Jackson County, Ohio

Old Folks Interviewed: Thompson Leach

I am a native of Virginia, having been born March 5, 1802, in the county of Fauquier, in the village of Hopewell, which is some fifteen miles from the celebrated battlefield of Bull Run.

It is said that the progenitor or progenitors of the Leaches came over with Lord Baltimore in 1634, and first settled in Maryland.

My father's name was Thomas, and his father's, James. Grandfather married Sarah Legg, by whom he had seven sons and one daughter.

Father married, first, Athildru Athy (Ethrylda Athey). They had four children. Two married - John A. and Margaret. The other two died young. His wife died, and he then married Sarah Owens, by whom he had ten children, viz: Thompson, Fielding, Joshua, Amelia, Mary, Sarah, Phoebe, Jane, James and William - five of each sex. William died young; the others lived to maturity and married, except Fielding, who died on the day of General William H. Harrison's election to the presidency in 1840.

My brothers and sisters were scattered widely. Only one brother is now alive, and three sisters. Jane married Stephen Harper, and resides near Pomeroy, Ohio. The other two reside in West Virginia.

When the war broke out, James was residing near Lookout mountain, in Georgia, and as he would not bend the knee to the rebels, had to sacrifice his property or his life, and he chose the former. He now resides in Brownstown, Tennessee.

When I was nearly nine years old, my parents moved over into Wood county, and settled near Claysville. The opportunities afforded me for obtaining an education were only those of subscription schools, taught in log cabins by Irishmen, Welshmen, Yankees, and now and then by a native Virginian. One of my teachers was David Harris, at whose feet I sat three years. One other was James St. Clair, a scholarly man, who taught me about six months. He was a surveyor, and I desired to learn surveying. He taught me all I could learn in that length of time, and I was an industrious, if not an apt, student. I learned surveying, and have followed it, more or less, all my business life, having acted as deputy surveyor in Jackson county for the past ten years.

I married, first, Rhoda Barnett, in Wood county, West Virginia, December 31, 1826. We had one son, named after me, and she died when he was only ten days old. He now resides in Parkersburg, within the county where he was born. He was sheriff there some years, was treasurer of the county, and now farms some, besides being engaged heavily in business.

After the death of my wife, Rhoda, I came to Washington township, Jackson county, and married Mary Squiers, March 30, 1833. I went back to Wood county, where we lived one year, and then returned to Jackson county, where we have lived since.

We have had eight children, viz: Amanda, James Nelson, Jacob Young, Charles Willis, John Tyler, David Ezra, Robert Spencer and Philip McKenis. Jacob died in early infancy, and Philip when about sixteen years of age.

Amanda married Samuel Willis [sic; Wills], by whom he had seven children. She died February 12, 1867.

James Nelson married Ann Grounds, by whom he had seven children.

Charles was in Nevada the last I heard of him, I know not whether he has married. He was a captain in the war.

John married Margaret Cranblis. They have had but one child.

David married Virginia DeVaughn. They have four children.

Robert resides in Pickaway county, and there married Mary Timmons.

Philip McKenis died July 8, 1864, in the army.

James and John reside on the homestead.

We had five sons in the army during the rebellion, four of whom lived through it.

In 1850, I moved into Jackson township where I now reside, on Salt creek.

I have to-day been asked by a stranger why I moved into and live in such a rough and, to denizens of cities, lonesome country. My answer was - accident. The topography of the country around Salt creek is rough, I know, but it is grand and picturesque. The soil will furnish sustenance for man and his beast, if he will only apply himself industriously and intelligently to its proper cultivation. Indeed, contentment is the source of enjoyment, and I am contented.

I have lived upwards of 73 years, and have resided so long in Jackson county that her high hills, narrow valleys and huge rocks have become familiar to me, and I associate with them the word home! But what we designate by the name of home is only a temporary abiding place here in the flesh. I look for an eternal home beyond the river of life, where the hills and valleys and rocks of earth will be as nothing to me, for I hope to live in one of the many mansions prepared by the Heavenly Father for all his obedient children.

The Pike County Republican - Waverly, Pike Co OH; July 8, 1875