46, ED 21, enumerated 20 Apr 1910, official enumeration date 15 Apr 1910 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤(•)

1910:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28
7	7	Welty Isaac	Head	M	W	66	M1	9			OH	un	un	Eng	Farmer		OA	N	0	Y	Y		O	M	F
		_____ Martha	Wife	F	W	41	M2	9	3	3	IA	VT	OH	Eng	None					Y	Y
		_____ Bessie	Dau	F	W	8					OK	OH	IA		None					Y	Y	Y
		Lyon Clair	Son	M	W	17					MN	MI	IA	Eng	Farmer	farm	W	N	0	Y	Y

Clair LYON is Isaac WELTY's stepson, not his son.

11b.  1910 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):  Henrietta STURGES (æ 70, b. MI/PA/NY) is living in Mattoon City, Coles Co., IL (p. 213A), with a married niece and her family, which includes their son, Robert McLAUGHIN (æ 2, b. IL).  Henrietta is wrongly called "mother-in-law" to her niece's husband, wrongly labeled, "widow," and wrongly given children 1/1. 

12.  1911 Canadian Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #8 of 9):  Kingsford Twp., Rainy River Dist., ON, p. 8, enumerated 14-15 Jun 1911, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1911 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

1911:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Canadian Census Mean (missing columns contained no data).
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	21	34	35	36
10	10	Lyons Robert B	Kingsford	M	Head	M	Jan	1846	65	U.S.A.	1901	?	English	Canadian	Anglican	Farmer	0-0-00	Y	Y	Y	E
		"   Alice		F	Wife	M	June	1867	49	W india	1904	?	English	Canadian	Anglican	none	NG		Y	Y	E

Listed next to Robert's son, Ray LYONS.

13.  1920 U.S. Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):  Henrietta STURGIS (æ 79, b. MI/PA/NY; single) is living in Sturgis, St. Joseph Co., MI (p. 173A), with an unmarried niece and her nephew (Henrietta's grandnephew), Robert McLAUGHLIN (æ 11, b. IL).  Robert's son, Ray, is in Ohio.

14.  1921 Canadian Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #9 of 10):  Dist. 79, Sub-Dist., 22, Carpenter, Kingsford, and Fleming Twps., Ft. William and Rainy River Dists., ON, p. 8:, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1921 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤•

1921 SHORT FORM :  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Canadian Census Mean (missing columns contained no data, were indecipherable, or were not genealogically relevant).
1	2	3	4	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	25	29
80	81	Lyons Robert	Kingsford	Head	M	M	75	USA	USA	USA	1896	1921	Canada	English?	Meth	Farmer
		"   Alice	"	Wife	F	M	52	West Indies	West Indies	West Indies	1884		Canada	Scot?	Meth	none
		Green Elevlyn?	"	Lodger	F	S	20	Ont	Ont	Ont			Canada	?	Presb	?

.  Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952 (online at FamilySearch.org):

Name	-	Henrietta Sturgis	-	-	-	-	-
Event Date	-	05 Mar 1927	-	-	-	-	-
Event Place	-	Grand Rapids, Kent, MI	-	-	-	-	-
Gender | Age	-	Female | 86	-	-	-	-	-
Marital Status	-	Divorced	-	-	-	-	-
Birth Date	-	09 Sep 1840	-	-	-	-	-
Birthplace	-	Sturgis, MI	-	-	-	-	-
Father's Name	-	John Sturgis	-	-	-	-	-
Mother's Name	-	Ardillacy Miller	-	-	-	-	-
GS Film Number	-	1972819	-	-	-	-	-

-

.  Find-a-Grave: Entries (online at findagrave.com):

Name	Robert B Lyons	-
Birth	14 Jan 1846 Lowell, Kent Co., MI	-
Death	4 Jul 1924 Conneaut, Ashtablua Co., OH	-
Burial	Glenwood Cemetery, Conneaut, Ashtabula Co., OH	-
Inscription	[grave unmarked]	-
Father	-	-
Mother	-	-
Spouse	-	-
-	-	-
-	-	-
Memorial #	86118867	-

-
 

.  LDS.  Family Search: Internet Genealogy Service: IGI - International Genealogical Index (online at FamilySearch.org).

Richard Brown LYON Birth: 14 Jan 1846, Lowell, Kent, Michigan Death: 20 Sep 1882, Evart, Osceola, Michigan Marriage: 1866, Kent, Michigan Spouse: Martha Adelaide BROWN Birth: 08 Jul 1849, Norwich, Chenango, New York Death: 20 Sep 1882, Evart, Osceola, Michigan Child: Charles LYON Birth: 1868, Bowne, Kent, Michigan Source: patron submissions

 

.  Public Member Trees (online at Ancestry.com).

A contributor states that in a divorce proceeding filed 8 Aug 1890 in Neodesha, Wilson Co., KS, Henrietta states her husband, Richard, deserted her and left with a Mattie LOCKWOOD.

Another contributor states that on 10 Jul 1893, John INGALSBE is appointed guardian of Ray LYON "after his mother's death and his father leaves."  His mother died in 1882, so the implication here is that it was abandonment(?) by his father that prompted appointment of a guardian.

It would be very helpful if the people who obtain these records would share transcriptions, better yet scans, of them.

.  Lyon(s) Families Association of America: Database (on CD as of 22 Feb 2010; these are member submissions).

.  WorldConnect / WorldTree (online at RootsWeb.com/Ancestry.com).