The Leedham Family of Clinton County, Iowa

Among the old and honored residents of Lyons, probably none stand higher in public esteem than William Leedham, who for twelve consecutive years has so ably filled the office of assessor. He was born in Lincolnshire, England. January 8, 1825, a son of Thomas and Martha (Missen) Leedham, and a grandson of Thomas Leedham, Sr., an extensive farmer and shepherd of that country. The father, who was a native of Elsham, Lincolnshire, and a man of naturally a strong constitution, died in 1838. at the age of forty-two years.- The mother was born in Bundy, England, and after the death of her husband married Samuel Green, with whom she came to the United States, in 1853, and located in Lyons, Iowa. Here she died, when over seventy years of age. The children by her first marriage were: Rebecca. John, William, Elizabeth, Thomas, George and Mary; while those by the second union were: Harry. Clara and Frederick.

At the age of sixteen years, William Leedham left home and went to Lincoln, where he served a three years' apprenticeship to the butcher's trade, and later worked as a journeyman for his preceptors. On leaving them he spent five years in Wooton, England, and at the end of that period came to America. Having an uncle living in Burlington, Iowa, he first stopped at that place, for a short time, but in June, 1852, came to Lyons, and was the first to embark in the butcher business at that place. After buying a beef he would shoot it on the prairie, cut it up, and, putting it into his wagon, would peddle it to the settlers. After being thus employed for three years, he opened a small shop in Lyons, but continued to peddle meat throughout the surrounding country for ten years, and found the business quite profitable. He would work at odd times at anything which he could find to do, and in this way secured a start in life. He was finally able to purchase an ox team, and commenced hauling wood. In payment for wood he once took a village lot of William Talbott, and also secured a small frame house by working for Professor Lake. This he moved on to his vacant lot. and took up his residence there, having previously lived in a log house on the river bank, which he had rented. In connection with the butcher business he dealt in live stock, which he shipped to Chicago, and continued to successfully engage in that business until rheumatism forced his retirement in 1887. He had prospered, and is to-day the owner of considerable property. On coming to Lyons he had only twenty-five cents in his pocket, but possessed a strong constitution and an ambitious spirit, which enabled him to overcome the difficulties in his path and reach the goal of success.

Before leaving England, Mr. Leedham was married in Hibaldstow, to Miss Mary Walters, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Dunn) Walters, and to them were born the following children: (1) Mary

Ann, wife of W. H. Alban; (2) Thomas George, deceased; (3) Martha Jane, deceased; (4) Elizabeth, wife of E. H. Collins; (5) William, who married Belle Philbert; (6) John, who married Elizabeth Simmons; (7) Charles H., who married Elizabeth Schreiner; and two who died in infancy. The wife and mother departed this life in 1873, at the age of forty-two years. For forty years Mr. Leedham has been an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has served as a trustee for several years. The Republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and in 1889 he was elected assessor of Lyons, which office he has since so creditably and satisfactorily filled. There is not a set of books in the county which present so neat and splendid appearance as his, with not a blot upon them. His hand writing is plain and fine, in fact, is wonderful for one of his age.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

To a student of human nature there is nothing of greater interest than to examine into the life of a self-made man and analyze the principles he has killed, the methods he has pursued, to know what means he has employed for advancement, enabling him to pass on the highway of life many who had a more advantageous start. Among the early settlers of this county who through their own unaided efforts have met excellent success in life is Thomas Leedham, who is now living retired in Lyons, enjoying the competence which he has so truly earned.

A native of England, he was born near Brigg, Lincolnshire, July 21, 1828, and is a son of Thomas and Martha (Missens) Leedham. The father was born at the same place and died in 1838, aged forty-two years. The mother was a native of Lincolnshire, England, and for her second husband married Samuel Green. They came with our subject to Lyons, Iowa, in 1853, and here she died at the age of seventy years. By her first marriage she had seven children, namely: Rebecca, John, William, Elizabeth, Thomas, George and Mary Ann. George died young, but the others all reached man and womanhood. The children born of the second union were Henry, the oldest, elder of the Decorah diocese and resides in Dubuque; Clara and Frederick.

In 1839, at the age of eleven years, Mr. Leedham was bound out for three and one-half years to learn the butcher's trade in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. At the end of that time he went to work for his step-father, Mr. Green, on a farm in Buckinghamshire, where he remained until he went to London, where he secured a position at his trade and where he remained seven years. With the hope of bettering his financial condition he emigrated to America in 1853 and took up his residence in Lyons, Iowa. He at once turned his attention to his chosen calling, becoming the first butcher of the place. He rented a house and used his cellar for his market for some time. He began business in a small way and for three years spent two days a week in peddling meat throughout the country, supplying all the settlers within a radius of ten miles. When he bought a steer he shot him on the prairie, there being no fences in this locality at that time, and then drew him to market. Mr. Leedham purchased two lots, and later sold one of these for cash, devoting the proceeds to the purchase of horse, wagon and fixtures.

