Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio by E. M. P. Brister - Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1909 – Page 8

JOHN D. LOYD.     John D. Loyd has become well known in Licking county as a successful dealer in wool, hides, pelts and poultry, which lines have claimed his attention for twenty years.  At a more recent date he extended his efforts to include seeds, grain and feed and is now conducting a good store of that character in Alexandria.  He was born in Newark, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1858, his parents being Robert and Mary (Davis) Loyd, both of whom were natives of Wales, although they were married in this county.  They spent their last days in Newark, where Mrs. Loyd passed away at the age of forty-one years, while Mr. Loyd was eighty-four years of age at the time of his demise.  He owned a small farm west of Newark and in the city engaged in teaming for many years.  Their children were: Elizabeth, a resident of Newark; Thomas; William S., who is living in Granville, this county; John D.; Mary, also of Newark; and Persis, the wife of V. J. Hammond, of Hebron, Ohio.
     John D. Loyd was only five years of age at the time of his mother's death.  When fourteen years of age he came alone to Alexandria and in this district began working by the month as a farm hand.  He had been employed in that way from the age of ten years and is truly a self made man, who owes his success entirely to his own efforts, while his prosperity is the visible evidence of his life of well his own efforts, while his prosperity is the visible evidence of his life of well directed thrift and energy.  For eight years he worked by the month as a farm hand for his aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth Charles, who became a widow after Mr. Loyd had been with her for a year.  He then assumed the management of two farms, although but a boy of fifteen years, and conducted both until twenty-two years of age, receiving eighteen dollars per month in compensation for his services.  Later he entered the employ of John Davis, of Alexandria, in the stock business, remaining with him for about five years, after which he went to Buffalo, New York, where he was employed in the stockyards for eight months.  On the expiration of that period he returned to Licking county but soon afterwards went to California alone and spent two years there on a ranch, working in the vineyards.  On the expiration of that period he again came to Alexandria and with the capital which he had saved from his earnings he established business on his own account in 1889.  Here he bought wool, hides, pelts, furs and poultry and has since continued in this line, handling those commodities on quite an extensive scale.  Later he extended the scope of his activities by establishing a grain, feed and seed store and is today busily occupied with all of these lines, being recognized as one of the energetic and representative business men of the community. He purchased the block formerly owned by Oriel Jones, of Newark, which he now uses as a warehouse.  It is two stories in height with a frontage of sixty-six feet and a depth of one hundred feet.  In addition to his other interests he has also been a director of the Alexandria Bank Company since its organization.  He possesses firm purpose and will brook no obstacle that can be overcome by determined and honorable effort.  Work - continuous, persistent work - has been the basis of his success, making him one of the substantial residents of the community.
     In 1897 Mr. Loyd was united in marriage to Miss Luella Graham, who was born in Morrow county, Ohio, in 1864, a daughter of Benton and Candace (Stover) Graham.  Her mother is now deceased but her father still lives in Morrow county.  Mr. and Mrs. Loyd are well known here socially and the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded to them.  He purchased and remodeled their present fine home and they delight in entertaining their many friends there.  Mr. Loyd was at one time active in the work of the republican party to which he still gives stalwart support.  His business interests, however, leave him little leisure for participation in public affairs but as a business man he occupies a prominent place in commercial circles.  In his earlier years he could speak, read and write the Welsh language, for it was the language used in his own home.  His father had come to Ohio by canal in 1840 and was thus one of the early residents of this part of the state.  Mr. Loyd has spent almost his entire life in Licking county, save for brief absences and he is one of its self-made men, who deserves all of the praise which that term implies.  There are comparatively few who have to start out as he did when but ten years of age, but he early resolved to win for himself an honorable place in the business world and his energy and industry are carrying him into important commercial relations.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio by E. M. P. Brister - Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1909 – Page 524

