Tuscola County MI Archives Biographies.....Leach, Travis 1838 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 26, 2006, 4:40 pm Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) HON. TRAVIS LEACH. During the years that have elapsed since Mr. Leach made his advent upon life's scenes he has made a record for himself on account of his devotion to duty and loyalty to his country, he having been one of the bravest men who faced danger and death in the time of our nation's peril. Few residents of Tuscola County enjoy to a greater degree that prominence which results from integrity of purpose and the influence which comes from the constant exercise of good judgment. It is certain that no one in the county is held in higher esteem than he, and no one has endeavored more than he to promote the interests of this section of Michigan. It is therefore with pleasure that we present his portrait on the opposite page, and invite the reader's attention to the following review of his life: The grandparents of our subject were natives of Dutchess County, N. Y., and his parents, Solomon and Paulina (Travis) Leach, were born in the same State. Solomon Leach was a millwright by trade and found plenty of employment in his native State. His son Travis was born in Steuben County, N. Y., March 25, 1838, and was reared as a farmer's lad until sixteen years of age. He enjoyed good educational advantages, attending the common schools in the vicinity of his home during both winter and summer until he was thirteen years old. In 1854 he accompanied his parents to Michigan and located in Elkland Township, Tuscola County. The timber lands were rich in lumber that found a good market in the East, and our subject was first engaged during the winters in lumbering, spending the summer months in farm labor. In 1864 Mr. Leach enlisted in the Civil War, joining Company H, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, and the following year was transferred to Company A, Twenty-eighth Michigan Infantry. He fought with Sherman at Columbus, with Thomas at Nashville, and participated in other engagements of minor importance, although the danger was even greater. He was honorably discharged in June, 1866, and returning to Michigan, engaged in farming and lumbering, also did some surveying. He had spent some time in preparing himself for the work of a surveyor and when he was qualified for the business he found no difficulty in securing all the work he could do. He followed that business until 1877, when he sold out his interests in Michigan and was thereafter variously engaged in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Old Mexico. He was also in Texas and there stocked a cattle ranch in Gray County. Selling his ranch in 1884, he resumed surveying until 1885, and was also engaged in transferring Government freight from Dodge City, Kan., to Ft. Elliott, Tex., for one year. The year 1886, marked his return to this State. On coming back to the old home, Mr. Leach bought out the equity of the other heirs of the homstead [sic] and has since devoted himself to cultivating and improving the place. He was married March 25, 1860, to Miss Emma Thomas, of Columbia Township, Tuscola County, and they were the parents of two children—Lila B., and Cloud, the former a resident of Eaton County, this State, and the latter living in New Mexico. Mrs. Emma Leach died in 1883 and four years later our subject was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Annette Richardson, of Aimer, Tuscola County. Their nuptials were solemnized June 8, 1887. In politics, Mr. Leach for many years adhered to the Republican party, but in 1890 he voted the People's ticket. He was Supervisor of Elkland Township for seven years, and for two years was District Surveyor in Texas; while there he was also County Judge of Wheeler County. For two years he was Supervisor of Ellington Township, and in 1890 was elected to the State Legislature at Lansing on the People's ticket. He is now filling that honorable position and is using every means in his power to advance the interests of his constituents, who place the highest confidence in his ability, discretion and judgment. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/tuscola/bios/leach27nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb