LEEPER, John W.

LEEPER, GIBLER, MCKENNA, COLLIER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/27/2015 at 10:38:24

Obituary ~ John W. Leeper
October 28, 1850 ~ June 20, 1913

Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa

Obituary.

JOHN W. LEEPER for many years a well known resident of Decatur county, having served two terms as county recorder, a brother of J. E. LEEPER, of near Leon, died at St. Louis, Mo., last Friday. His body was brought to Leon Sunday noon for interment in the Leon cemetery.

JOHN W. LEEPER was born at London, Adams county, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1850, and was 62 years and 8 months and 3 days of age at the time of his death. With his parents he came to Decatur county, Iowa, in 1870. He taught school in Morgan, Burrell, and Eden townships for a time, and later became a clerk in the store of Warnock & Bowman, the pioneer merchants of Davis City, and afterwards clerked for Bechtel & Co., of Leon.

In the fall of 1876 he was elected county recorder, and was re-elected in 1878. At the expiration of his term of office he accepted a position with the C. B. & Q. R. R. Co., in the office of charge of the right or way department. This position he held until about ten years ago. At the time of his death he was connected with a big oil company with headquarters at St. Louis.

Mr. LEEPER was married to Miss LUCINDA GIBLER, at Davis City to June 1873, and to them were born one son and one daughter. Mrs. LEEPER died at their home in Burlington on Jan. 15, 1901, the daughter having preceded her in infancy. The son, now a resident of St. Louis, was married at Burlington, his wife living but three weeks after their marriage.

He is survived besides his son by four brothers and two sisters. THOMAS M. LEEPER of Columbus, Ohio: JAME S. LEEPER of Harrison, Idaho: JOSPEH E. LEEPER, of Leon, Iowa: ROBERT N. LEEPER, Saline, Mo: Mrs. T. B. MCKENNA and Miss ELLA LEEPER of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. On account of the distances of separation, the only ones of these present at his burial were J. E. and R. N. LEEPER, and a sister-in-law, Mrs. F. I. COLLIER and son, of Burlington, Iowa.

JOHN LEEPER was a congenial, whole souled man, who made friends of all he came in contact. He had many old time friends in Decatur county who learned of his death with deep regret.

Interment was in the Leon cemetery Sunday afternoon, the funeral services being in charge of Rev. JAS. W. JOHNSON, pastor of the Leon Christian church.

Transcription by Sara Rose Joan LeFleur