Yolo-Solano County CA Archives Biographies.....Leake, Ed E. 1850 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 23, 2006, 5:31 pm Author: Tom Gregory (1913) ED E. LEAKE The editor and proprietor of the Woodland Democrat is a native of Hannibal, Mo., born January 31, 1850, and is the oldest son of the late William M. and Jane F. Leake. Educated in the public schools and the New London Academy, he subsequently worked on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, and, it may be remarked in passing, that he has never lost his interest in farm life, but has consistently maintained that the intellectual, college-bred man can find no wider or more useful field for his talents than the farm offers. He was a powerful advocate of agricultural education fostered by the state, and the establishment of the University Farm in Yolo county was made possible largely by his efforts and those of the men with whom he labored. Mr. Leake taught three terms in the public schools of Ralls county, near his father's home. Coming to California at the age of twenty his first employment was on a farm, near Dixon, in Solano county, after which he taugh [sic] school one year near Bataria. He was successful in this work, and although ties of friendship of lifelong duration were formed between him and his pupils, he never considered adopting pedagogy as his profession. It was but a stepping-stone. In the '70s he accepted the position of acting agent for Wells-Fargo & Co. in Dixon and of deputy postmaster in the store of the late W. E. Ferguson. His abilities won recognition from his superiors in the service and he was appointed agent for the express company, also receiving the appointment of agent for the Southern Pacific Company. Mr. Leake's grasp on political affairs, which has since given him a state-wide reputation, caused his nomination for and election to the assembly from Solano county in 1880, and he served one regular and one special session. He was elected chief clerk of the Assembly in 1883, and again in 1889, with only one vote cast against him. He made such a good record for economy and efficiency that years afterward it was cited, and by his political opponents, to rebuke the methods of those holding the same position. The Red Bluff People's Cause and the River News, both Republican, commended Mr. Leake for saving the state something like $4,000 in the organization of the Assembly. He was a member of the State Board of Agriculture, representing district No. 36, from 1889 to 1891, and was a trustee of the State Library from 1891 to 1893. He was appointed commissioner of public works in 1895, and held the position until 1899. Extremely effective work was accomplished during his administration, but so economically were funds handled that out of the $300,000 appropriation received, $180,000 was on hand when his term of office expired. His faithful service won hearty praise from Republicans as well as Democrats, the press of the state generally commenting on his good work. Mr. Leake has ever been a strong partisan, and has labored with unflagging zeal for the success of the Democratic party; yet, while he is recognized by Republicans throughout the state as a most formidable antagonist, and his support is earnestly sought by every Democratic candidate, many of his warmest friends and admirers are to be found among Republicans as strong in their political affiliations as he is. He has attended every Democratic state convention for nearly forty years, and was a delegate to the national convention in 1896 that nominated Mr. Bryan. He has made state-wide platform campaigns, beginning with E. B. Pond, who was a candidate for governor, Mr. Leake traveling and appearing on the stand with him. In 1898 the California Democrats, recognizing that Mr. Leake would be a strong candidate, urged him to accept the nomination for governor. He was endorsed practically unanimously by the Democratic press, and Republican papers likewise praised him. Mr. Leake positively declined to enter the race, but in 1902 his name was again brought forward, and again he refused. However, the commendation of his newspaper brethren, particularly those of opposite political faith, was very gratifying to him. A few extracts from the Republican press of the state will give some idea. of the esteem in which Mr. Leake was held by those politically opposed to him. Lodi Herald: "No man in his party is more deserving." Solano Republican: "He would be a strong candidate and if elected would make a good officer." Sunday News: "He is a great campaigner and ranks with John P. Irish as an exponent of the principles of the party. He is a popular man and would probably be as strong a candidate as the party could nominate." The Wave: "He is sound timber and worth saving." Placer News-Messenger: "Leake in his general makeup has the necessary material for success and is mighty good timber for governor." Lakeport Avalanche: "If we must have a Democratic governor we know of no man in the state that would suit us better than Ed. Leake." Alameda Encinal: "If the Democrats, by any possibility, could succeed in electing him they would have a governor of whom they might well feel proud." Napa Register: "Leake would lead with as much dignity and dash as any one." Mr. Leake is one of the original Woodrow Wilson men, and though his hearty support would have been given to any one of the candidates before the Baltimore