Leonard Washington Leach and Rosannah Morris
Leonard Washington was the second son of William C. Leach and
Nancy Leach.[1]
He was born April 15, 1821, in Ohio Co., KY. Both parents were born in the Montgomery
Co., MD area and migrated to Ohio Co. in about 1799. They came as children with
their parents and other families from the same community under the leadership
of Methodist Episcopal Pastor, Ignatius Pigman. After coming of age in Ohio Co.,
William and Nancy married and began a family that would ultimately produce 5
sons and 3 daughters.
Rosannah (sometimes Rosanna), was the second known
child and first daughter of Holland and Sarah (English) Morris, both
born in VA. The Morris family lived in Grayson Co., KY at the time of the 1820
census. They remained there until at least early 1825, since it was there on
January 2nd when Rosannah was born.[2]
They relocated to Edwards Co. in southeast
IL, in about 1828. They were still there for the 1830 census. For reasons
unknown, the Morris family moved back to Ohio Co., KY prior to 1834.[3]
Leonard
and Rosannah lived in the same small community on the eastern side of Ohio Co. They
met and were married on October 10, 1841. Sometime during the early to
mid-1840s, Leonard’s mother, Nancy Leach, died. The MD native had made the
dangerous journey, first over the Appalachians and then down the Ohio by raft, to
the KY frontier at the turn of the century.
Leonard
and Rosannah’s first known child, Sarah, was born on August 2, 1843.[4]
She, like the other children, was born in Ohio Co. Next would come a son, Ewen,
born on March 29, 1846.[5]
Another son, William Crown, was born on March 23, 1848.[6]
Another daughter, Nancy Ellen, was born on October 1,
1849.[7]
[1]
Though having the same last name, William and Nancy were not related.
[2]
Rosannah's county of birth taken from the marriage license of Nancy Ellen Leach
and Robert Simpson.
[3]
In the 1850 census, the birthplace of Rosannah’s younger brother, James, was
listed as KY and his age, 16, infers a birth year of 1834.
[4]
Sarah Leach was born on August 2, 1843, in Ohio Co., KY. She died on February
22, 1925, and was buried in the Leach Cemetery. She married Henry Martin Van
Burren Allen on November 23, 1857.
[5]
Ewen Leach was born on March 29, 1846, in Ohio Co., KY. He served briefly in
the 17th KY Voluntary Infantry Regiment, Company E. He died in October
or November 1861, most likely of an illness rather than from combat-inflicted wounds.
[6]
William C. was born on March 23, 1848, in Ohio Co., KY. He died on December 12,
1914, in Ohio Co., KY. He married Nancy M. Young on September 28, 1871.
[7]
Nancy Ellen was born on October 1, 1849, in Ohio Co., KY. She died November
19, 1893, and is buried in the Leach Cemetery in Ohio Co. She married Robert
Simpson on June 8, 1865, in Ohio Co., KY.
[8]
Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1850, page 30, District 1.
Page -2-
late 1850 or 1851, Sarah
English, Rosannah’s mother, died.[9]
That left her widowed father, Holland, alone on the farm adjacent to hers. He
would still be there when the next census was taken.
The
1850 non-population census (also known as the agricultural census) provided the
earliest detailed look at the Leach farm and its productivity. That document
shows that Leonard had 18 acres, cleared and under cultivation, and an
additional 100 acres of woodland. The cash value of the farm was estimated at $200.
He owned $5 worth of farm implements. Leonard had two horses, one milk cow, one
other cow, and 30 hogs. The animals were
valued at $90. In the past year, the farm produced 200 bushels of Indian corn, 5
bushels of Irish potatoes, 100 pounds of butter, and 20 pounds of flax. The
value of home-manufactured goods was $10, while the value of animals
slaughtered was $15. Compared to nearby farms in the same reporting district,
Leonard’s operation was small, of average productivity, and with room for
expansion.[10]
As
the farm became prosperous in the 1850s, the family continued to grow. Their
third son, John Henry, was born February 1, 1853.[11]
Keeping things even, their third daughter, Amanda C. was born December 2, 1855.[12]
Their fourth daughter, Hester Ann, was born on June 2, 1857.[13]
That same year, Leonard first appeared in the Ohio Co., KY Tax Lists. Data in
the List, though repetitive year after year, provides a view of the ups and
downs of family fortunes, especially through the turbulent years of the Civil
War. Leonard’s farm was recorded as being 100 acres on Caney Creek (in the
eastern part of the County) and was valued at $400. The farm was being worked
by one white male over 21. There are 4 children at home between 6 and 18 years
of age. Leonard owned one horse, valued at $75. He has $5 in valuables (gold,
silver, watches, clocks, etc.), The farm was valued at $475.[14]
Their
firstborn, Sarah, married Henry Martin Van Buren Allen on November 23, 1857, in
Ohio Co., KY. They would take up residence very near Rosannah and Leonard.
