BIO: George W. Leach, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Judy Banja & Denise Phillips

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 206-208.
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  LEACH, GEORGE W., was born on December 22, 1821, in the light town of 
Conklin, Broome County, N.Y.  He was of English ancestry, the family 
name being established in this country in 1629.  His grandfather was a 
captain in the American army during the War of the Revolution.  He was 
next to the youngest in a family of eleven children.  At about ten 
years of age he was left an orphan and went to live with an uncle in 
Gibson, Pa., where he remained six years.  Of this period he says, 
"Hard work and limited school opportunities were not the worst of my 
experiences at this time."  In May, 1837, he left this place and 
engaged as hostler and bartender in a country tavern.  The next summer 
he worked on a farm and had, as a part of his wages, a term of 
schooling in Franklin Academy, at Harford, Susquehanna County, Pa.  At 
the close of the term E. D. Owen, a licentiate, preached to the class, 
and at the close of his sermon asked those who would agree to meet him 
in heaven to arise.  Mr. Leach arose, with others.  This promise he 
never forgot, and at a revival, where Kirkwood now stands, in 1840, he 
gave himself to Christ.
  During the winter of 1841-42 he taught school in Damascus, Wayne 
County, working in the summer laying fence wall and doing farm work, 
and in the fall of 1842 returned to Franklin Academy.  In the meantime 
he had received exhorter's license from the Honesdale church.  In the 
winter of 1843-44 he taught a select school in Gibson, Pa.  He had 
hoped to enter the ministry on the self-supporting plan, and, 
accordingly, had studied surveying.  In the summer of 1844 he was 
granted a local preacher's license, and offered the position of junior 
preacher on Orwell Circuit.  His disinclination to enter the ministry 
prompted him to go to Philadelphia, where he remained until Christmas, 
when he went to New York, where he secured work in the Book Concern as 
errand man.  A sailor church having been organized near his boarding 
place, he united with it.  Subsequently, when the Five Points Mission 
started, he transferred his membership there, at the request of Joseph 
Longking.  In 1845 his former classmate, George H. Blakeslee, invited 
him to become his helper on Vestal Circuit.  He accepted the work, 
shipped his trunk by canal, and, dressed in Kentucky jean, without 
overcoat or watch, walked from New York to Vestal.  During 1846 he 
served as supply junior preacher on Lisle Circuit, and the following 
year (1847) joined the Oneida Conference, becoming a member of Wyoming 
Conference at it organization.
  On August 23, 1849, he married Miss Juliet A. Tallman, of 
Tallmansville, Pa., who died on September 27, 1873.  Five children were 
born to them - Myron P., Lucinda J., George Edwin, George Sidney, and 
William E.  Lucinda J. and William E. are the only ones now living.  On 
November 4, 1874, he married Mrs. M. C. Olmstead, of Nichols, N.Y.
  After retiring from active work, in 1886, he resided at Oakland, Pa., 
where he died on September 16, 1902.  He was buried at Nichols, N.Y.
  His pastoral record is as follows:  1847-48, Lanesboro; 1849, 
Montrose; 1850-51, Dundaff; 1852, Salem; 1853-54, Sanford; 1855-60, 
local; 1861, local, supply at Tallmansville; 1862-63, Newton; 1864-65, 
Windham; 1866-67, Broome; 1868-72, sy.; 1873, supply at Rileyville; 
1874, Rileyville; 1875-77, sy.; 1878, local; 1879-80, sd.; 1881-82, 
sy.; supply at Maple Grove; 1883, Maple Grove; 1884-85, Oakland; 1886-
87, sy.; 1888-1902, sd.