Jeff Dyer has always been fascinated with history, especially genealogy — but he never thought he’d come into possession of an undiscovered family heirloom.

In the process of researching his ancestors he found out his great-great grandfather was killed as a soldier in the Civil War — and was awarded a medal that was never claimed.

After several months of paperwork and waiting, Dyer retrieved the 140-year-old medal that was originally meant to go to his great-great-grandmother.

Dyer, 52, an Anderson native, first got drawn into genealogy when his oldest son was born 14 years ago because family became a priority to him. His grandmother was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, and he also helped his sister become a member as well. Dyer, who is a lab technician for the Purdue University College of Technology in Anderson, began tracing his family history, and some lines went pretty far back.

“These people are not just names on a tombstone or names on a document,” Dyer said. “They were living, breathing human beings, who had friends, families, had conversations like you and I, and worked.”

One of the lines Dyer traced the farthest back is to his great-great-grandfather Thomas Dyer, an ancestor on his father’s side.

Thomas Dyer had lived in southern Ohio with his wife Meribah and their two children, Nancy and Elias, when he decided to fight for the Union in the Civil War.

When he was 30 years old, he enlisted in the Army in what was soon going to become West Virginia and was mustered in on February 20, 1862. He joined the K Company, 5th Regiment infantry of volunteers.

“I thought, what would motivate someone to go join the service in a war like that?” Jeff Dyer said.

“I think of the situation now — with a wife and two small children, 5 and 2, why would he go off to war? Was he patriotic and wanted to save the union? Or did he need the money and did it for economic reasons? Or was he having family problems and this was an escape?” he said, chuckling, adding that he hoped the latter wasn’t the reason.

Dyer has photocopies of his ancestor’s muster role cards — which showed Thomas Dyer entering as a private and rising to corporal rank. The cards were a type of time card or pay voucher. The last few, though, state: “Killed in action at Lexington, Virginia. June 11/64.”

According to documents, Dyer enlisted for three years, but didn’t make it that far. He was killed just over two years after enlisting, but Jeff Dyer hasn’t been able to find out exactly how.

“I have followed the activities of the 5th regiment and they did not engage in major battles,” he said. “These were just skirmishes as they were moving.”

Through his research, Dyer found out that 26,099 medals were minted in West Virginia for the Union veterans of the state’s military units. Almost 5,200 were still unclaimed and he realized one of them belonged to his great-great-grandfather.

When these medals were minted around 1866, the government sent out a notice to inform soldiers and their families of the medals, even years after they weren’t claimed. It was hard tracking families down, especially since many were from out of state or moved around.

“In my case, my great-great-grandmother, her husband was deceased so maybe she didn’t find out since she was in Ohio,” Dyer said. “Or maybe she had no interest since she had remarried.”

Meribah Dyer never received her husband’s medal, but did get a pension of $12 a month, beginning years after his death, according to a document from the Bureau of Pension.

The medal stayed in a vault in West Virginia for over a hundred years, probably untouched, until Dyer requested it.

Dyer did all the paperwork needed, including documentation proving his lineage with birth certificates for himself, his father Robert, grandfather John, great-grandfather Elias and finally Thomas Dyer. After waiting six months, the government, who needed to make sure no other closer heir would try to retrieve the medal, sent him a little package.

Inside the package was a small manila envelope holding a flat, slightly stained white box. Scribbled in cursive, penciled-in words on the box was Thomas Dyer’s name and his Army information.

“The packaging is as unique as the medal,” Dyer said. “After all these years the box is still intact. And the handwriting — somebody in 1867 wrote that in pencil on those things.”

Inside the box was a bronze medal and pin and a burgundy, white and blue ribbon attached to it, which Dyer believes faded from its original colors of the American flag.

According to Dyer’s research, the bronze medals made of copper were made in three different designs to honor different kinds of soldiers. The medals were not to cost more than $1 each to make, according to Dyer’s research. The greatest number of medals given out were for the “Honorably Discharged,” which depicts a figure of Liberty about to place a laurel upon the head of a soldier.

The medals announcing “For Liberty” were given to families of soldiers who died of disease and wounds received in battle. The medals show a figure of Liberty holding a drum and a soldier with his right arm in a sling.

The medal that was meant for Thomas Dyer, and that many others received, was for those “Killed in Battle,” as stated on the pin. The round medal hanging from the pin shows a battle scene with a mounted officer, his sword drawn as he leads a group of soldiers carrying fixed bayonets and a flag. Also in the scene are dead bodies on the field, fleeing troops and a dismounted canon.

On the back of the medal there is a wreath with the words “Presented by the State of West Virginia.” And, inscribed along the rim is Thomas Dyer’s name, rank, and regiment number.

“Old stuff is cool,” Jeff Dyer said, smiling as he held the medal.

“Something that old — 140 to 150 years old — that’s just awesome-. It’s great to find something in pristine condition and in such excellent shape for being that old. And it has my name on it — Dyer.

“That war touched so many people,” he said. “Most of us had someone fight or be involved in the Civil War. It’s interesting to see how your family fits into history like this.”

Dyer currently keeps the medal in its original package inside a lockbox, but eventually would like to get a display case for it. The medal is beautiful and historic, but Dyer cares more about what the medal represents.

“A human being did something that changed his life,” Dyer said. “If he had not been killed, things would have been different. His wife would not have remarried, families may not have moved, paths may not have crossed. Maybe I wouldn’t even be here.”