In 1862 he disposed of his property here and returned to England on a visit. On again coming to this country he resumed the butcher business in Lyons, and erected the building now occupied by Baldwin Brothers as a hardware store. He was also extensively engaged in buying and shipping cattle to Chicago and other markets at the rate of five to seven carloads at a time for many years, and was one of the largest cattle dealers of the county. At this time the nearest railroad station was Marshalltown and all the cattle which he purchased around Des Moines, Iowa, were driven across the prairie to that point. In 1879 he visited his birthplace and again in 1896. Subsequently he conducted a market where his son George is now engaged in business, and continued to carry on the same until April, 1901, when he laid aside business cares and is now living a retired life in the enjoyment of the fruits of former toil.

Mr. Leedham was married in 1849 to Miss Ann, daughter of Thomas and Martha Welch, of Buckinghamshire, England. She was born in 1826, and died in 1896. The children born of this union were Julia Ann, wife of George O. Welch; Thomas George, a butcher of Lyons; Emily P., wife of Frank Pipping; Lillie, wife of Silas Jordan; Frank \Y., who is represented elsewhere in this work; Anna, wife of Thomas Price; and Victoria Leah, at home.

On coming to this country Mr. Leedham was without capital, but so well has he managed his business affairs that he is now the owner of considerable real estate, including a handsome residence in Lyons, which was once the property of Willis L. Parker. During his early life here he was forced to endure many hardships, and has driven cattle across the prairie when the thermometer was down twenty-eight degrees below zero, but he steadily overcame all the difficulties in the path to success and is now quite well-to-do. Pie is widely and favorably known and veil merits the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens. He served as alderman of his ward for four years. Fraternally he holds membership in the Ancient. Order of United Workmen, and he is now seventy-three years of age.

In politics "Sir. Leedham is independent and always cases ins vote for the man whom he thinks the most capable for the position. Pie is a member of the Episcopal church and has for many years been a vestryman.

Mr. Leedham is a stockholder in the Lyons and Fulton and Lyons High Bridge. Besides his handsome Fourth street residence Mr. Leedham owns considerable city real estate and a sixty-seven-acre farm just outside the corporate limits of the city, which he rents.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK W. LEEDHAM.

Local politics in Clinton county have been marked by a strong spirit of independence, and the county officers are chosen by the voters on account of personal merit, and not because of partisanship. This is shown by the fact that the officers are usually divided between the parties, and that officers who have rendered exceptional services have been retained long in office. So in this county more than in most it is a personal tribute to a man to retain him in office for several terms, and it is an indication of unusual merit and a proof of the people's confidence when one man has been twelve years auditor of his county, and during that time has received large majorities, when the most of the officers elected were on the ticket of the opposite party.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

In 1892 Mr. Leedham was married to Blanch Leffingwell. of Lyons, an accomplished lady of especial musical talent. To this marriage have been Ix)rn four bright and interesting children. Flarry L.. Helen A.. Donald W. and Margaret W.

Mr. Leedham is well known to the people of Clinton county as an accomplished accountant, a man whose honor and integrity are such that they have absolute confidence in him, and a courteous and accommodating gentleman. His many friends have been deservedly gained on account of his enduring qualities of manhood.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK W. LEEDHAM.

Among the active and enterprising citizens of Clinton is this well-known public official, who is now so acceptably filling the office of auditor of his native county. He was born in Lyons on the loth of May, 1867, and is a son of Thomas Leedham, whose sketch will be seen on another page of this volume. He passed the days of his boyhood and youth in his native township, and is indebted tk 1 her public schools for his educational privileges, which were supplemented by a course in Griswell's College in Davenport. He began his business career as assistant bookkeeper with the Lyons Lumber Company, and later accepted a position in the office of W. J. Young & Company, where he filled different positions in ' their office und 1890, when his health failed and he was obliged to return to his father's farm with the intention of soon goingto. the mountains of Colorado, but was not well enough to leave for some time, having had a hemorrhage. Owing to his outdoor exercise, he improved, however, and as soon as he had sufficiently recovered he commenced buying and shipping cattle. While engaged in this business he was on horseback most of the time, and this proved very beneficial to his health, so that he has entirely recovered, and is to-day a fine specimen of strong, robust manhood.

Mr. Leedham was married in 1892 to Miss Blanche Leffingwell, a daughter of Charles Leffingwell, of Lyons, who was a son of Judge William E. Leffingwell, and who was accidentally killed while hunting when about thirty years of age. His wife was a daughter of Dr. Westbrook, one of the oldest physicians of Lyons.

Mr. and Mrs. Leedham are the parents of three children: Harry L., Helen A. and Donald W. Mrs. Leedham when a young lady took up vocal music and studied under Miss Lincoln, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, for about two years, and for many years has taken a prominent part in musical affairs in Clinton, singing in the various churches of both Clinton and Lyons.

In his" social relations Mr. Leedham is a member of the blue lodge, chapter, consistory and Eastern Star chapter of the Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Court of Honor and the Knights and Ladies of the Golden Precept. In his political affiliations he is a stanch Republican, and on his party ticket was elected county auditor in 1900. He has since efficiently served in that capacity, and at the same time has filled the position of president of the public library of Lvons. He is pre-eminently public spirited and progressive, and takes an active interest in any enterprise which he believes calculated to advance the welfare of his native county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.