William Walter was born at "Field Lane" in Litherland, Lancashire, England and was named for his grandfather. He was the oldest son of Arthur Wentworth and Sarah Schwind Lyon. As such, he was by the standards of the day supposed to inherit and lead the family enterprise which included transporting and selling goods to & from the British Empire. He was sent abroad with his new wife, Florence, after their marriage at St. Michael's Church, Highgate, on 9/3/1872 on behalf of the families' business interests. He first went to Australia where his occupation was listed as sheep farmer. Alice, his first child, was born on Oct 2, 1873 in Queensland. While he was living in Australia he was attacked by an aborigine with a nula-nula war club. The injury caused him to limp the rest of his life. By 1877 he & the family had returned to England where his third daughter, Hilda, was born in Clifton, Derbyshire. During the course of his travels he borrowed heavily from his father considerable sums of money for both investment and family living. His final venture brought him to the United States in 1879 after his father purchased a farm west of Staunton, VA in Sept. of 1878 of 190 acres for $600 pounds sterling. It was called "Sunnyside" (the former home of William A. Brown & renamed "Grey Gables" during the 20th century). It lies just west of the Hebron Presbyterian Church & borders the Edison (originally called Smoky Row) Creek. That venture too proved to be non profitable. In 1882 Arthur Lyon died, and in his will he gave the farm to William and had a 6,000 pound debt owed to him deducted from William's share of the inheritance. By Arthur's instructions the management of the estate in England, India and other countries was to be taken over by other family members rather than by his oldest son. William and Florence were left to fend for themselves in America. William's troubles didn't last many years. He died in 1885 of pneumonia following a November horse ride during which he became soaked and chilled. He left behind his wife & four little children. His fourth daughter, Jessie, predeceased him from diptheria at the age of two. (Bio by Jim Hutcheson)
William Walter was born at "Field Lane" in Litherland, Lancashire, England and was named for his grandfather. He was the oldest son of Arthur Wentworth and Sarah Schwind Lyon. As such, he was by the standards of the day supposed to inherit and lead the family enterprise which included transporting and selling goods to & from the British Empire. He was sent abroad with his new wife, Florence, after their marriage at St. Michael's Church, Highgate, on 9/3/1872 on behalf of the families' business interests. He first went to Australia where his occupation was listed as sheep farmer. Alice, his first child, was born on Oct 2, 1873 in Queensland. While he was living in Australia he was attacked by an aborigine with a nula-nula war club. The injury caused him to limp the rest of his life. By 1877 he & the family had returned to England where his third daughter, Hilda, was born in Clifton, Derbyshire. During the course of his travels he borrowed heavily from his father considerable sums of money for both investment and family living. His final venture brought him to the United States in 1879 after his father purchased a farm west of Staunton, VA in Sept. of 1878 of 190 acres for $600 pounds sterling. It was called "Sunnyside" (the former home of William A. Brown & renamed "Grey Gables" during the 20th century). It lies just west of the Hebron Presbyterian Church & borders the Edison (originally called Smoky Row) Creek. That venture too proved to be non profitable. In 1882 Arthur Lyon died, and in his will he gave the farm to William and had a 6,000 pound debt owed to him deducted from William's share of the inheritance. By Arthur's instructions the management of the estate in England, India and other countries was to be taken over by other family members rather than by his oldest son. William and Florence were left to fend for themselves in America. William's troubles didn't last many years. He died in 1885 of pneumonia following a November horse ride during which he became soaked and chilled. He left behind his wife & four little children. His fourth daughter, Jessie, predeceased him from diptheria at the age of two. (Bio by Jim Hutcheson)
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