There
is no surviving tax data from 1858.
The 1859 Ohio Co. Tax List data for Leonard was more extensive than most years.[15] Leonard owned a 200-acre farm in the Caney Creek area. It was valued at $400. There is one white male over 21 years of age and five children at home between 6 and 18. He owns two horses ($180), seven cattle, and 25 hogs. In the past year, the farm produced 2,000 pounds
[9]
Ohio Co., KY Death Records exist for 1852-1861. Sarah is not there. So, either
she died in 1850 after that census was taken in September, or sometime during
1851, or at some point during the rest of the decade but her death went unreported.
[10]
U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880, District 55,
1850 data.
[11]
John Henry was born February 1, 1853, in Ohio Co., KY. He died on September 27,
1937, in Ohio Co., KY. In 1902, John Henry served as the Executor of his
father’s estate.
[12]
Amanda C. was born December 2, 1855, in Ohio Co., KY. She died May 10, 1877,
and is buried in the Leach Cemetery in Ohio Co., KY. She married Anthony Maiden
on November 1, 1874. Unlike most of her brothers and sisters, she does not seem
to have done a good job at choosing a mate, as will be noted.
[13]
Hester Ann Leach was born June 2, 1857, in Ohio Co., KY. She died March 14,
1926, in Daviess Co., KY. Hester was buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Daviess
Co., KY. She married Ezra Young on October 2, 1873, in Ohio Co., KY.
[14]
1857 Ohio Co., KY, Tax Lists, p. 29. Tax records were generally reviewed back to
1846. Leonard’s holdings may have been overlooked for the period 1846-1856, as
it is hard to believe that he could have so suddenly become this productive.
[15]
1859 Ohio Co., KY, Tax Lists, p. 33.
Page -3-
of tobacco, 500 bushels
of corn, and 25 bushels of wheat. The total operation was valued at $580. It
seems clear that the farm has become steadily more prosperous.
Their
last son, Leonard C., was born April 1, 1859.[16]
Civil War Years
The
1860 census data confirmed the steady growth of the family and the farm.[17]
Their personal estate was valued at $1,100, and their real estate was valued at
$800 (four times the 1860 value). Rosannah has seven children at home age 16
and under. None of the children attended school in the previous year (the five
oldest should have been in school). In the several pages before and after their
entry, the census is full of close family and in-laws.
The
1860 non-population census provided significantly more detail of the family
finances and the productivity of their farm. That document shows that Leonard
had 65 acres, cleared and under cultivation, and an additional 130 acres of woodland.
The cash value of the farm was estimated at $300, and he had $30 worth of farm
implements. Leonard had five horses, two milk cows, two working cows, six other
cattle, 12 sheep, and 19 hogs, and nine hogs. The animals were valued at $530.
In the past year, the farm produced 83 bushels of wheat, 15 bushels of rye, 200
bushels of Indian corn, 1500 pounds of tobacco, 22 pounds of wool, one bushel
of peas and beans, orchard produce valued at two dollars, 12 bushels of Irish
potatoes and 6 bushels of sweet potatoes, 50 pounds of butter, and 20 pounds of
honey. The value of animals slaughtered was $60. Compared to nearby farms in
the Cromwell reporting district, Leonard’s operation was in the middle of the
pack, productive, and had room to expand.[18]
The County Tax List for the same year provided a truncated review of the same
data with minor differences. His farm was listed as 150 acres and valued at
$700. The farm was worked by one white male over 21, with 5 children at home
between 6 and 18. He owned three horses worth $225, 10 cattle valued at $50, 20
hogs over six months of age. The farm produced 1000 pounds of tobacco, 30
bushels of corn, 80 bushels of wheat, and had an overall value of $975.[19]
Not
surprisingly, the 1861 Tax List tells a story very similar to 1860. No doubt,
western KY, like the nation as a whole, was anxious about what the War would
bring, but the cycle of farm life would continue as it always had. The biggest change
