Leedham, William

LEEDHAM, MISSEN, NISSEN, GREEN, WLATER, DUNN, ALBAN, COLLINS, PHILBERT, SIMMONS, SCHREINER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/28/2003 at 14:20:33

WILLIAM LEEDHAM. 

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, he 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.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.
Additonal 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. Bob Metsgar