George W. LESAN, an early settler of Ringgold County, and an enterprising farmer of Poe Township, is a native of Penobscot County, Maine, born February 11, 1830, a son of John and Elizabeth (BROOKS) LESAN, also natives of Maine. In 1831 his parents moved to Ohio, and in 1836 to Illinois, where the mother died in 1852. George W. is the sixth of twelve children, six of whom are living. He commenced the battle of life for himself when twenty years of age, and in 1853 was married to Mary M. LEASURE.

In the spring of 1855 he came to Iowa, and entered 280 acres of land from the Government. His first dwelling in the county, which was also the first one in Mt. Ayr, was a round-log cabin, 16 x 18 feet, covered to clapboards, with the ground for the floor for some time, until one of puncheon could be substituted. He lived in this house ten years, and opened up his farm. His present residence is commodious, and his farm buildings are large and comfortable.

Before the railroad was built the town was laid out and called Lesanville, but on the advent of the railroad the name was changed, and both village and postoffice are called Lesan. He established the first store in the place, which at present is conducted by his nephew, Arthur L. LESAN, his son, O. L. LESAN, being postmaster, appointed in April, 1884.

Mr. LESAN has had a family of seven children, but four are living – Laura E., wife of A. F. BEARD; Owen L., Burrett M. and Cassius T.

Mr. LESAN has served his township as justice of the peace, trustee and supervisor. He is an intelligent, public-spirited citizen, lending his influence to the side of law and order.

NOTE: John LESAN was born in Boothbay, Maine, August 3, 1796, and died in Ringgold County, Iowa, December 4, 1874, with interment at Sweet Home Cemetery, Lesanville, Ringgold County, Iowa. John was a famer and a broommaker. Elizabeth (BROOKS) LESAN Was born October 21, 1799, Waldoboro, Maine, the daughter of Thankful (COLAMER) (1771-1837) and David BROOKS (1772-1831). She died January 15, 1852, Osceola Grove, Illinois.

George W. LESAN, his brother David M. LESAN and his brother-in-law Carlos LEE were the first settlers in Poe Township of Ringgold County, Iowa.

George W. LESAN married on March 13, 1853, Stark County, Illinois to Mary Melissa LESAN who was born February 27, 1837, Sebec, Maine, the daughter of Charles I. LESAN (1806-1889) and Mehitable (PRATT) LESAN (1813-1852). George's father John LESAN and Mary's father Charles were brothers, sons of Edmund LESAN (1771-1825) and Mary (PIERCE) LESAN (1773-1852).

George W. LESAN died April 6, 1913, Ringgold County, Iowa. Mary Melissa (LESAN) LESAN was born in Maine on Februry 27, 1837, and died in Mount Ayr, Iowa, on May 4, 1927. George and his wife Mary Melissa were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. George and Mary were the parents of seven childrenn:

1) Walter LESAN, born 1855, Lesanville IA; died 1855, Lesanville IA

2) Burrett Marion LESAN, born circa 1856, Lesanville IA; died 04 Nov 1941, Des Moines IA
    married 1884 Mary Ann "Mollie" McLAREN (1862-1941)
    Children:
      1) Clyde G. LESAN, born 17 Jun 1886, Lesanville IA; died 20 Jun 1960, Ringgold Co. IA
          married 1912 Ringgold Co. IA Jessie M. FULLERTON (1892-1976)
      2) Mary May LESAN, born 20 Jun 1888, Lesanville IA
          married 1912 Frank T. BLANCHARD (1885-1969)
      3) Adelia LESAN, born 25 Mar 1890, Lesanville IA
          married 1921 Des Moines IA Theodore RAMSEY
      4) Jennie June LESAN, born 04 Jun 1893, Lesanville IA
          married 1913 Ringgold Co. IA George Wm. VANCE (1891-?)
      5) Glen Edward LESAN, born 27 Oct 1894, Creston IA; died 1994
          married 1919 Mount Ayr IA Mabel Regina BUTLER (1899-1999)
      6) Hugh Burritt LESAN, born 02 Aug 1897, Creston IA; died 1991, Des Moines IA
          married 1924, Ringgold Co. IA Cleo WHISTLER (1902-?)
      7) Edna D. LESAN, born 14 Jan 1901 IA; died Nov 1969
          married 1923, Des Moines IA Keith E. PRUGH (1900-?)