to the farm was its size. In 1860, the Caney Creek farm had been reported as
150 acres. Here, it was reported as being only 72 acres. The land was valued at
$800, a substantial increase. The farm was being worked by one white male over
21. There were also four children at home between 6 and 18 years of age.
Leonard had four horses, valued at $200, 12 cattle valued at $50, and 25 hogs
older than six months. In the last year, the farm produced 1500 pounds of
tobacco, 200 bushels of corn, and 20 bushels of wheat. The total worth of the
farm operation was estimated at $1,050.[20]
There is no surviving tax data from 1862.
[16]
Leonard C. Leach was born on April 1, 1859, in Ohio Co., KY. He died on November
20, 1932, in Daviess Co., KY.
[17]
Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1860, Cromwell District, page 124.
[18]
U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880, Cromwell
District, 1860 data.
[19]
1860 Ohio Co., KY, Tax Lists, p34.
[20]
1861 Ohio Co., KY, Tax Lists, p35.
Page -4-
The
couple’s last child, Margaret J., was born on September 1, 1861[21],
just as the tensions of the War began to be felt in the Green River area. Her
birth proved to be the last joy for several years.
Both
sides actively recruited in Ohio Co. Ultimately, both sides were forced to take
their raw recruits out of Ohio Co. and head north or south, as appropriate, to
train in relative safety. With the outbreak of the Civil War in the Green River
counties in the fall of 1861, Ewen, the eldest son, joined the Union army. He signed up in Hartford on October 28th,
for a three-year stint with the 17th Regiment of the KY Voluntary Infantry.[22]
The regiment had been formed by West Point graduate John H. McHenry, who became
its Colonel. Private Leach was assigned to Company E. His time of service was
to be short. According to his tombstone, Ewen died on November 10th.
As there are no documented engagements of the 17th at that time, it
is likely that Ewen died of a camp disease.
Leonard’s
father, William C. Leach, died in Ohio Co. in early February 1863. He had been
ill and was just recently declared exempt from the County tax levy. Rosannah’s
father, Holland Morris, also died in the 1860s, though the specific date is unknown.
At
the beginning of the War, emotions had run high on both sides. Both believed
that the War would be short and filled with glory. The patriotic fever that
swept the country resulted in quotas being easily met. However, by 1863, war
fever had ebbed as reality set in. There was far less glory than anyone had
imagined. Now, funerals were never ceasing, and the streets were filled with
young men on crutches, with empty sleeves and empty pant legs. Yet, the demand
for manpower was higher than ever. To meet the demand for new recruits, a
conscription act was passed in 1863 that called for every male between 20 and
45 to enroll (or risk losing their citizenship).[23]
This included men who had never served and those who had previously enlisted
and been discharged because of sickness or wounds. In July of that year, Leonard,
now 43 years old, registered as required.
The
1863 Ohio Co. Tax List recorded Leonard’s farm as being 172 acres on Indian
Camp Creek. The land was valued at $700. The farm was worked by one white male
over 21 years of age. There are three children at home between 6 and 18. He
owned three horses valued at $200, one mule valued at $50, eight cattle at $50,
and 35 hogs over six months. In the last year, the farm produced 300 bushels of
corn and 50 bushels of wheat. Leonard had $12 of gold or silver valuables. In a
new Tax List category, one person in the household was listed as in the
militia.[24]
The 1864 Ohio Co. Tax List data changed very little from 1863. The farm was reported as being 169 acres on Caney Creek. The land was worth $600. As before, the farm was being worked by one white male over 21 years of age. There are four children at home between 6 and 18. Leonard is down to just two horses ($150) and one mule ($35). He has eight cattle and 35 hogs. Over the prior years, he had produced 4,000 pounds of tobacco, 500 bushels of corn, and 60 bushels of wheat. The total value of the farm operation was $835. As before, one
[21]
See Death Certificate of Margaret J. Thomas dated Feb. 6, 1940, Daviess County,
KY. Margaret died 30 Jan. 1940. She married Nathaniel J. Thomas.
