General Joseph B. Leake was born April 1, 1828, at Deer field, Cumberland County, New Jersey. His family were early settlers of that colony and of Welsh descent. His parents removed to Cincinnati at an early day, where Joseph prepared for college. He graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1846, and then studied law with Hon. W. S. Groesbeck until he was admitted to the bar, January 16, 1850, after which he practiced law in Cincinnati for about six years in partnership with Judge Stallo, United States Minister to Italy during President Cleveland's first administration. From there he removed to Davenport, Iowa, and was a member of the Iowa Legislature during what was known as the "war session,” in 1861, and afterward represented Scott County in the State Senate. At the second call of President Lincoln for volunteers in 1862 he resigned his seat in the Senate, recruited a company, of which he was elected captain, and was mustered into the Twentieth Iowa Infantry. He was com missioned lieutenant- colonel upon the organization of the regiment, and as such commanded it until the close of the war. He first served in the army of the frontier under General Schofield, and afterward under Generals Blunt and Herron. In the spring of 1863 General Herron's division, to which Colonel Leake's regiment belonged, was sent to aid in the siege of Vicksburg. He also participated in the capture of Yazoo City and then was sent to Port Hudson, and thence to New Orleans. The division was ordered to Morganza, and in an engagement, while on this expedition, Colonel Leake was wounded and captured and sent to Tyler, Texas, remaining there until July, 1864. He was exchanged in that year and sent to New Orleans, afterward participat ing with his regiment in the capture of Forts Gaines and Morgan. He was next ordered into Arkansas during Price's raid, and in the spring of 1865 his regiment was attached to the Thirteenth Army Corps, Army of the Gulf. He joined in the operations against Mobile and assisted in the siege and capture of Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort, the regiment remaining in that city until the close of the war, when it was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa, in the summer of 1865. General Leake was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers for bravery on the field. He resumed the practice of law in Davenport, and in the same fall was elected to the State Senate on the Republican ticket, serving throughout the session, and doing much to shape its legislation. In 1867 he resigned his seat in the Senate and devoted himself to the law, serving in the meantime as attorney for Scott County, and as a member and president of the board of education of Davenport. He removed to Chicago in November, 1871, while the ruins of the city were yet smoking, and in 1873 formed a partnership with Captain William Vocke under the firm name of Leake & Vocke. General Leake was appointed, September 4, 1879, United States District Attorney for the northern district of Illinois, a position which he filled with marked ability for four and a half years. On September 21, 1887, he was elected attorney for the board of education of the City of Chicago, and served as such until July, 1891. He is an accomplished scholar and an able and successful lawyer. He is a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion - of which he was State commander from 1894 to 1895 —the Chicago Literary Society, the Union League Club, the Germania Club and the Union Club.
BIOGRAPHIES