Union City Mexican War Soldiers
The United States fought the Mexican War from 1846-1848, as part of its territorial expansion spearheaded by President James Knox Polk. In 1845, the United States annexed Texas which Mexico considered part of its territory. The Americans blockaded the Mexican Coast and invaded and conquered New Mexico, California, and parts of northern Mexico. An American Army captured Mexico City and forced Mexico to agree to sell its northern territories to the United States.
Union City, Pennsylvania, contributed at least two soldiers to the Mexican War: John Landsrath and Marshall W. Lyon.
John Landsrath was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, on December 3, 1822. a son of Anton and Eliza Landsrath. Anton had been a German soldier who fought at the Battle of Waterloo and afterwards was given a position as revenue officer for bravery as a soldier.
Second in a family of five children, John was brought up and educated in Germany. He ran a mercantile business there until 1847, when, along with his brother, he emigrated to America. He settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where he studied the English language for about a year.
In the last part of 1847 he went to Philadelphia and enlisted in Company H, 2nd Dragoons and served in the Mexican War about a year under Captain Hunter. He saw active service under General Zachery Taylor, and he was discharged at Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis in 1848.
Returning to New York after the Mexican War, he worked as a tinner in Buffalo and Dunkirk and then went to Jamestown and worked in the hardware business for two years. in 1853, he came to Union City and opened the first hardware store in town.
in 1861, John aided in recruiting and was made a captain in McLane’s regiment of volunteer infantry, which went to Pittsburgh and remained there until the expiration of its time.
In 1868, John built a large hardware store, where with his son, John A., he worked as a partner and carried it on as a paying business until 1888, when they sold out. In addition to his hardware business, John had many other interests. He was a partner in a barrel factory for a number of years and also worked in the oil industry, buying and selling in large lots. He was one of Union City’s most enterprising and foremost citizens and did much for the development of the town.
John was married twice. He married first in Germany and his wife died about a year after they married. He was married a second time on May 8, 1851 to Miss Lydia H. Barnham, a native of Chautauqua County, New York. They had four children: John Anton, Grace H., Clement L., and Eliphalet H.
John Landsrath died on February 15, 1899, after an illness of two weeks. He was an honored member of the Presbyterian congregation, rendering valuable assistance during the building of the church. He was also a member of the Masonic Order.
Marshall W. Lyon
Marshall W. Lyon was a blacksmith in Union City, Pennsylvania and one of its Mexican War veterans. He was born November 26, 1825, in Ashfield, Massachusetts, the oldest son in the family of the 12 children of Marshall and Chloe Lyon. Two brothers, David of Girard and Josiah of Butler, Pa., were veterans of the Civil War.
In the fall of 1835, the family came to Erie County Pennsylvania and settled in Girard. They bought a farm where Marshall worked until he was 18 years old. Then he signed on as a blacksmith’s apprentice to Jacob Van Lown of Girard. After completing his apprenticeship, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, with the intention of settling there and working at his trade.
The Mexican War changed Marshall’s plans. in 1846, he enlisted as a soldier in Company G, Regular Infantry to serve in the Mexican War under Captain W. Scott Ketcham. He was sent from Cleveland to Cincinnati by stage and from there down the Mississippi to New Orleans. From New Orleans the soldiers took a ship from the center of the war in Mexico. He was a faithful soldier and served his country well. He saw all the vicissitudes of Army life, being in principal battles, and was with Scott’s regiment when he marched his victorious army into Mexico City. His regiment was under the immediate command of Zachary Taylor. he was mustered out in June 1848.
After the war was over, Marshall returned to Girard and worked as a blacksmith until 1859, when he moved to Spartansburg and ran a shop for 21 years there. In 1872, he came to Union City and built a shop which he operated for a number of years. He was a veteran blacksmith as well as a soldier and was well and favorably known throughout Erie and Crawford Counties.