[22]
Since Ewen died before the Regiment was mustered into Federal service, some
rosters fail to include his name.
[23]
The 1863 Enrollment Act, as it was officially known, sparked the famous New
York City draft riots which left 120 dead. Such strong opposition resulted from
a draftee’s option to engage a substitute or pay $300 to avoid having to serve.
This spawned the saying, “rich man’s war, poor man’s fight”.
[24]
1863 Ohio Co., KY, Tax Lists, p35.
Page -5-
person is serving in the militia.[25]
Leonard also appeared in the IRS Tax Assessment List in September 1864. The
government had purchased four slaughtered hogs from him for $10 each. They then
determined the class of the exchange and assessed him accordingly for $0.24.[26]
The
1865 Ohio Co. Tax List reflects a general increase in the valuation of everything
as the nation began to recover its native optimism.[27]
The 169 acres of farmland were valued at $1,200. As before, the farm was worked
by one white male over 21 years of age. There were six children at home between
the ages of 6 and 20. Leonard again owned five horses ($240). He also had 10
cattle and 10 hogs. Over the prior year, he had produced 500 bushels of corn,
45 bushels of wheat, 3 tons of hay, and 4,500 pounds of tobacco. The total
value of the farm operation had increased substantially and now stood at $1,400.
One individual was still serving in the County militia. In February of 1865,
the Ohio Co. and Grayson Co. militias responded to incursions by Confederate guerrillas
in the Caney Creek area at the foot of “Leach Hill” (along modern-day US 62).
By the end of the skirmish, six Rebels were dead and many captured. Only one
Union militia soldier was killed. Since the action took place in Leonard’s
“backyard,” it is safe to assume that he was engaged.[28]
The
final year that Ohio Co. Tax Lists have been reviewed is 1866.[29]
Leonard’s farmland (170 acres) on Caney Creek was valued at $1,000. Beginning a
practice that would soon lead to licensing, the County wanted to know if he
owned a dog. He did, just one. Leonard reported that one of his sheep (valued at
$4) had been killed. He owned four horses ($300), five cows ($100), and 14
hogs. The farm produced only 300 pounds of tobacco, 2 tons of hay, 750 bushels
of corn, and 75 bushels of wheat. The value of the total farm operation was
$1400. In a change that cannot be explained, there was only one child at home
between 6 and 20. One person was still serving in the militia.
The
family was still living in the Caney District of Ohio Co. at the time of the brief
1870 census.[30]
Six children remained at home, from William (22 yrs) to Margaret (8 yrs).
Leonard’s large farm was valued at $2,000, and his personal estate was valued
at $1,500. Clearly, the family was prospering. Amazingly, only 10-year-old
Leonard C. was in school, though he still could not write. His older siblings,
Amanda (14) and Hester (13), could neither read nor write and were not
attending school. As before, Leonard and Rosannah are surrounded by farms
belonging to their older children and their spouses, and a multitude of
relatives and in-laws.
The 1870 non-population census provided significantly more detail of the family finances and the productivity of their farm. That document shows that Leonard had 65 acres, cleared and under cultivation, and an additional 130 acres of woodland. The cash value of the farm was estimated at $300, and he had $30 worth of farm implements. Leonard had five horses, two milk cows, two working cows, six other cattle, 12 sheep, and 19 hogs, and nine hogs. The animals were valued at $530. In the past year, the farm produced 83 bushels of wheat, 15 bushels of rye, 200 bushels of Indian corn, 1500 pounds of tobacco, 22 pounds of wool, one bushel of peas and beans, orchard produce valued at two dollars, 12 bushels of Irish potatoes and 6 bushels of sweet potatoes, 50 pounds of butter, and 20 pounds of honey. The value of
[25]
1864 Ohio Co., KY, Tax Lists, p37.
[26]
U.S., IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918, KY. Given the amount of food
required to feed the army in the field, it is surprising that only a few of the
farmer ancestors appear on this list.
