Program

NYS Historic

Subject

People

Location

11 Main St, Laurens, NY 13796, USA

Lat/Long

42.530726, -75.09303

Grant Recipient

Laurens American Legion

John S. Kidder (1830-1905) was born in England and immigrated to America with his family as a boy. They settled in Otsego County, New York, where he worked on his father’s farm. As a young man, he learned carriage-making and eventually started his own business manufacturing carriages in the town of Laurens.

When the Civil War broke out, Kidder enlisted in Company I of the 121^st New York Infantry. In May 1864, he was badly injured by a bullet in the head during a skirmish in Virginia. He was in the hospital for eight months as a result of the injury but then returned to active duty following his recovery. Kidder was promoted several times during his service and mustered out in June 1865 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After the war, he returned to Laurens and continued his carriage making business. Kidder had a wife and three children and was a well-respected member of the community. After a short illness, he died in 1905 at his home in Laurens, which is no longer standing. He was interred in Laurens Village Cemetery.