The Loudonville area was once home to possibly the world’s oldest person. The following was written for the Mansfield Shield and Banner newspaper, and reprinted in the Loudonville Times (Sept. 26, 1901).
“In the Ashland county infirmary, which is located 15 miles east of this city, there is an inmate named Alexander Lyons, who is probably one of the oldest men living on earth today. According to the records of that institution, Lyons became an inmate on Dec. 31, 1851, at which time he was 70 years of age. This would make him now 120 years old.
“Little is known about the old man’s ancestors or early life except that he was born in eastern Pennsylvania and later resided in the region of the ‘Pine Hills’ near Loudonville, Ohio.
“The records of the Ashland County infirmary show that Lyons was the second inmate ever taken into the institution and the distant relatives of the old man corroborate the statements that are recorded regarding his age.
“Lyons is known by many residents of Ashland and surrounding counties by the name of ‘Old Alex’ and many people wonder day after day how much longer the venerable patriarch will last.
“His mind is not strong but his body seems to be in a good state of preservation. He is straight in the back and has the step of an old soldier, though no man on earth is more afraid of a gun. He cowers at thunder and will not show his head during a storm.
“Lyons is a great lover of milk and ‘Johnny Cake’ but above all he likes tobacco, having been a friend of the weed since a boy in his teens.
“No one connected with the institution now remembers of Lyons ever having been seriously ill.
“So far as capabilities are concerned there are but two things that Lyons ever did in exchange for his keeping. He takes an interest in driving cows and cutting kindling wood. Not long ago a Shield reporter had the old fellow’s photo taken and Lyons was tickled all over. He said he always had wanted a ‘likeness’ of himself but never had one taken.
“He has a number of relatives who reside near Loudonville.”
More information on the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum can be found at this link.
