WILLIAM J. LYONS was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in the spring of 1884 to serve as an extra man with Engine Company 2. He replaced Henry Miles. When the Fire Department was reorganized on July 1, 1885 and eighteen of the extra men were laid off, William J. Lyons was among that number. Active in Republican politics in Camden's First Ward, William J. Lyons was appointed to the Camden Police Department in November of 1899 and served into the 1920s.

William J. Lyons was born in Philadelphia to Scottish-born parents, James and Mary Lyons. When the Census was taken in 1860 he was living in Philadelphia with his mother, older sister Mary, and younger brothers Nelson and Samuel.

William J. Lyons married in the 1870s, and by 1878 had moved to 946 Howard Street in North Camden. City Directories and the 1880 Census show that he worked as a bakery. When the Census was enumerated William J. Lyons was living at 946 Howard Street with his wife Ellen "Nellie" Lyons and daughters Isabel and Nellie. The family remained on Howard Street into 1881. The 1882-1883 Directory gives his address simply as the corner 6th and Birch Streets.

Directories from 1883 through 1885 show that William J. Lyons had moved to 917 North 3rd Street. He briefly operated a bakery with his brother Nelson at the North 3rd Street address. The bakery was known, appropriately enough as Lyons & Brother.

The 1887-1888 City Directory shows that William J. Lyons had moved to 907 North 2nd Street and was in the grocery business. He moved to Philadelphia the next year, but by 1890 he had returned to North Camden. William J. Lyons lived at 907 North 2nd Street in 1890, and the 1892-1893 Directory gives his address as 909 North 2nd Street. He moved to 96 North Street in 1893, and began working as a deckhand on one of the ferries between Camden and Philadelphia, most likely at the Vine Street Ferry. When the 1896 Camden City Directory was published William J. Lyons had moved to 53 State Street, where he remained through at least 1906.

By 1910 William J. Lyons and family had moved to 130 State Street. His wife passed away during the 1910s. William J. Lyons was still living at 130 State Street, with his daughter Isabella and her husband William Schwab, when the Census was taken in April of 1930.

As stated above, William J. Lyons was appointed to the Camden Police Department in the fall of 1899. A news article from 1922 stated that he was 65 and was eligible to retire on pension. William J. Lyons apparently decided to keep working as City Directories and the 1930 Census indicate that he was still a member of the Police Department. 

William J. Lyons passed away during the 1930s. His daughter Isabel Schwab was still residing at 130 State Street as late as 1940.