Jacob Lyday arrived in Texas on January 26, 1836, to qualify for a First Class Headright certificate of land.  He came with his brothers, Andrew and Isaac Lyday, and his first wife, Eliza Jane Flowers, and three children.  Eliza Jane Flowers died before January 31, 1838.  He then married Harriett Jane Crowder, by whom he had three more children.

Jacob was born about 1805 in Buncombe County, North Carolina.  He died April 7, 1855 in Lamar County, Texas

The eastern part of what is now Lamar County began to be settled about 1833.  The west was still rather dangerous.  In 1834, and despite these dangers, Jacob Lyday, Isaac Lyday, and others put claims on land sometime between 1834 and 1837.  Fort Lyday was constructed in 1836 to help protect the inhabitants from the Indians.  By 1842, the Indians were no longer a threat to the farmers of western Lamar County, Texas and many more settlers began to come in during the late 1840’s and 1850’s.  Fort Lyday has a historical marker at the location in Lamar County, Texas.

Jacob Lyday served with Captain William B. Stout in the Texas Militia, 1^st Regiment, 4^th Brigade, Red River County Rangers.  He was also a member of the State House of Representatives, representing Lamar County in November 1853.

Sylvia B. Kennedy, Descendant