Dallas County IA Archives Biographies.....Leach, Sylvanus M. 1849 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 29, 2011, 3:16 am

Source: See below
Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896)

SYLVANUS M. LEACH, an able financier, who since 1881 has been cashier of the
bank in Adel, Iowa, is a Western man by birth and training, and possesses the
true Western spirit of energy and enterprise. He was born in St. Clair county,
Illinois, September 18, 1849, and is of English descent on the paternal side.
His grandfather, Ambrose H. Leach, was one of five brothers who lived in the New
England States. In early life he removed to North Carolina, where he engaged in
farming. In that State he married, and soon after removed to Tennessee, where he
remained until about 1824, when he became a resident of St. Clair county,
Illinois, casting in his lot with the early settlers of that locality. In 1856
he arrived in Iowa, settling in Van Buren county. He engaged in general
merchandising in Bonaparte, continuing business there until his death, which
occurred at the age of sixty-six years, while his wife passed away at the age of
seventy-three.

   The father of our subject, James W. Leach, was born in Tennessee, and during
his infancy he was taken by his parents to St. Clair county, Illinois, where the
days of his childhood and youth were passed. In 1846 he left home, and the same
year was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Anderson, who was born in St.
Clair county, in 1828, and is of German lineage. Her father, Samuel Anderson,
removed from Pennsylvania to St. Clair county when nineteen years of age, and
was there united in marriage with Miss Hannah Stookey, also a native of the
Keystone State. Her death occurred at her Western home when thirty-four years of
age, but Mr. Anderson long survived his wife. He was a farmer by occupation, but
after the war removed to Decatur, Illinois, where he spent his remaining days,
passing away at the ripe age of eighty-seven years. He was a prominent and
honored pioneer of St. Clair county, and at one time served as a member of the
Legislature, riding on horseback from his home to the capital. At one time he
controlled the cattle interests in St. Clair county, and was one of the
wealthiest men in that section of the State. His family numbered six children,
but only two are now living.

   James W. Leach was one of eight children, three of whom are yet living. Upon
his marriage he located in Clinton county, Illinois, his residence, however,
being just across the line in St. Clair county. There he carried on agricultural
pursuits until 1856, when he removed to Van Buren county, Iowa. Subsequently he
went to Missouri, purchased land, and there made his home for thirty-seven
years, when he was called to his final rest at the age of seventy-three.

   In the usual manner of farmers' sons Sylvanus M. Leach spent the first
fifteen years of his life, and then entered an academy in Bonaparte, Iowa, where
he pursued his studies for three years. On the expiration of that period he
began learning the printer's trade, and at the age of twenty-one secured a
position on the Keokuk Daily, where he was employed for two years. Removing
thence to Osceola, he purchased an interest in The Sentinel, a paper published
in that city, and for seven years was its editor. On selling out he removed to
Adel, which since 1881 has been his continuous place of residence. Forming a
joint stock company, he established the bank of which he has since been cashier,
and his connection with the enterprise has made it one of success. He is an able
financier, a man of sound and careful judgment, and his excellent business and
executive ability is widely recognized.

   His coolness and bravery at one time saved the bank many thousands of
dollars, and the history of the incident is well worthy a place in his life
record. Early in the morning on a certain day in the spring of 1895, just as he
opened the doors of the bank, a man, apparently old in appearance, stepped over
the threshold, and drawing a revolver put over fifty shot in the face and
shoulders of Mr. Leach! Collected and cool he rose to his feet and told the
robber not to shoot any more as the time lock would not open until nine o'clock,
and it was then ten minutes before the hour. The ruffian, however, kicked in a
side door and demanded the silver in sight. Mr. Leach told him to help himself,
which he did, taking about $300. By this time fully twenty men were in front of
the bank and Sheriff Paine had fired two shots in when some one in the crowd,
presumably one of the robbers, called out, "They have gone out the back door."
The sheriff and crowd ran around behind the building, whereupon the robbers
opened the front door and ran down the street, shooting right and left. Jumping
into a buggy which was standing ready they started for the country. A posse was
soon in pursuit and about seven miles from the town succeeded in capturing the
robbers. One surrendered,—a boy of only about nineteen,—but the other took
refuge in a barn. The crowd then made the captured one set fire to the barn and
thus drive his comrade out. He remained in the barn until the fire had burned
off his whiskers and then ran from the building, only to be filled with the shot
of many rifles!

   The part which Mr. Leach played in this thrilling scene was that of a hero.
At the time when the first robber entered the door he had already taken $3,000
from the safe and placed it under the counter, but quick as lightning he
invented the story of the time lock and his unparalleled quickness, coolness and
bravery saved this entire sum. All the money to the very last cent—$272—was
recovered, and the bank and its depositors therefore suffered no loss.

   While residing in Osceola, Mr. Leach was united in marriage, June 21, 1877,
with Miss Jennie Stivers, who was born in Meigs county, Ohio, and is a cultured
and educated lady, a graduate of Oxford Seminary of her native State. Two
children have been born to them: Helen, who was born in Osceola, Iowa, June 27,
1881; and Robert L., who was born August 22, 1884.

   Since casting his first presidential vote for General Grant, Mr. Leach has
been a stalwart advocate of the Republican party and its principles and is a
recognized leader in its ranks. He has served for seven consecutive terms as
chairman of the Republican County Central Committee, and had he so desired would
have been made the candidate for State Senator in 1895, but declined the honor,
for it would require too great a sacrifice of his business interests. In his
social relations he is a Mason, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias
fraternity. He is active in benevolent and charitable organizations, a friend to
the poor and needy, and is ever willing to aid a man who is willing to aid
himself. His eminent position he has attained entirely through his own unaided
efforts, his firmness of purpose and undoubted integrity. He has, without the
aid of capital or influential friends at the beginning- of his career, passed on
the highway of life many men who were more advantageously endowed at the outset.
He has won the confidence of the people of his adopted State, and it can be
truthfully stated that no citizen in Iowa commands more respect or is more
highly honored than he.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1896


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