Marshall was married on August 27, 1854, to Miss Cynthia Allen. They had four children: Sophia F.; Clarence A., electrician; George, deceased; and Marshall A., painter, decorator and paper hanger.
Marshall Lyon was a Democrat and a member of the I.O.O.F.
Union City, Pennsylvania, contributed at least two soldiers to the Mexican War: John Landsrath and Marshall W. Lyon.
John Landsrath was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, on December 3, 1822. a son of Anton and Eliza Landsrath. Anton had been a German soldier who fought at the Battle of Waterloo and afterwards was given a position as revenue officer for bravery as a soldier.
Second in a family of five children, John was brought up and educated in Germany. He ran a mercantile business there until 1847, when, along with his brother, he emigrated to America. He settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where he studied the English language for about a year.
In the last part of 1847 he went to Philadelphia and enlisted in Company H, 2nd Dragoons and served in the Mexican War about a year under Captain Hunter. He saw active service under General Zachery Taylor, and he was discharged at Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis in 1848.
Returning to New York after the Mexican War, he worked as a tinner in Buffalo and Dunkirk and then went to Jamestown and worked in the hardware business for two years. in 1853, he came to Union City and opened the first hardware store in town.
in 1861, John aided in recruiting and was made a captain in McLane’s regiment of volunteer infantry, which went to Pittsburgh and remained there until the expiration of its time.
In 1868, John built a large hardware store, where with his son, John A., he worked as a partner and carried it on as a paying business until 1888, when they sold out. In addition to his hardware business, John had many other interests. He was a partner in a barrel factory for a number of years and also worked in the oil industry, buying and selling in large lots. He was one of Union City’s most enterprising and foremost citizens and did much for the development of the town.
John was married twice. He married first in Germany and his wife died about a year after they married. He was married a second time on May 8, 1851 to Miss Lydia H. Barnham, a native of Chautauqua County, New York. They had four children: John Anton, Grace H., Clement L., and Eliphalet H.
John Landsrath died on February 15, 1899, after an illness of two weeks. He was an honored member of the Presbyterian congregation, rendering valuable assistance during the building of the church. He was also a member of the Masonic Order.
Marshall W. Lyon
Marshall W. Lyon was a blacksmith in Union City, Pennsylvania and one of its Mexican War veterans. He was born November 26, 1825, in Ashfield, Massachusetts, the oldest son in the family of the 12 children of Marshall and Chloe Lyon. Two brothers, David of Girard and Josiah of Butler, Pa., were veterans of the Civil War.
In the fall of 1835, the family came to Erie County Pennsylvania and settled in Girard. They bought a farm where Marshall worked until he was 18 years old. Then he signed on as a blacksmith’s apprentice to Jacob Van Lown of Girard. After completing his apprenticeship, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, with the intention of settling there and working at his trade.
The Mexican War changed Marshall’s plans. in 1846, he enlisted as a soldier in Company G, Regular Infantry to serve in the Mexican War under Captain W. Scott Ketcham. He was sent from Cleveland to Cincinnati by stage and from there down the Mississippi to New Orleans. From New Orleans the soldiers took a ship from the center of the war in Mexico. He was a faithful soldier and served his country well. He saw all the vicissitudes of Army life, being in principal battles, and was with Scott’s regiment when he marched his victorious army into Mexico City. His regiment was under the immediate command of Zachary Taylor. he was mustered out in June 1848.
After the war was over, Marshall returned to Girard and worked as a blacksmith until 1859, when he moved to Spartansburg and ran a shop for 21 years there. In 1872, he came to Union City and built a shop which he operated for a number of years. He was a veteran blacksmith as well as a soldier and was well and favorably known throughout Erie and Crawford Counties.
Marshall was married on August 27, 1854, to Miss Cynthia Allen. They had four children: Sophia F.; Clarence A., electrician; George, deceased; and Marshall A., painter, decorator and paper hanger.
Marshall Lyon was a Democrat and a member of the I.O.O.F.