IAHENRY-L Archives

From:
Subject: [IAHENRY] Henry Co. Bios-Melville Leach
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 18:43:24 EST

>From “Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County,Iowa”, Acme
Publishing, Chicago, 1888.

Page 362:

MELVILLE C. LEACH, who is Postmaster and agent of the American Express
Company, New London, Henry Co., Iowa, was born in Allen County, Ind., Oct. 19, 1858.
He received a common-school education, and at the age of thirteen left
school and was employed as a cash boy, and from there went to a wall-paper and
paintstore, where he learned book-keeping. At the age of sixteen he started out to
see the world, and “pulled up”at Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed as a
book-keeper in a wholesale paint and paper house. After a year of that
service he returned to Ft. Wayne, Ind., with the hope of improving his health,which
was delicate, and engaged in the butchering business, continuing that line
two and a half years. Mr. Leachthen went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he was
employed as assistant foreman of a large packing establishment. In 1880 he left
St. Joseph and came to New London, Iowa, where he has since resided. For
several years he was employed as a salesman with James McClellan, merchant, and was
appointed postmaster inDecember, 1885, entering upon the duties of the office
Jan. 1, 1886.

Mr. Leach was married at New London, July 21, 1880, to Miss Emma McClellan,
daughter of James McClellan, who was an early settler of Henry County, and
whose history is given elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Leach is a native of New
London, Iowa. Two children were born of their marriage, a daughter and a son:
Mamie E., born May 6, 1882, and Grover, July30, 1885, both born at New London.
Mr.Leach is a Democrat, and took an active part in the last Presidential
election in support of his party’s national and Congressional candidates. He is a
Master Mason, and a member of New London Lodge No. 28, A.F. & A.M. He was
appointed agent of the American Express Company in 1882. In connection with the
post-office and express office, Mr. Leach carries a stock of fruits,
vegetables and confectionery, in which he has built up quite a fine trade, and he is
regarded as one of the enterprising and rising men of the village.

END
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pat Ryan White
Camarillo, CA

This thread:

• [IAHENRY] Henry Co. Bios-Melville Leach by