[27]
1865 Ohio Co., KY, Tax Lists, p36.
[28]
Louisville Journal, February 16, 1865, page 1.
[29]
1866 Ohio Co., KY, Tax Lists, p38.
[30]
Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1870, Caney District, page 4.
Page -6-
animals slaughtered was $60.
Compared to nearby farms in the Cromwell reporting district, Leonard’s
operation was in the middle of the pack, productive, and had room to expand.[31]
As
the Leach children became of age, the 1870s would see a string of marriages. William
Crown married Nancy Young on September 28, 1871. Hester Ann married Ezra Young
on October 2, 1873. Their third daughter, Amanda C., married Anthony Maiden on November
1, 1874, in Ohio Co. However, their marriage was brief, for Amanda died on May
10, 1877.[32]
She was buried in Leach Cemetery. Hers was the first death of a child of
Leonard and Rosannah since Ewen died at the beginning of the Civil War. It
would be another 20 years before such grief returned. Just shortly after
Amanda’s wedding in 1877, John Henry married Nancy Elkins on December 20th.
As
the 1880s began, the Federal government again conducted a census.[33]
The enumeration districts have been changed since 1870. Though the family has
not moved, they were recorded as residents of the Rosine Voting Precinct. Only
Leonard (59), Rosannah (57), Leonard C. (21), and Margaret J. (18) remain at
home. Leonard continues to farm, and William is helping him in the family
business. Though still surrounded by family and extended family, the general
population growth of the area has introduced many names.
The
1880 non-population census provided significantly more detail of the family
finances and the productivity of their farm. That document shows that Leonard
had 65 acres, cleared and under cultivation, and an additional 130 acres of
woodland. The cash value of the farm was estimated at $300, and he had $30
worth of farm implements. Leonard had five horses, two milk cows, two working
cows, six other cattle, 12 sheep, and 19 hogs, and nine hogs. The animals were
valued at $530. In the past year, the farm produced 83 bushels of wheat, 15
bushels of rye, 200 bushels of Indian corn, 1500 pounds of tobacco, 22 pounds
of wool, one bushel of peas and beans, orchard produce valued at two dollars,
12 bushels of Irish potatoes and 6 bushels of sweet potatoes, 50 pounds of
butter, and 20 pounds of honey. The value of animals slaughtered was $60.
Compared to nearby farms in the Cromwell reporting district, Leonard’s
operation in the middle of the pack, productive, and had room to expand.[34]
The
1880s were the decade when the last of the children married. In 1884, their youngest
child, Margaret, married Nathaniel J. Thomas. Then in 1886, Leonard C., their
youngest son, married Ola T. Cox.
The
decade closed on an ominous note. In 1888, their second oldest daughter, Nancy
Ellen Simpson, had surgery to remove a tumor from her side that had bothered
her for 15 years. Just five years later, on November 19, 1893, three days after
delivering her 13th child, she died. It is not known if the tumor
played any role in her demise. Childbirth was a high-risk activity on its own
at the time. She left Robert with five children under 16 at home. She was 44
[31]
U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880, Caney
District, 1870 data.
[32]
Amanda’s husband, Anthony, quickly remarried. The 1880 census shows the
33-year-old Maiden and his 18-year-old second wife, living next door to Leonard
and Rosannah, likely in the home he had occupied with Amanda. Maiden would have multiple run-ins with the
law, culminating in a stint in Eddyville Prison (many years after Amanda’s
death) for the shooting death of Rice Renfrow. He died in 1906.
[33]
Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1880, Rosine Voting Precinct, page 593.
[34]
U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880, Rosine, 1880
data.
Page -7-
years old. Nancy was laid to rest in the Leach Cemetery. Sadly, no US census
records survive from 1890.[35]
The 1890 Ohio Co., KY Tax List provides only limited insight, noting that the
Leach farm remained at 169 acres and was valued at $1020.
By the 1900 census,
Leonard’s and Rosannah’s farm is in the Cromwell reporting district.[36]
Perhaps as a reflection of their failing health, they do not live alone.
