My Genealogy Hound

JAMES R. LYDIC.
James R. Lydic, one of the well-known citizens and successful farmers of Shawnee County, who owns the northwest quarter of section 4, township 12, range 17, in Tecumseh township, is also entitled to prominence and respect as one of the survivors of the great Civil War. Mr. Lydic was born October 14, 1841, in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of James and Rebecca P. (Johnson) Lydic.

The Lydic family is an old and honorable one in Indiana County. Our subject’s parents, whose whole lives were spent there, were prosperous farmers. They reared a family of 12 children.

Our subject attended the schools of his native locality and grew up on his father’s farm, assisting in its management until the outbreak of the Civil War. On November 21, 1861, after the farm work of the year had been finished and the crops gathered, he offered his services in defense of his country, enlisting for three years in Company K, 84th Reg., Pennsylvania Vol. Inf., under Capt. Joseph L. Kirby and Col. William G. Murray. From the very first this regiment was placed in active service. After a short season of drilling at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, it was sent to Hagerstown, Maryland, in time to take part in the battle at Bath, then on to Cumberland and thence into Virginia. Then followed the battles of Winchester, Fredericksburg and the second battle of Bull Run or Manassas Junction. After considerable skirmishing, the regiment took a prominent part in the battle of Chancellorsville. It was in the terrible struggle on the morning of June 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville, that both our subject and his brother were wounded. The brother’s injuries resulted in the loss of his right fingers but our subject was so fearfully wounded that his good left hand had to be amputated. For five months he suffered in the Satterlee Hospital, Philadelphia, and then returned home, honorably discharged and bearing with him the badge of his faithful service and proof of his loyal devotion to his country.

Mr. Lydic resumed farming and continued to live in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, until 1890, when he removed to Ellis, Kansas, but he found the western part of the State too dry for profitable farming and only remained there until November of that year. He then brought his family to Topeka. In the following spring he removed to a farm and on May 1, 1891, purchased his present valuable property. Here he has met with success, carrying on farming and stock-raising.

In 1873 Mr. Lydic was married to Kate Barr, who was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1850, and is a daughter of John G. and Katherine (Allison) Barr, natives of Pennsylvania. They have reared seven children, namely: Vinnie, wife of W. E. Lynch, of Tecumseh township; James N., John, Orrin, Murray, Clara and Jeannette. Mr. Lydic and family belong to the Christian Church at Meriden.

Politically, Mr. Lydic is a Republican but he has never cared for public office, although his services to his country would seem to entitle him to official consideration. He is a valued member of the Grand Army Post, No. 160, at Meriden.