Born along the Czech-Moravian border, Josef Lidumil Lešikar received early training as a tailor. During the Revolution of 1848, he became a spokesman for political freedom in his homeland. In 1853 he led a group of immigrants to the new Czech settlements in Austin County. Always opposed to slavery, Lešikar spoke out against secession and the Civil War in articles he wrote for Czech and U.S. newspapers. Lešikar married Terezie Silar (1808-1884) and had four sons.