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Biographies
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COAN, Titus - missionary, was born in Killingworth, Conn., Feb. 1, 1801. He received his education under private tutors, and at the age of eighteen taught a country school. He continued the business of instruction for about ten years, when he entered the Theological Seminary at" Auburn, N. Y. Being graduated in 1833, he undertook for the Boston Board of Missions an exploration of southern Patagonia, for the purpose of establishing there a mission. Narrowly escaping with his life, he returned to this country in the following year, and was sent as missionary to the Sandwich Islands, where he served for forty-eight years. He was regarded by the natives of the islands with an affection that was well-nigh veneration, and his work among them was attended with the most important results. In his interesting account of a visit to the Sandwich Islands in 1873, Charles Nordhoff gives the following sketch of his life and work: " And in Hilo, when you go to visit the volcano, you will find Dr. Coan, one of the brightest and loveliest spirits of them all, the story of whose life in the Umato island, whose apostle he was, is as wonderful and as touching as that of any of the earlier apostles.and shows what great works unvielding faith and love can do in redeeming a savage people. When Dr. and Mrs. Coan came to the island of Hawaii its shores and woods were populous, and through their labors thousands of men and women were instructed in the truths of Christianity, inducted into civilized habits of life, and finally brought into the church. As you sail along the green coast of Hawaii from its northern point to Hilo, you will be surprised at the number of quaint little white churches which mark the distances almost with the regularity of milestones; if, later, you ride through this district or the one south of Hilo, you will see that for every church there is also a school-house; you will see native children reading and writing as well as our own at home; you may hear them singing tunes familiar to our own Sunday-schools; you will see the native man and woman sitting down to read their newspaper at the close of the day; and if vou could talk with them, you would find they knew almost as much about our late war as you do, for they took an intense interest in the war of the rebellion. And you must remember that when, less than forty years ago, Dr. and Mrs. Coan came to Hilo, the people were naked savages with no church and but one school-house in the district; without printed books or knowledge of reading. They flocked to hear the Gospel. Thousands removed from a distance to Hilo, where, in their rapid way, they built up a large town, and kept up surely the strangest ' protracted meeting'ever held; and going back to their homes after many months they took with them knowledge and zeal to build up Christian churches and schools of their own. Over these Dr. Coan has presided these many years, not only preaching regularly on Sundays and during the week in the large native church at Hilo, and in two or three neighboring churches, but visiting the more distant churches at intervals to examine and instruct the members and keep them all on the right track. He has seen a great population turned from darkness to light, a great part of it following his own blameless and loving life as an example, and very many living to old age steadfast and zealous Christians. He wrote books on "Patagonia" and "Life in Hawaii, "and numerous contributions to periodicals. He continued to reside in the Sandwich Islands until his death, which took place in Hilo, Hawaii, Dec. 1,1882.
[Contributed by Brenda Wiesner from the "The National Cyclopedia of American Biography", 1882]
LYONS, Albert Brown, chemist; born, Waimea, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands, Apr. 1, 1841; son of Rev. Lorenzo and Lucia Garratt (Smith) Lyons; spent early life at remote mission station and was educated at home; Preparatory Department, Oahu College, 1857-60, Oahu College, 1861-63; Williams College, graduating, class valedictorian, 1865; Medical Department, University of Michigan, M.D., 1868 post-graduate course, 1896. Married at Detroit, Apr. 15, 1878, Edith M. Eddy. Teacher Oahu College, 1861-62; teacher (science) Eagleswood Military Academy, N.J., 1865-66; professor of chemistry Detroit Medical College, 1868-81; chemist Parke, Davis & Co., 1881-87; editor pharmaceutical Era, 1887-88; government chemist for Hawaii, 1888-95; teacher of natural science Oahu College, 1888-95; chemist Nelson, Baker & Co., Detroit, since Sept. 1897, and secretary of the company since 1898. Member Citizens’ guard in rebellion against Republic of Hawaii, 1894; member of revision U.S. Pharmacopoeia, 1900. Member American Medical Association, American PharmaceuTical Association, Chemical Society (of England), American Chemical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science. Independent Republican, Congregationalist, Author: Manual of Pharmaceutical Assaying, 1887; Practical Assaying of Drugs and Chemicals, 1899; Plant Names, Scientific and Popular, 1900; Lyons’ Memorial (genealogical record of family,. three vols.), 1905-08; also many pagers for periodicals. Recreations: Photography, botanical excursions. Office: Nelson, Baker & Co. Residence 72 Brainard St.
[Source: "The Book of Detroiters" by Albert Nelson Marquis 1908 - Sub. by Christine Walters]
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