Leachman, Benjamin

LEACHMAN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/23/2021 at 11:41:12

Source: History of Warren County, Iowa, by Gerard Schultz and Don L. Berry, The Record and Tribune Co., Indianola, Iowa, 1953, p.318

BENJAMIN LEACHMAN
One of New Virginia's long-established business firms is the Leachman Lumber company. The senior member, H. B. Leachman, started in Denver, Colorado, in his teens, to learn the lumber business, and has now spent more than 47 years in a successful and expanding trade. Hehas with him his son Jean and son-in-law Lt. Albert H. Beckett. He also has two sons in the lumber business in the eastern part of the state. The Leachman Lumber company at Des Moines is operated and owned by a nephew of Mr. Leachman. After long years of successful operation, the trade from here reaches well into Clarke, Lucas and Madison counties. Mr. Leachman was early in life in the lumber business in Denver, Colo., Newell, Iowa, and Aberdeen, S. D.
Benjamin Leachman was born Nov. 22, 1871, and was married to Grace Mankey Dec. 24, 1897. Children born to Mr. and Mrs. Leachman are: Robert, May 28, 1899; James (deceased), March 28, 1903; William, Feb. 5, 1905; Jean, Dec. 18, 1908; Altabelle, Nov. 29, 1914. Robert and William are operating the lumber yard in Strawberry Point, Iowa. Lt. Albert Beckett married Altabelle April 16, 1938. They have a son and a daughter: Linda Jean, born March 10, 1940, and William Barker, born June 26, 1943. Mr. Beckett is a native of Ohio and was born Feb. 1, 1912. Jean Leachman, the youngest son of Benjamin and Grace Leachman, was born Dec. 18, 1908, in New Virginia, graduated from the New Virginia high school class of 1926. Jean came up in his father's lumber business. We noted his father started in that business while in his teens. Jean has already beaten his father's record on the start. June 18, 1939, he and Ruth Walker, daughter of S. L. and Birdie Fast Walker, of Knoxville, were married. Jean did not go to Knoxville, but Miss Walker came to teach in New Virginia High School. Mrs. Leachman graduated from Knoxville high school and took a course in music at Coe college. They have two sons: David Rae, born Sept. 18, 1944, and James Walker, born March 15, 1950.-(A.E.S.) [written by Alden Edward Smalley]