Effingham County IL Archives Biographies.....Leatherman, Christian P. 1814 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 20, 2011, 11:32 pm

Source: See below
Author: Lake City Publishing Co.

CHRISTIAN P. LEATHERMAN, a highly respected citizen of Mason, Effingham County,
is a retired blacksmith and gunsmith. After a long business career he has at
length put aside life's labors and is now enjoying a well-earned rest. He was
born in Ohio, on the 10th of July, 1814, and is a son of John and Wilhelmina
Henrietta (Hankins) Leatherman. The father was a native of Ohio, and was of
Dutch descent. The grandfather of our subject, Peter Leatherman, was a native of
Pennsylvania, and also lived in Mississippi and Ohio, lie died when about
seventy-five years of age. The mother of our subject was a native of Germany.
Her father came to this country when quite an old man. By the union of John and
Wilhelmina Leatherman were born four children, three sons and a daughter: Henry,
David, Dorothy and Christian P. With the exception of our subject all are now
deceased. The father of our subject was a blacksmith and gunsmith, and for a
number of years followed that business in Orange County, Ind., where his death
occurred about 1846. His wife passed away the year previous. They were both
members of the Dunkard Church, and lived to quite an advanced age.

  Christian P. Leatherman was reared to manhood in Indiana, near Little Orleans,
where he learned his trade and received his education. He attended school in the
little old-fashioned log school house, with its puncheon floor and slab seats,
upon which the scholars sat conning their lessons. He remained at home until
twenty years of age, when he began learning the business which he has made his
life work.

  On the 20th of October, 1836, near Little Orleans, Ind., Mr. Leatherman
married Miss Elizabeth Krutsinger, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Lee) Krutsinger.
Her mother was a native of Tennessee. Her father was born in Kentucky, and was
of Dutch descent. By the union of our subject and his wife were born twelve
children, eight of whom are yet living. Sarah, the eldest, is the wife of Jacob
Cornwell, a blacksmith of Golden City, Mo., by whom she has seven children:
Henrietta, Christian P., Charles, Lewis, Robert, Mary and Alice. Samuel is now
deceased. Henrietta and Harrison have also passed away. William married Miss
Keziah J. Davis, and resides in Farina, Ill., where he is engaged in teaching,
being a minister of the Methodist Church. They have four children: Frank, Delia,
Charles and Lewis. Jacob, who is also a Methodist preacher, married Miss Jane
Misenhamer and resides in Anna, Ill. They have three children: Effie, Clarence
and Elsie. Nancy is now deceased. Mary is the wife of Thomas Hale, a blacksmith
of Louisville, Ill. Four children have been born unto them: Driley, Artie, Levi
and Bessie. James H. married Miss Lottie Golden, by whom he has five children:
Myrtle, Eddie, William, Gertrude and a baby. They reside in Macon, Ill., where
he carries on business as a brick mason and a plasterer. Harvey T. married Miss
Mary Andrews and with his wife and child, Earl Orville, resides in Mason, Ill.
George W. married Miss Alice Dunlap and is a blacksmith and silversmith of
Walnut, Kan. Alice is the wife of Pierce Goodnight, who is engaged in farming in
Edgewood, Ill. They have two children, William and James.

  The year 1844 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Leatherman in Illinois, he locating
in Clay County, near Saylor Springs. The county was then wild and but sparsely
settled. The prairie grass was higher than a man's head when he was seated on
horseback. Many prairie fires occurred and were a source of terror to the
inhabitants. All kinds of wild game, including turkeys, prairie chickens aud
ducks were plentiful, and wolves and wild hogs were very numerous. There were
also large herds of deer and in one season Mr. Leatberman killed seventy-five of
those animals.

  During his residence in Indiana, our subject enlisted as a soldier in the
Mexican War, serving under Col. Bowles and Gen. Jo Lane. He removed from the
vicinity of Saylor Springs to Oskaloosa, in the same county, and there resided
for about four years. It was in the year 1868 that he came to Mason and opened a
shop, in which he carried on blacksmithing and gunsmithing until seventy-seven
years of age. His life has been a busy and useful one and by his industry and
enterprise he has gained a comfortable competence, which now enables him to live
in retirement. He owns a good home property in the village, and in the community
he has many friends.

  In politics, Mr. Leatherman is a Democrat. Himself and wife are both faithful
and devoted members of the Christian Church, of which he has been an Elder since
its organization. He labors earnestly for its upbuilding and growth and is an
earnest worker in the Master's vineyard. He is a man of benevolent and kindly
impulses, and the poor and needy find in him a valued friend. He is a plain,
unassuming man, but his very unpretentiousness has won him high respect. His
word is never broken, his promises are always kept, and his career has been an
honorable and upright one. Mr. Leatherman is now about seventy-nine years of
age, and his wife has reached her seventy-second year. This worthy couple have
traveled life's journey together for the long period of fifty-six years. Their
mutual love and confidence have increased as time has passed and hand-in-hand
they go down the hill of life together. Well may their children follow in the
footsteps of their honored parents.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland Counties
Chicago: Lake City Publishing Co.
1893

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