Bio: W. Penn Leary, Webster Par., Louisiana Source:Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez Date: April 2000 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** === ===W. Penn Leary, one of the substantial business men of Minden, La., was born in Houston County, Ga., March 25, 1847, both his parents being natives of North Carolina. The father, Calvin Leary grew to manhood and was married there to Hepsy Loton, afterward moving to Georgia and settling in Houston County, where, for a number of years he devoted his attention to farming. In 1849 he moved to Louisiana, and settled in what is now Webster Par., Louisiananear Minden, where he opened up a farm, reared his family, and resided until his death, in 1882, his wife's death antedating his by twenty-eight years. Their two sons and two daughters grew to mature years, and all are living at this writing. In this parish W. Penn Leary grew to manhood, and when a youth of sixteen entered the Confederate Army, becoming a member of Company E, Fifth Louisiana Cavalry, and served until the close of the war on the west side of the river, participating with his regiment and company in several skirmishes, but no important battle. After the close of the war he returned home, and attended school for a year and a half, six months in Minden College, and the rest of the time at Mount Lebanon College. After completing his studies at this institution he clerked for a number of years, and formed a partnership in 1877 with Isaac Merrill, with him opening a large and well-stocked mercantile establishment, which connection lasted up to the date of the latter's death, one year later. Mr. Leary next engaged in business with his present partner, Mr. Crichton, which partnership is result of an agreement entered into when boys of fourteen years at school. This firm is a substantial and enterprising one, and they are doing a paying business, for their store is large and stocked with an excellent class of goods, and they are strictly honorable in dealing with their customers. They have an extensive trade throughout this section, which they have built up from a very small beginning, and are now accounted among the wealthy business men of Webster Parish. Besides their store they also own several hundred acres of land in this parish, and have an interest in some farms on Red River. On the organization of the Minden Railroad Mr. Leary took stock in this enterprise, and was one of the first, and still is a director. He was elected treasurer of the company in 1886, and in this capacity has since served. He was elected president of the Minden Normal in 1889, in which capacity he still serves. He was married on December 21, 1871, to Miss Flavia R. McIntyre, a native of Louisiana, who was reared in Minden, and graduated from Minden College. He and his wife have four children: A. McIntyre, Mattie P., Leslie G., and W. Penn, Jr. The family attend the Baptist Church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Leary are members.