Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 281 - 282  

ROBERT T. LEACH, a representative farmer of Minneha Township, owns and occupies a well-improved farm on section 17. He is a native of Wayne County, Mich., and was born March 24, 1834. His parents, C. C. and Mariah (Peck) Leach, were natives of the State of New York, and removed to Michigan in a very early day. At that time Wayne County was almost a boundless wilderness, but few white people living within its boarders, and Mr. Leach, the father of the subject of this sketch, after putting up a rough log cabin, commenced to clear up the tract of land that he had purchased from the Government. For many years hardships, privations, and the want of all the comforts of civilized life, were the lot of this pioneer family. They commenced life on the frontier with but little means, but Mr. Leach being possessed of energy and strong arms, in time worked out an easy competence for himself. On the homestead which he made at that time he died in May 1866. His wife is still living on the old homestead. They were the parents of six children: Louisa; Robert T., the subject of this sketch; Edwin C., Eliza, Malvina A. and Hannah. Eliza is dead. All the others are residents of the State of Michigan. 

     Robert T. Leach was brought up on his father's farm. Reared in the wilds of Michigan at a time when it was thinly settled, the advantages for improvement in educational matters were but limited. As soon as he was physically able he was made acquainted with hard work, and that familiarity has clung to him through life. A few short years of school in the old log cabin school-house, with its puncheon door, greased paper window lights and old-fashioned open fireplace, comprised the most of his education. He remained at home with his parents, assisting in the labors of the farm, until 1857, when he went to California. 

     In 1871 he came to Kansas and pre-empted a tract of 160 acres of land, the northwest quarter of section 21 in Minneha Township, but shortly after he disposed of it and purchased the place on section 17, for $1,100, where he now lives. In the spring of 1872 he returned to Detroit, Mich., for a wife, and on the 14th of March of that year led to the altar Miss Susan H. Van Houten. She is a native of Salem, Washtenaw Co., Mich., and was born Sept. 15, 1845. Her father and mother, Ralph and Mariah H. Van Houten, were natives of the State of New York, and moved to Michigan in an early day, settling among the pioneers who broke the way for progress and civilization into that then wild country. They were the parents of twelve children, as follows: Eliza, Henry, David, Sarah Jane, John, Susan, Alsina, Bell, James, Nellie, one who died in infancy, and the Mrs. Leach of this sketch. All are living in Michigan, except Mrs. Leach, and Nellie, who is a resident of California. 

     Mr. and Mrs. Robert Leach have been blessed with an interesting family of five children, viz: Frank, Sidney, Cassie M., Nettie A. and Harry. Frank was born March 29, 1873; Sidney, Oct. 10, 1875; Cassie, Sept. 22, 1877; Nettie A., March 27, 1879; Harry, Jan. 8, 1881. In politics, Mr. Leach clings strongly to his fealty to the Republican party. He has been honored by his fellow citizens by having had bestowed upon him the office of Township Treasurer, and held that position for ten consecutive years. He is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, and takes great interest in their work. 

     Mr. Leach's farm contains 320 acres of some of the finest land in the township, 140 acres of which are well improved, and brought to a high state of cultivation. He has a handsome and comfortable residence, and a neat and spacious barn and all the necessary out-buildings. A fine bearing orchard of 320 trees, including several varieties of pear, cherry, peach and apple, is one of the features of the place. He gives great attention to stock-growing, especially graded stock and Poland-China and Berkshire hogs.

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