ALEXANDER LYDY, Company "F"

---

Alexander Lydy was born July 24, 1838 near Uniontown, Pennsylvania to James and Nancy Lydy. By 1850, he and his family were living in Washington Courthouse, Fayette County, Ohio. He married Sarah Ann Elizabeth Hargrove (1843-1907) on March 7, 1861 and they had ten children. He served with Company F, 1st West Virginia Cavalry during the Civil War and spent time as a prisoner at both Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia and at Andersonville (Georgia). After the war his family moved to Clinton County, Indiana and resided there for more than 30 years before moving to Wells County in the early 1900's. He died on June 1, 1914.

DESCRIPTION: Six feet tall; sandy complexion; blue eyes; red hair

OCCUPATION: Carpenter

MILITARY SERVICE: Private, Company F, 1st W. Va. Cavalry Volunteers; mustered in 21 Sep 1861; captured 19 Oct 1863; POW at Andersonville; exchanged 28 Apr 1865 at Jacksonville, Florida; mustered out 8 July 1865.

PARENTS: James and Nancy Lyda

MARRIAGE: Married Sarah Ann Elizabeth Hargrave 7 Mar 1861 at Uniontown, Fayette County, Ohio.

CHILDREN: Virginia Elizabeth, John William, Mary Sophia "Molly," Olney Rosco, Rosa Viola , Alphon Augustus, Nora Ellen, Minnie Belle, Teddie Walter, Basil Norman Ward.

PENSION: National Archives, Washington, D. C. - Certificate #265.263

DEATH: Died 1 June 1914 at Kingsland, Indiana; buried in Kemp Cemetery, Clinton County, Indiana.

Bluffton Daily News Banner: "The tragic end of this man who lived seventy-five years, ten months and seven days, came Monday, June 1, at 11:00 a.m., while he was walking home from Kingsland upon the Chicago and Erie Railroad; in meeting a westbound train he stepped off the north track over on the south track and an on-coming eastbound freight train unnotiece by him, stole upon him and mercilessly crushed the body until it was no longer fit for the above of the soul and his spirit took his flight.

"Thus in an instant, perhaps a painless, yet gory and awful death severed the silver cord and broke the golden bowl.

"Strange coincident, the wife had met her death in the same tragic way upon the same railway, upon the same farm about 80 rods (440 yards) from this scene about 5:00 p.m., on October 17, 1907.

"Mr. Lydy was a member of the Lew Daily Post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Bluffton, a loyal and faithful comrade until taps sounded and he has answered his last roll call here. His faith was publicly declared to be fixed in Jesus Christ and he joined the class of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Emaus on January 5, 1908."