Joining them is their grandson, Coventon Young, 23, and his bride of one month,
Ilonnie, age 15. Leonard is 79, and Rosannah is 75. Rosannah stated that she
had given birth to nine children, but only six are still living. Their son,
William, lives on the next farm with his wife Nancy, four of their children,
and a hired hand. Leonard and Rosannah own their farm outright. Both report that
they never attended school and thus cannot read but are able to write. Much had
changed in their lifetimes. When Leonard was born, there were fewer than 4,000
souls in the county. By 1900, there were over 27,000 living there. Railroads had
replaced the river as the means of getting produce to far-off markets.
Sectional strife had blossomed into all-out war, and that war cost them their
eldest son.
Community Service and Real Estate
Apart
from the ongoing cycle of marriage, birth, marriage and death, available
records sometimes enable a view of the activities and passions of those who
lived in the 1800s and 1900s. These can involve routine notices in the papers,
appearances in court, and the acquisition and disposition of land. As property
records are commonly not yet online, the limited data below generally comes
from notifications in local papers and available court records. Land records
are an area open to further research.
In the day before County Road Departments, citizens took responsibility for the section of the road in front of their house and the government simply paid them for their effort. Some were for plowing, some for hauling, others for viewing, and finally for surveying. It appears that a ‘viewer of roads’ may have identified areas in need of repair. The surveyor then determined what must be done to restore them to their proper grade. Then, gravel was brought in by the hauler. Finally, landowners whose property fronted the roads plowed them to make them level and eliminate ruts. In rural communities, these practices extended through the Depression years of the twentieth century. Like most able-bodied men on main County roads, Leonard took part in this work. On Monday, November 2, 1868, the Court appointed James P. Alford as Surveyor in place of Leonard W. Leach.[37] Mention is rarely made of why a man had chosen to relinquish his duties. The exception to that practice can be seen in Leonard’s next appearance. In this case, on May 2, 1870, the Court appointed Leonard as Surveyor in place
[35]
Portions of the 1890 Federal Census records were damaged by a fire at the
Commerce Department in Washington, DC on 10 January 1921. A watertight and
fireproof vault had been constructed in the basement of the Commerce Department
for the records, but they were inexplicably stacked on the floor outside of the
vault. When the fire began, water was poured into the basement for five hours,
soaking almost 37% of the records (which could have been recovered by modern
methods). Some 38% of the records were undamaged, while 25% were found to have
been consumed by the fire. Because of this fire, the National Archives building
was constructed. It opened on February 20, 1933. However, the very next day,
another arm of the government destroyed the water-damaged portion of the
records in ignorance. This is unfortunate as the 1890 census dedicated a full
sheet to each family.
[36]
Census data, Ohio Co., KY, 1900, sheet 3, Cromwell district. The census taker
recorder Rosannah’s name as ‘Rosaner’. This likely reflected the accent of the
person being interviewed. Coventon and Ilone are listed as married for one
month and yet he is listed as a grandson, and she is listed as a granddaughter.
While both statements are possible, I feel certain that research will show that
only one is. ‘Coventon’, also likely a spelling error as ‘Covington’ is a Young
family name. The person is most likely Mack C. Young, son of Hester Ann Leach
Young.
[37]
KY, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989, Ohio Co. KY, Court Orders, 1868-1874,
Vol. 11-12, page 79.
Page -8-
of J. M. Williams. A note revealed that Williams
had died.[38]
In February 1875, Leonard was paid $1.00 by the Ohio County Court for his work
as a ‘viewer of road’. His name had appeared in the local paper in a long list
of men who had filed claims (mostly for road work).[39]
Later in 1875, perhaps in an effort to scale back his farm operations, Leonard sold some acreage on Caney Creek to his son-in-law, Robert Simpson (husband of Nancy Ellen Leach) for $200. That amount indicates that it likely was a sizeable plot of land.[40] The same article also notes that Simpson bought land of undisclosed acreage in Caney Creek for $300 from Henry Allen, the husband of Leonard’s oldest daughter, Sarah.
