Lydia Catherine Herlan was born in Warsaw, New York on December 20, 1849 to Franz Herlan and Carolina Demarez. She married John Schmitt Anthes in Kitchener, Ontario on June 27, 1866. Together they had seven children: Caroline Catharine "Carrie"; Frank; John Isaac Franklin "Frank"; Sarah Magdalena, who died in infancy; Lydia Louisa "Louisa", Martha Melvina; Ella Elmina; and Alvin Burton Charles, who also died in infancy. Lydia died February 22, 1936 and was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener.