Leigh, William

LEIGH

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/23/2008 at 13:44:27

William Leigh

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.216, Pleasant Twp.)
William Leigh, farmer, P. O. Shelby, was born in Somersetshire, England, October 2, 1831, son of Thomas and Jestina (Cox) Leigh, natives of Somersetshire, England, he, born August 24, 1804, was a merchant, and died as did his wife also, in the land of their birth. The father died in 1875. They were the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Our subject received a good education in Taunton, England. He came to the United States in 1855, landing in new York. He lived in Connecticut for two years, where he clerked in a grocery store in Bridgeport, that State. He came to Johnson County, this State, in 1857, and was a merchant in Iowa City for eight years. He came to Pleasant Township in 1875, and purchased 160 acdres of land at $12.50 per acre. He built a one-and-a-half-story frame house, 32 x 16, 16 x 20 and 16 x 16, set out a grove and built a large barn and other buildings. He has a farm in Shelby County of 220 acres, and one in Harrision County of 240 acres. He carries on general farming and deals in stock and grain. He was married, in Bridgeport, Conn., June 16, 1856, to Johanna Doray, born on the Isle of Jersey, England, April 20, 1828, daughter of John and Harriet (Winsey) Doray, he born on the Isle of Alderney, England, June 20, 1801, she born in Guernsey, England, September 19, 1803. Mr. and Mrs. Leigh have three children - Thomas Doray, born may 31, 1857;p Alfred Henry, February 28, 1865, and Ada Eliza, November 6, 1866. In religion, our subject is an Episcopalian, and in politics he is a Republican.