BIO:  Capt. James LEECE, New Oxford, Adams County, PA

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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 497

CAPTAIN JAMES LEECE, landlord of the “Eagle House,” New Oxford, was born in York 
County, Penn., May 2, 1835, son of James and Elizabeth (Palmer) Leece, the 
former of whom was a native of Conewago Township, York Co., Penn., and for a 
time operated a nail factory at York.  James Leece, Sr., was married about 1823, 
and to the union were born five children:  James, Jacob, Sarah, Benjamin and 
Rebecca, of whom the captain is the only resident of Adams County.  George and 
Elizabeth Palmer, the parents of Mrs. Elizabeth Leece, were among the earliest 
settlers of York County, and lived to the rare ages of ninety-nine and ninety-
two years, respectively.  The latter was a daughter of one of the Bentzels, and 
both she and her husband were born, married, lived and died in York County.  
George Palmer and the Bentzels were soldiers of the Revolution; one of the 
latter, George Bentzel, was a captain in that war.  The father of Elizabeth 
Palmer was the first miller in Conewago Township, York County, and built the 
first mill.  Our subject, when young, learned the nail-making trade under his 
father.  In 1855 he enlisted in the regular army, and in 1857 was married to 
Catherine Kelly, of Leavenworth, Kas., at which fort he was stationed, being at 
that time quartermaster sergeant in Company K, First Regiment, United States 
Regular Cavalry.  At the expiration of his term of service they came to York, 
where Mr. Leece was engaged in stock-dealing until 1862.  He then raised Company 
K, One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, of which 
company he was commissioned first lieutenant, and soon afterward was promoted to 
a captaincy.  His regiment participated in the battles of Antietam, South 
Mountain, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.  His term of service having at 
this time expired, he returned home, and in 1863 organized Company K, Thirteenth 
Regiment, Volunteer Calvary, of which he was made captain.  The command was at 
Brandy Station, Warrenton Junction, Bull Run, Mine Run, and in numerous 
skirmishes with Mosberg’s guerrillas, battle of the Wilderness and on to 
Richmond.  Capt. Leece was three times wounded, and is one of the few who have 
made no application for a pension.  He is proprietor of the “Eagle House,” at 
New Oxford, and has associated with him in the hotel, a son, Louis, who was 
married to Lydia A. Olemiler on the 4th of February, 1885.  The hotel is 
inviting, and is properly kept in every way.  The Captain also owns a fine farm 
near New Oxford.