WILLIAM S. LOYD.   William S. Loyd, well known as a representative of the farming interests of Granville township, was born in the city of Newark, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1855.  Like many of the valued residents of the community, he is of Welsh lineage, his parents, Robert and Mary (Davis) Loyd, having been natives of the north and south of Wales, respectively.  In her girlhood days the mother came with her parents to the United States, the family home being established in Alexandria, this county, where she was reared.  Robert Loyd was thirty-five years of age when he came to Licking county and locating in Newark, he turned his attention to the teaming business, while later he became a farmer.  His death occurred in Newark, Aug. 25, 1893, when eighty-one years of age, while his wife passed away in the county seat, in October, 1863.  They were the parents of six children: Elizabeth, now living in Newark; Thomas D. and Mary J., who reside with their sister Elizabeth; William S., of this review; John D., of Alexandria; and Persis Hammond, also a resident of this county.
     William S. Loyd was reared in Newark and in this city he remained until nineteen years of age, when he came to Granville township, where he has since made his home.  Following his marriage he purchased his present farm, comprising one hundred and twenty-six acres on Columbus road, adjoining the corporation limits of the village of Granville.  Here he has erected a fine dwelling a large and substantial barn, and made every modern improvement, and the Crystal Spring Farm, by which name the place is known, is one of the valuable and attractive farm properties of the county, proving one of the most interesting features of the landscape.  Everything about the farm is kept in good condition and an air of neatness and thrift pervades the place.
     In 1881 Mr. Loyd was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Powell, who was born in Granville township, in 1856, and is a daughter of Rev. John and Mary (George) Powell, the former a native of Wales, and a minster of the Welsh Congregational church.  Mrs. Powell  was born in Morrow county, Ohio, Oct. 10, 1823.  Rev. Powell died in October, 1856, and his wife died in 1894.  Rev. Powell came to the United States when a young man and located in Licking county.  He was actively engaged in the ministry from the time of his arrival until his death.  Rev. and Mrs. Powell were the parents of five children:  William R.; Rees S.; Rachel M.; Mary A. and Mrs. Loyd.  The home of Mr. and Mrs. Loyd has been blessed with three children: William Franklin, John Ernest and Mary Edna, all yet under the parental roof, the family circle being unbroken by the hand of death.
     In his political views Mr. Loyd is an earnest republican, believing that the basic elements of the party are essential to good government.  He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he takes an active and helpful interest, serving now as steward and as a member of the finance committee.  He is never neglectful of his duties of citizenship, and is interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual and moral progress of the community.  He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, for he started out in life empty-handed and has worked upward until he is now numbered among the leading and prominent farmers of the county.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio by E. M. P. Brister - Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1909 – Page 509

S. D. LYONS.     S. D. Lyons, who has held the position of postmaster at Vanatta for seventeen yes and is still the efficient incumbent of that office, is also the owner of a general mercantile store at that place and is widely recognized as one of the county's most substantial and public-spirited citizens.  He was born in Licking county, Apr. 24, 1858, his parents being James L. and Eleanor (Francis) Lyons.  The father, whose birth occurred in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1822, accompanied his parents on their removal to this county in 1825 and still makes his home in Washington township, being now numbered among the venerable and respected early settlers of this portion of the state.  His wife, a native of Harrison county, Ohio, was called to her final rest on the 16th of August, 1900.  Unto this worthy couple were born eight children, as follows:  Mary A., the wife of J. R. Donahey, of Licking county; William F., deceased; Sarah, the wife of G. W. Merriott, of this county; S. D., of this review; Esther, the wife of F. E. Elliott, of Martinsburg; Ida, who has also passed away; J. F., a resident of Newark; and Wilbur J., living in Knox county.
     S. D. Lyons supplemented his preliminary education by a course at the normal school at Utica and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority.  He was then engaged in the operation of rented land for six years and on the expiration of that period   wedded Miss Emma Pound, whose demise occurred in December, 1886.  Afterward he made his home with his father until he was again married, in 1891, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Litzenberg, widow of William Litzenberg.  Mrs. Lyons, whose birth occurred in Morrow county, Ohio, in 1859, has one daughter by her former marriage - Ethel, the wife of Frank Stewart.
     In his political views Mr. Lyons is a stawart republican and has served as township clerk, while at present he is filling the position of postmaster at Vanatta, which office he has held for seventeen yeas.  He is also the well-known proprietor of a general mercantile establishment in Vanatta and in addition to his store building he owns one of the finest residences in the town.  Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge, No. 850, at St. Louisville, in which he has filled all of the chairs.  Both he and his wife are faithful members of the Lutheran church.  His worth as a man and citizen is widely acknowledged and in his business and official life he has shown how forceful are the qualities of diligence and perseverance when supplemented by sound judgment.  His prosperity is due to these sterling traits of character and in all of his undertakings he has been so straightforward that his name is largely a synonym for business integrity to those who know him.  Having been a resident of this county throughout his entire life, covering a half-century, he has been a witness of the greater part of its growth and development, and his conduct has been at all times so exemplary that the circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
Source: Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio by E. M. P. Brister - Vol. II - Publ. Chicago - Columbus: by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1909 – Page 700