Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Leighton, Alvin Coe 1839 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 29, 2013, 1:37 am

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

ALVIN COE LEIGHTON.

The substantial development and improvement of Ottumwa are due in no small
measure to Alvin Coe Leighton. He was born in Manchester, Scott county,
Illinois, June 2, 1839, his parents being Joseph and Mary L. (Coe) Leighton. His
great-grandfather, Tobias Leighton IV, was born in Kittery, Maine, August 31,
1742, and passed away in 1818 at Harmony, Maine, whither he had gone with his
son James, the grandfather of A. C. Leighton, to establish a mill. Tobias
Leighton was a soldier in the French and Indian war, serving in 1758 and 1759.
He was present at the capture of Lewisburg and his military experience at that
time proved an excellent training school for him in preparation for his later
arduous duties of a military character, for at the time of the outbreak of the
Revolutionary war he enlisted in the Thirtieth Maine Regiment, participating in
the battle of Bunker Hill. When his first term of service expired he was
mustered out, but later re-enlisted under General Washington.

Joseph Leighton, the father of Alvin Coe Leighton, was a native of Harmony,
Maine. He learned the carpenter’s trade in early life and was connected with
building operations for many years. Attracted by the opportunities of the
growing west, he became a resident of Scott county, Illinois, in 1836 and in
1841 established his home in Des Moines county, Iowa. There he resided until
Wapello county was opened for settlement May 1, 1843, when he entered a claim
from the government and devoted the succeeding three years to its development
and improvement.

In 1844-45 he was active in the building of Meeks' mill at Bonaparte, Iowa,
after which he removed to Ottumwa, where he was elected county treasurer in the
fall of 1846. At that time the office carried with it the duties of both
treasurer and recorder. The work perhaps was not especially heavy, however, for
at that time Ottumwa contained but eighteen houses and the entire county was but
sparsely settled. At the close of his first term he was re-elected and served
until 1851. In that year Ottumwa received its charter as a city and Mr. Leighton
was chosen the first city assessor, while the following year he was elected
treasurer. During the years 1854 and 1855 he served as a member of the board of
city trustees, and in 1856 popular franchise again placed him in the office of
city assessor. In 1851 he embarked in general merchandising with Dr. C. C.
Warden, conducting stores in both Ottumwa and Blakesburg. When the partnership
was dissolved in 1853 Mr. Leighton retained ownership of the Blakesburg store
and after disposing of his interests there turned his attention to the
real-estate business. He also occupied the position of justice of the peace for
a short time prior to his death, in 1858. His political allegiance in early life
was given to the democratic party, but with the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska
bill he joined the ranks of the new republican party.

Joseph Leighton was married in 1838 to Miss Mary L. Coe, who was born in Greene
county, Illinois, in 1821. They became the parents of three sons and three
daughters, of whom Alvin C. is the eldest. Mr. Leighton’s mother survived all of
her children except himself and passed away October 15, 1905, at the age of
eighty-four years, three months and twentv days. She had resided in Iowa for
sixty-four years and in Wapello county and Ottumwa for sixty-two years. She was
only thirty-seven years of age when her husband died and devoted the remainder
of her life faithfully to rearing and caring for her children. There were beside
our subject five children, as follows: Ann Elizabeth, born at Dodgeville, Des
Moines county, Iowa, in 1841 and died in Competine township, this county, in
1845; James, born in Competine township November 16, 1844, and died December 15,
1882; Joseph, born in Ottumwa, February 1, 1848, and died September 1, 1888;
Mary Emily, born in Ottumwa, October 9, 1851, and died February 15, 1890; and
Abby, born in Ottumwa, August 25, 18^4. and died in Ottumwa in 1904. Mrs.
Leighton was a kind and loving mother, a devout Christian and died beloved by
all. One brother, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren survive her.
She is buried in the beautiful Ottumwa cemetery, surrounded by her husband and
her sons, daughters and grandchildren who passed away before her.

Alvin C. Leighton was a little lad of not four summers when brought by his
parents to Wapello county on the 1st of May, 1843, and was a youth of seventeen
years when, in 1856, he made his way westward to the Missouri river. He remained
upon the plains until 1878 and since that time has continued in Ottumwa, being
today one of its citizens. His efforts have been of large value in upbuilding
and improving the city. Soon after his return he purchased what is now the
Leighton block on Market street and erected an addition thereto. He also erected
a number of other buildings and continued in the real-estate business, handling
his own property only. He has been connected with the Coal Palace, the Opera
House and the Wapello County Agricultural Society and he aided in securing the
building of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad through Ottumwa. He has
co-operated in every movement that has for its object the benefit of the city,
and his aid can always be counted upon to further any progressive plan.

Mr. Leighton was united in marriage in Baltimore, June 2, 1874, to Miss Mary T.
Benson, who was born in that city in 1851 and is a daughter of Benjamin S.
Benson. The latter was a foundryman and inventor of Baltimore and there died a
number of years ago. He possessed marked mechanical skill and ingenuity and in
his boyhood invented a water ram. He manufactured all the piano plates used by
the Knabe Piano Company, but his principal business was the manufacture of water
and gas pipe. He was also one of the original founders of the Maryland
Institute. His grandson and namesake, Benjamin S. Benson, occupied offices in
the Leighton block but now resides in Los Angeles, California.

In his political views Mr. Leighton is a democrat, but the honors and emoluments
of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to
concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and the supervision of his
investments. He possesses many sterling traits of character, and a social
disposition has made him popular with those who come within the circle of his
friendship. He is a gentleman of the old school. He is courteous, jovial and
entertaining and his friends always look forward with pleasure to a visit at his
home. He holds friendship inviolable and is most loyal to those who give him
their confidence and their regard.

Mr. Leighton can safely be called an old resident of Iowa, having made his home
in this state from 1841 to 1914. He has resided in Wapello county and Ottumwa
since May 1, 1843, the day the Indians were to leave. Thus he resided
seventy-three years in the state and seventy-one years in Wapello county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914


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