Orange Lyman
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Reverend Orange Lyman was born in Tolland, Connecticut July 26, 1780, being the son of David and Mary Brown Lyman. Mary Brown was a relative of John Brown of Harper’s Ferry fame. David Lyman was a Revolutionary soldier descended from French Huguenots. The first Lyman to come to America was Richard Lyman. Richard sailed to America in 1631, on the ship named the Lion.
Rev. Lyman graduated from Williams College. In 1814 he married Miss Marcia Dewey. She came from an old English family. Lyman preached in New York State and Ohio before he came to Illinois in 1838. One year later he settled in Downers Grove, Illinois. He was one of the first settlers of Downers Grove; Pierce Downer, founder of the city, arrived in the area only seven years prior. In Downers Grove he, his wife, and three sons (Stephen, Henry, and Thomas) owned about 600 acres of land.
On the farm the Lyman’s resided in a log cabin, which has underwent many changes throughout the years, but still retains the same foundation and is still standing today. The house, located at 806 Maple Avenue, is considered the oldest home in Downers Grove. It is believed that in the 1930’s the house had stucco and the porch added. The home made headlines on the Downers Grove Reporter in the summer of 2004. The home was to be victim to a knock-down and then two homes were planned to be built on its extra large lot. In response to this, the village and those wishing to preserve the history of the town persuaded the builders to save the home. The house was then bought by John Jacobs, one of the builders from the partnership. The Jacobs’ family still resides there today. The house is built in Greek revival style, and it is even speculated that the house may have been a stop on the underground railroad.
Henry Lyman, son of the Reverend, was 17 when he moved to Downers Grove. He received his education through both public and private schools. The winter after settling he taught school at Hadley in Glen Ellyn, one of his pupils would grow up to be Judge Peter Smith Williams of Chicago.
Henry married September 17, 1850, to Lovancia Peace. Lovancia was the daughter of George and Lucinda Campbell Pease. She was a student at Oberlin College; she attended for 4 years. After the death of his father, Henry inherited the homestead. He was the first in the area to raise Durham Short Horn cattle and Marino sheep. He also bred Morgan horses.
Walter Campbell Lyman, son of Henry Lyman, remained in the household with his mother after the death of Henry. He attended Naperville College after having attended public school. For many years he was interested in bee culture. He wrote many valuable articles for the Bee Journal. Walter received the only premium given to Illinois for honey at the Columbian Exposition in 1893. In 1904 he built the house located next door to the 806 Maple property. This home also is still standing today.
Lovancia Peace Lyman was one of the earliest suffrage advocates in the vicinity. At that time it required true moral courage to face the prejudice against that movement. After Mrs. Lyman’s death Walter married Jessie Woodford Lyman. More than sixty Lyman’s from Massachusetts alone served in the American Revolution.
Today the Lyman name carries on in Downers Grove through a street name and through the 135 acre forest preserve called Lyman Woods.
Sources:
History of Downers Grove: Centennial
Downers Grove History Index