3) Laura Ellen LESAN, born 27 Jan 1857, Lesanville IA; died 07 Jul 1914, Mount Ayr IA
    married 19 Mar 1875 Albert F. BEARD, born 17 Jul 1849 VA; died 27 May 1912, Mount Ayr IA
    Albert was the son of Almira Parish (AIMSBERRY) (1829-1888) & Wm. Ennis BEARD (1818-1864)
    Children:
      1) Henry Clay BEARD, born 26 Jul 1877, Lesanville IA; died 30 Dec 1949, Mount Ayr IA
          married 1903 Anna DUNCAN (1879-1979)
          Child: John Albert BEARD
          Child: Ruth (BEARD) FULLER (1907-2008)
          Child: Margaret (BEARD) DALBEY, born 15 Apr 1910, Mount Ayr IA
      2) James W. BEARD, born 26 Jul 1879, Lesanville IA; died 1979
          married 1905 Bess May BRUCE (1877-1977)
          Child: Louise (BEARD) SLEEZER, born 09 May 1907; died 29 Jul 1975
          Child: Ruthanna (BEARD) WATKINS, born 02 Nov 1915

4) Owen Lovejoy LESAN, born 17 Feb 1859, Lesanville IA; died 19 Apr 1943, Lesanville IA
    married 24 Dec 1884, Ringgold Co. IA Josephine FILBY, born 1869 OH; died 23 Jul 1948
    Children:
      1) Walter Fred, born 1885, Ringgold Co. IA; died 16 Dec 1972, Louisville NE
          married 1905 KS Maud Grace BACHMAN (1886-1980)
          Child: Clarence Ray LESAN, born 30 Aug 1900 KS; died 02 Sep 1972 CA
          Child: Doris E. (LESAN) LIDEN, born 07 Dec 1907
          Child: Vera H. (LESAN) THURMAN, born 04 Dec 1908
          Child: Fred P. LESAN, born 13 Nov 1918
          Child: Laura G. (LESAN) WARREN, born circa 1923
      2) Laura M. LESAN, born 14 Apr 1887, Ringgold Co. IA; died 26 Apr 1909, Ringgold Co. IA
      3) Sigle E. LESAN, born 09 Mar 1889; died 21 Jul 1974
      4) William Albert LESAN, born 18 Mar 1891, Lesanville IA; died Jul 1940
          married 1911 Viola B. MYERS (1891-1974)
      5) George B. LESAN, born 03 Mar 1897, Ringgold Co. IA
          married 1916 Joplin MO Lavina JOHNSTON (1899-?)
      6) Christine LESAN, born 26 Jan 1901, Ringgold Co. IA; died Mar 1943
          married Jun 1917 Baldwin F. COOPER
      7) Frances Maud LESAN, born 08 Apr 1903, Ringgold Co. IA
          married 1926 Kansas City MO Everett B. PENCE, born 1902 MO

5) Wallace LESAN, born 1863, Ringgold Co. IA; died 1863, Ringgold Co. IA

6) Child LESAN

7) Dr. Cassis True LESAN, born 02 Apr 1874, Lesanville IA; died 09 Jul 1932, Mount Ayr IA
    married Sue M. NEELEY (1874-1960)

The LESAN Family is included on Ringgold County's family pages.

Pioneer Life of G. W. LESAN

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. P376-77, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z

To submit your Ringgold County biographies, contact The County Coordinator.
Please include the word "Ringgold" in the subject line. Thank you.