A Smörgåsbord of Stories
During most of my life, my paternal grandparents, Mae Lydick (1910-2003) and Otto Norenberg (1911-1997), lived in the same house on the west shore of Cass Lake. Because of the attractiveness of their property, my family did not take sightseeing vacations; we went to Grandma … read more
Christmas memories and traditions are different for each of us. For me, my favorite part of Christmas is decorating the tree with my grandmother’s crocheted snowflakes. Mary Mae Lydick Norenberg My Grandma Mae was born May 1, 1910 to Susan Roy and Horace “H.S” … read more
Horace Sawyer “H.S.” Lydick (1880-1956) lived a colorful life. Newspapers devoted column-inches to his exploits, like the tale of the Two-bitted Injunction. Today’s story is not a fanciful fable. This account relies not on rumor, but on solid photographic evidence. Market Hunting Last week, … read more
My Great Uncle Clint Lydick (1931-2021) loved, LOVED to tell stories. Uncle Clint would have celebrated his 91st birthday this month. So, in honor of him, I begin a new sub-category called Stories my Uncle Clint Told Back in 2007, Uncle Clint typed up … read more
This week, I would like to tell you a story about my great grandfather, Horace “H.S.” Lydick, a man of many legends! There are stories of H.S. being arrested, fighting the charges, acting as his own attorney and having the charges dropped. Then, there are … read more
Patrick and I entertained several couples for a backyard barbeque last week. We had a wonderful evening: good food, great friends, lots of laughs and plenty of yard games. The next day, one of our guests tested positive for COVID-19. According to the current Centers … read more
Horace S. “H.S.” Lydick (1880-1956) claimed a homestead in 1911, commuted it and lost it in a Sheriff Sale. Finding an opportunity, he filed a second homestead claim for land in Beltrami County, Minnesota under the provisions of the 1862 Homestead Act. The Act granted … read more
Horace S. “H.S.” Lydick, his wife Susan (Roy) and their growing family settled on 159 acres in Beltrami County in May of 1911. At the Cass Lake Land Office, he filed a communtation claim to obtain the title to the property in 1913. Commuting a … read more
Horace Sawyer “H.S.” Lydick (1880-1956) lived a colorful life. Volumes could (and should) be written about his legendary, north-woods-lifestyle. For now, those stories need to wait. In this initial Lydick homestead post, we will look at how H.S. acquired his first property in Minnesota: 159 … read more
About three years ago, I learned about the genealogical value of Homestead Land Entry Case Files. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) houses these original documents. Five of my direct ancestors successfully filed six land claims with the U.S. Government. The completed applications are … read more