Bruce R. Leydig, a prominent member of the Butler county bar and an able lawyer, is a native of Ohio. He was born in Muskingum county in 1861, and is a son of Joseph A. and Winnie A. (Shirer) Leydig, the former a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. Joseph A. Leydig, the father, was a member of Company E, Ninety-seventh regiment, Ohio infantry, and was killed at the battle of Franklin, Tenn. He left a widow and two children, James V., of Clifford township, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, and Bruce R., the subject of this sketch. Some time after the death of the father, Mrs. Leydig married W. M. Leydig, a cousin of her former husband. One child was born to that union, Harry S. Leydig, who now resides in California.

The Leydig family came to Kansas in 1872, and settled in Clifford township, Butler county, where the stepfather bought a relinquishment on a homestead of a quarter section of land, and here spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1886, and the mother survived for a number of years, and passed away in 1907, in Clifford township.

Bruce R. Leydig attended the public schools in Muskingum county, Ohio, before the family removed to Kansas, where his education was continued in the public schools. In 1877 he returned to Ohio, and attended Spencer's Normal School, at Adamsville, Ohio, until 1881, when he returned to Butler county and followed teaching until 1884. He then read law in the office of Judge A. L. L. Hamilton, and was admitted to the bar, May 20, 1885. Shortly after Mr. Leydig was admitted to the bar, his stepfather died, and he returned to the home place in Clifford township to assist in its management, and remained there until 1890. He then became associated with Judge Hamilton in the practice of his profession, under the firm name of Hamilton & Leydig, and this firm continued for twenty-six years. On March 1, 1916, Mr. Leydig became associated with Karl M. Geddes, under the firm name of Leydig & Geddes. They have well equipped and commodious offices on West Central avenue, opposite the court house, and the professional association of Messrs. Leydig and Geddes has resulted in a large clientage to the firm, both of these gentlemen being well known

throughout Butler county and this vicinity of Kansas, as capable lawyers of broad experience.

Mr. Leydig was married in 1888 to Miss Lizzie Spier, of Fairmount township. She is a daughter of Robert Speir, a Butler county pioneer who bought his place in Fairmont township in 1873, and brought his family here three years later. To Mr. and Mrs. Leydig have been born three children, as follows: Marie, a graduate of the El Dorado High School, and afterwards taught in the El Dorado schools; Robert, a graduate of the El Dorado High School, and now a student at the State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kans.; and Raymond, a student in the El Dorado schools.

Since casting his first vote, Mr. Leydig has always supported the policies and principles of the Republican party. In 1907, he was elected to the State legislature, and, during the following session, was a member of the judiciary committee, and was active in the furtherance of much important legislation that was enacted during that session. Mr. Leydig has taken a commendable interest in local affairs, and has served as a member of the school board, and has also been a member of the city council, and city attorney of El Dorado. Mr. Leydig is a close student of the law, and is recognized as one of the leading trial lawyers and counsellors of Butler county, and has the reputation of being able, fair, and fearless as a lawyer.

Previous | Main Page | Biography Index | Next

Pages 586-587,