In February 1880, Leonard and his second son, William, went deer hunting. The events of the day were recounted in the local paper as a humorous tale, but it could have been quite deadly. Leonard grabbed his double-barrel shotgun and took careful aim at a passing deer. When he pulled the trigger, both barrels were blown off at the breech. Leonard was thrown back into the snow and suffered wounds to the shoulder and chest. The paper reported that it was “A pretty dear hunt”.[41]
In 1880, it was noted that Leonard was selected for service on the Petit Jury (what we commonly refer to as a Trial Jury) of the County Circuit Court with 22 other men.[42] In May 1884, Leonard served on another Petit Jury.[43]
In October 1884, Leonard and his son William, along with nineteen other men, were called to testify in an inquest involving Richard Geary.[44] The outcome of the case was not mentioned in the paper. Later that same month, Geary put his 100-acre farm in Cromwell up for sale. In 1885, it was reported that Geary had departed for Kansas.
In November 1884, a 75-acre plot of land adjacent to Leonard and his son William was to be auctioned off. The Circuit Court case that initiated the sale seems to have been a dispute between the estate of one Henry Allen and his heirs. It is believed that this was Henry Martin Allen, the father-in-law of Leonard’s oldest child, Sarah.[45]
In 1886, after Leonard’s experience on trial juries and as a witness, he was called to serve on the Grand Jury for the Ohio County Circuit Court.[46]
In February 1888, as Leonard became more involved in local politics, he signed a petition, along with most leading men in his Horse Branch community, asking Deputy Sheriff P. E. Hocker to run for Sheriff in the upcoming election.[47]
[38]
KY, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989, Ohio Co. KY, Court Orders, 1868-1874,
Vol. 11-12, page 288.
[39]
The Ohio County News, February 3, 1875, page 3.
[40]
The Ohio County News, May 26, 1875, page 3,
[41]
The Ohio County News, February 25, 1880, page 1.
[42]
The Ohio County News, May 12, 1880, page 3.
[43]
The Ohio County News, May 28, 1884, page 3.
[44]
The Ohio County News, October 1, 1884, page 3. A search of Ohio Co. Court
Orders has failed to turn up details of the dispute.
[45]
The Ohio County News, November 13, 1884, page 3.
[46]
The Ohio County News, November 24, 1886, page 3.
[47]
The Ohio County News, February 29, 1888, page 2.
Page -9-
In
1888, Leonard stood for election as a Judge in the Horse Branch community.[48]
In July 1889, he again stood for election to this office.[49]
In January 1890, Leonard was reimbursed $2.00 for the Judge election.[50]
Again, in July 1890, he stood for re-election to this office. This news article
makes it clear that the term of the office was for one year.[51]
Decline and Death
The
family must have known that the end was near for Leonard. Their daughter,
Hester Young, came in from Owensboro in March, specifically to see her Dad.[52]
Leonard died on October 16, 1903. He was buried in the Leach Cemetery in Ohio
Co. Leonard's tombstone reads, "Farewell wife and children all, From
you a father Christ doth call." When Leonard died, an estate appraisal
was ordered by the Court, with their son, John Henry, acting as the Executor.
The Court further established, on the motion of John Henry, that Robert
Bratcher, Enos Bratcher, and Leonard Leach were to review John Henry’s
inventory and then to set aside for the widow, Rosannah, those things allowed
by law as exempt. [53]
The
inventory and appraisal were conducted on October 30th. Included
were many farm implements and some kitchen and household goods, along with
livestock and fields of standing corn. The inventoried items intended for
disposal were offered for sale the following day. Also offered separately that
day were some of the items that had been set apart for Rosannah. Perhaps she
had no intent of setting up independent housekeeping and chose to dispose of
the items for much-needed cash. The record shows that buyers were primarily
members of the extended Leach family.[54]
A
dinner was given in January 1905 in honor of Rosannah (probably on January 2,
her 80th birthday). The hosts were her son, Leonard C., and his
wife, who lived in White Run. Those present were Rosanna, the hosts, Dr. and
Mrs. L. T. Cox, Mr. and Mrs. Fet Moseley, Mr. and Mrs. Will Crow, Mr. and Mrs.
Leonard Young, Miss Hester Young, Miss Mamie Duncan, and Mr. John Arnold.[55]
Rosannah
died on February 11, 1908. She was also buried in the Leach Cemetery. Rosannah's
tombstone reads, "As a wife devoted, As a mother affectionate, As a
friend ever kind and true."
