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Lydic Family Came
to Country in 1884


By Mrs. Fred Stevenson

Early in April in the year, 1884, Robert L. Lydic, whose home was in Montgomery Township, Indiana County, Penn., yielded to the "Call of the West" and started for Nebraska.
When he reached Nebraska the cry was, "On to Frontier County." He took up a homestead and a timber claim, but was unable to move his family here in six months time, so lost his homestead. However, in 1890 he homesteaded his timber claim. This claim was situated eight miles due south of Farnam.
After seven months sojourn in Nebraska he returned to his home in Pennsylvania. He, again, visited Nebraska in 1886.
On March 29, 1889, the Lydic family with the exception of Jas. K. (the oldest son) arrived in Eustis, Nebr. They were: Robert L. and Anna M. (the parents)' Luella, Bessie, Hattie, Robert J. and Edward W. Jas. K. arrived in Farnam about three months later.
The family traveled from Eustis to Rices' ranch, that afternoon in a lumber wagon.
On the way they crossed many of the Muddy Creek canyons. Near the end of the journey, there was a stretch of land about six miles wide that had been burned over a few days before.
Old timers know how desolate those hills and canyons looked to one coming from the East.
Mrs. Lydic voiced her sentiments next morning: "If I had a home to go back to, I would never unpack."
She soon learned that Nebraska had many kind people and that it was a good place in which to live.
The family encountered many of the difficulties incident to a new country and limited resources.
The eldest daughter, M. Luella, who had taught school for three years in Pennsylvania and was an accomplished organist and a beautiful soprano singer soon became the bride of J. B. Rice.
The younger daughters "wielded the rod of correction" in many of the rural schools of their community.
The religious and social activities of the family were confined to the rural district in which they lived.
Mr. Lydic passed to his reward in 1894, Mrs. Lydic in 1920 and their daughter, Mrs. Rice in 1932. Their remains were laid to rest in "Farnam's Silent City."
The surviving members of the original family are located as follows: Jas. K., Fordland, Mo.; Bessie L. Stevenson, Farnam; Hattie A. Ross, Los Angeles, Calif.; Robert J., Farnam and Glen W. Glendale, Arizona.

1886 1936

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