A Confederate veteran, 3rd Texas Cavalry

G W Lidia - Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965
Name: G W Lidia
Titles and Terms: Mr
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 24 Oct 1880
Event Place: Erath, Texas, United States
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name: Nancy Lawson
Spouse's Titles and Terms: Miss
Spouse's Gender: Female
Page: 348

G W Lidia - Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965
Name: G W Lidia
Titles and Terms: Mr
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 30 Mar 1893
Event Place: Erath, Texas, United States
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name: R T Lawson
Spouse's Titles and Terms: Miss
Spouse's Gender: Female
Page: 220

George Lidia (12343560) Suggested edit (11/9/2020): LIDIA, GEORGE WASHINGTON As the river whose deep and steady current, winding among fair landscapes, past blossoming fields, blessing many people and enhancing the wealth of communities which it touches, affords little of that wild and romantic scenery which startles the traveler or delight the artist, so those lives which contribute most toward the improvement of a County or state and the well-being of a people are seldom the ones which furnish the most brilliant passages for the pen of the historian or biographer. There is, in the anxious and laborious struggle for an honorable competence and solid career of the business man fighting the every-day battle of life, but little to attract the idle reader of a sensational chapter; but for a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence, there are noble lessons in the life of a man, who, without other means than a clear head, a strong arm and a true heart, conquers adversity, and, toiling on through the work-a-day years of a long career, finds that he has gained not only prosperity but also something far greater and higher,-the deserved respect and esteem of those with whom his years of active life placed him in contact.
Such a man is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, who for more than a third of a century has been prominently connected with the history of Erath County. He is a native of Alabama, born in Lawrence County, April 24, 1838. When a child he was left an orphan and practically thrown upon his own resources. He was reared on a farm in his native state until seventeen years of age, when he came to Texas and located in Collin County, where he worked as a farm hand until 1857. He then removed to Hopkins County, where he continued his residence until 1859,-the year of his arrival in Erath County. Here he again was employed at farm labor until his marriage, when he began farming on his own account.
On the 13th of May, 1861, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Lidia and Miss Mary Pickard, a native of Tennessee who came with her parents to Texas in 1854, the family locating in Waco, where they resided for a year, then came to Erath County, locating on the farm which is now the home of our subject. Mrs. Lidia lost her own parents during her early girlhood and was adopted into the family of G. R. Pickard, whose name she bore up to the time of her marriage. Our subject began his domestic life on his present homestead and has since carried on agricultural pursuits. When he took possession of the place the improvements consisted of a little cabin and a cleared tract of ten acres. Acre after acre, however, was soon placed under the plow, and waving fields of grain replaced the desolate, barren tract, while the boundaries of the farm were extended until its area is twelve hundred acres. Of this two hundred and fifty acres are under a high state of cultivation, and the buildings, fences and other accessories of the model farm indicate the progressive spirit of the owner.
To Mr. And Mrs. Lidia were born twelve children, all of whom, with one exception, are yet living, namely: John P., of Erath County; W. I.; Robert Lee; Jane, wife of Lewis Lawson; Thomas Jefferson; Phineas Ewing; Mina, wife of Luther Bird; Sarah Ida, Richard Coke, George W., Samuel H. and Arthur. Oscar died in infancy. The mother of these children died July 14, 1880, at the age of thirty-six years. Mr. Lidia was again married October 27, 1880, his second union being with Miss Nancy Lawson, a native of Kentucky, who came to Erath County when about twenty years of age. There are four children by this union, Celia Emeline, Pearl, Maud and Blanche. Mrs. Lidia was called to the home beyond this life April 12, 1890, and in April 1892, Mr. Lidia married Rachel C. Lawson, a cousin of his former wife and also a native of Kentucky. They have two children, Bell and Nettie.
Mr. Lidia is a member of the Missionary Baptist church and is a man whom to know is to respect. He has made his own way in the world unaided and has attained not only a fortune but that more important thing, an untarnished character. (Source: History of Texas, Central Texas, Vol.1, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896; pg 4-5; transcribed by A.Newell)
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)