[48]
The Ohio County News, October 31, 1888, page 3. The same article appeared in
the July 18, 1888 issue of The Ohio County News, page 3. The newspaper articles
are not clear but it appears that the duty is an Election Judge, rather than as
a Judge in the more modern sense.
[49]
The Ohio County News, July 24, 1889, page 3.
[50]
The Ohio County News, January 29, 1890, page 1.
[51]
The Ohio Co. News, July 30, 1890, page 4. In Leonard’s latter years, his son,
Leonard C., began to make his mark in County politics. Like his father, he
stood for various offices.
[52]
Hartford Republican, March 20, 1903, page 3.
[53]
KY, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989, Ohio Co. KY, Court Orders, Vol
22, 1899-1904, p482.
[54]
KY, US Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989, Ohio Co., KY Inventories,
Appraisements and Sales, Vol N-P, 1902-1926, p 144, 7 pages. There are 3 pages
of the actual inventory and 2-1/2 pages of the tabulation of the sale of inventoried
goods (John Henry generally sold the goods for more than the appraised price). In
the inventory there were horse collars, log chains, barrels of scrap iron,
heifers of various descriptions, bed springs, jugs, bread trays, wash tubs, a
gun and a horn (must have been a musket), lamps, tables, mirrors, eleven
quilts, a plow, a wheat fan, a bag of fruit, a sausage mill, and much more.
There were also 1-1/2 pages of the sale of the property of Rosannah, which had
been set apart for her. These items were a bit nicer and included kitchen goods
primarily.
[55]
Article from Messenger-Inquirer, January 6, 1905, page 7.
Page -10-
Notes and
References
- Children of Leonard Washington and Rosanna Morris Leach:
- Sarah Elizabeth
- Ewen
- · William Crown
- Nancy Ellen
- · John Henry
- · Amanda C.
- Hester Ann Frances
- Leonard C.
- Margaret J.
- 1850 Ohio Co., KY census page 033.
|
Name |
Age |
State of Birth |
Comments |
|
Leonard Leach |
27 |
KY |
Farmer, $200 worth of
real estate |
|
Rosanna |
24 |
KY |
|
|
Sara |
6 |
KY |
|
|
Ewing |
4 |
KY |
|
|
William |
3 |
KY |
|
|
Nancy |
8/12 |
KY |
|
- 1860 Ohio Co., KY census page 124. He owns
$800 worth of real estate and $1100 worth of personal property.
|
Name |
Age |
State
of Birth |
Comments |
|
Leonard
Leach |
39 |
KY |
Farmer,
Cannot read or write |
|
Rosannah |
|
KY |
Cannot
read or write |
|
Ewen |
16 |
KY |
|
|
William |
14 |
KY |
|
|
Nancy |
11 |
KY |
|
|
John
H. |
8 |
KY |
|
|
Amanda |
6 |
KY |
|
|
Hester
A. |
4 |
KY |
|
|
Leonard |
1 |
KY |
|
|
Name |
Age |
State
of Birth |
Comments |
|
Leonard
Leach |
49 |
KY |
farmer |
|
Rosannah |
47 |
KY |
keeping
house |
|
William
C. |
22 |
KY |
at
home |
|
John
H. |
18 |
KY |
at
home |
|
Amanda
C. |
14 |
KY |
at
home, can't read or write |
|
Hester |
13 |
KY |
at
home, can't read or write |
|
Leonard |
10 |
KY |
at
home, in school, can't write |
|
Margaret |
8 |
KY |
at
home |
|
Name |
Age |
Occupation |
Self/Dad/Mom |
|
Leonard
W. Leach |
59 |
farmer |
KY/MD/MD |
|
Rosannah
A. |
57 |
|
KY/KY/KY |
|
Leonard
C. |
21 |
|
KY |
|
Margaret |
18 |
|
KY |
|
Name |
Age |
Occupation |
Self/Dad/Mom, Notes |
|
Leonard W. Leach |
79 |
farmer |
KY/MD/MD, married 60
yrs, no school, b. 1821 |
|
Rosaner |
75 |
|
Married 60 yrs, 9
children, 6 living, no school, b. 1825 |
|
Young Coventon |
23 |
farmer |
Married 1 mo., went
to school, b.1876 |
|
Ilonnie |
15 |
|
Married 1 mo., went
to school, b. 1884 |