convention, the fact that his favorite was chosen induced his friends to think that it would be an opportune time to once more ask him to accept a nomination, and be his party's candidate for Congress in the Third district. The appeal was made by leading Democrats in different sections of the state, but Mr. Leake insisted that he could serve better by remaining in the ranks. Mr. Leake's journalistic career began in Dixon in 1880, when he became the editor and publisher of the Dixon Tribune. His literary style, command of facts and trenchant pen gained him a wide audience, and offers from the metropolitan papers were extended to him, notably one from the San Francisco Examiner, when the late Philip Eoach was editor-in-chief. An editorial position on the Call was also tendered him. Plowever, he chose to remain a free lance and not accept a salaried position. In 1891 he bought the plant of the Woodland Daily and Weekly Democrat and removed his family to Woodland. He immediately equipped the office throughout with new material, and he has constantly added to the stock and has installed modern improvements till the establishment is second to none north of Sacramento. Yolo county recognizes Mr. Leake as one of its foremost citizens. In extent of reputation, in oratorical ability, in personal acquaintanceship with people of note and in literary versatility he is without a peer in the community. He has been called on to address every sort of public and semi-public gathering that has ever met in Woodland, to extend welcome to delegations and distinguished guests and to write on almost every conceivable subject. But, after all, Mr. Leake has most endeared himself to his fellow-citizens by his public spirit. With a zeal that no prospect of personal reward could incite he has labored for the development of the Sacramento valley and particularly of Yolo county. The cause of good roads, of public improvements and enterprises, has been ably and unfalteringly espoused by him. In 1910 the Woodland Chamber of Commerce requested him to write a booklet on the resources of Yolo county, for which public funds had been appropriated and which the intention was to make it one of the most attractive of its kind ever put in circulation. Mr. Leake was then slowly recovering from a long and very severe illness. Not from any desire to shirk a service he could render his beloved county, but through fear that he was not able to treat the subject asj.t should be he asked to be excused. The men who had the work in" charge continued their importunities, declaring that no one else could perform the task so well as he. He finally consented to undertake it. The expectations of his friends were fulfilled and the wisdom of the selection amply justified. As many and as high enconiums have been bestowed on the booklet as on any similar publication, and have come from the press, individuals and organizations. On August 18, 1871, Mr. Leake was married to Miss Cecelia Snyder of Dixon, Solano county. They have two sons, Ed. I. and Paul E., both of whom are associated with their father in the newspaper business. What is now known as the Woodland Democrat is not located in the town of its birth. The newspaper from which it has evolved was started in Cacheville, Yolo county, in the spring of 1853 by Jernagan & Everts. It was called the Yolo Democrat, and Samuel Euland was editor. It suspended after a three-months' existence. The material was purchased by M. P. Ferguson, who, in November, 1858, began the publication of the Cacheville Spectator, a twenty-column paper. J. T. Howard became associated with Mr. Ferguson and in 1859 took over the business. After conducting the business in Cacheville several years, Mr. Howard removed the stock to Knights Landing, and issued one number of the Knights Landing News, in conjunction with S. L. Snyder. This was printed on August 24, 1859. Two months later S. W. Eaveley bought the outfit and continued publishing it in Knights Landing till 1864, when it was removed to Woodland, the new county seat, and called the Woodland News. Grover & St. Louis became the owners in 1865 and then, for the first time, the paper was Republican in politics. A. A. De-Long was editor. In 1867 the plant was purchased by the Democrat Publishing Company, composed of Judge M. C. Woods, John M. Kelley and H. C. Grover, which issued the Yolo County Democrat from May 1, 1869, to September, 1869. Then William Saunders and H. C. Grover assumed command. Mr. Saunders took complete control in 1870. He enlarged the paper, and under his management it acquired a prestige not before attained. Up to 1877 the Democrat had been published as a weekly, but in June of that year the Daily was issued, and since then both editions have been continuously published. In 1886 Mr. Saunders sold the business to Ruffner & Lee, who disposed of the property in 1888 to Mrs. C. Byrns. She leased it to W. B. Parsons, who was succeeded by Lee & Maxwell. In December, 1891, Ed. E. Leake became the owner. He has edited and published the Woodland Daily and Yolo Weekly Democrat since, and has also conducted a modern job printing office. Of all those who have been connected with the paper since its inception as editor or owner, Mr. Leake, Charles St. Louis and Mayor J. O. Maxwell are the only ones living. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/leake875nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 11.6 Kb