Leedham, Thomas

LEEDHAM, MISSENS, GREEN, WELCH, PIPPING, JORDAN, PRICE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/28/2003 at 14:18:15

THOMAS LEEDHAM. 

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 filled, 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 to 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 R., wife of Frank Pipping; Lillie, wife of Silas Jordan; Frank W., 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. He is widely and favorably known and well 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 Mr. Leedham is independent and always casts his vote for the man whom he thinks the most capable for the position. He 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.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

Additional Note: From: rcmetsker@cox.net
MARTHA NISSON 1795-1873 Was the wife of Thomas Leedham 1796-1838. SHe then married Samuel Green and her oldest son Henrey H Green was a local minister in IA and wrote a book in 1911 "The simple Life of a Commoner" where he said his mothers name was Nisson. So I have to go along with his recollections.