BIO: George H. LEYMAN, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MFS Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ GEORGE H. LEYMAN needs no special introduction to the readers of this volume. No man in Centre county has been more prominently identified with the agricultural and political history of the community, or has taken a more active part in its upbuilding and progress. He is one of the extensive and energetic farmers of the county, his own place being pleasantly located in Boggs township. A native of Centre county, Mr. Leyman was born June 22, 1843, at Mt. Eagle, Howard township, and the birth of his father, John Leyman, occurred in the same county in 1811. For many years the latter engaged in cabinet-making and carpentering in Mt. Eagle, and also extensively followed contracting, framing the Bald Eagle Navigation Company's canal. He took quite a prominent part in public affairs, served in several township offices, and was an ardent Democrat in politics. At Salona, Clinton Co., Penn., he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy McGee, born 372 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. in Ireland in 1813, a daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Kilpatrick) McGee, who were also born in that country, whence, in 1822, they came to the New World, locating in Ohio, where the father's death occurred. Later the mother removed to Clinton county, Penn., where she married George Hastings, and in 1854 she died there. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Michael and Rachel (Neal) Leyman, were natives of Philadelphia and Buffalo Valley, Union Co., Penn., respectively. As early as 1806 they became residents of Centre county, where they spent their remaining days. The grandfather was a cabinet maker by occupation, and as a Revolutionary soldier he valiantly fought with a small squad at the battle of Brandywine. Our subject is the third in order of birth in the family of ten sons and one daughter, the others being Robert, now deceased; Franklin, who is engaged in the oil business at Titusville, Penn.; Henry, who died in infancy; Michael M., of McKeesport, Penn.; Mary, wife of Forest Dean, of Lebanon, Penn.; Thomas, who died in 1890; William, a merchant of Bradford City, Penn.; James B., an engineer of Austin, Penn.; and John, who is in the oil business in Indiana. The mother died in October, 1887, a faithful member of the Methodist Church; the father passed away February 19, 1891. Since the early age of eight years, George H. Leyman has been dependent upon his own resources, and for six years after starting out on his business career engaged in teaming on the canal. He then purchased a boat, the "Isaac Buffington," which he ran until 1861, when the flood broke the canal. He then went to the oil regions in Warren, Venango, Crawford and other counties, Pennsylvania, returning to Centre county from Bradford county, in 1880. He then purchased his present beautiful homestead of 170 acres, to the cultivation and improvement of which he has since devoted his time and attention. He also owns three other good farms in Centre county, and is a most skillful and thorough agriculturist. In 1866 Mr. Leyman was married to Miss Annie Graham, who died in 1867, at the age of twenty-four years, leaving one daughter, Lena, now the wife of John Carson, of Johnsonburg, Penn. On July 4, 1869, in Cattaraugus county, N.Y., Mr. Leyman was married to Miss America Meacham, who was born June 27, 1847, at Ellicottville, N.Y., and of the six children born of this union but one survives: Daniel H., born December 25, 1889; Lola and Emily M. are both deceased, and the others died in infancy. Mrs. Leyman is the daughter of Daniel and Emily (Bowan) Meacham, natives of Cattaraugus, county, N.Y., where the father, who was a general farmer and dairyman, was accidentally killed by a threshing machine in 1876. His widow, who still resides on the old homestead farm in New York State, was born March 30, 1825, and is the mother of ten children, as follows: Louisa, wife of C. Greene, of New York; Recinna, wife of H. Hopkins, of the same State; America; Lewis D., of New York; Janet, wife of D. Milks, of New York; Josia A., wife of L. Jones, of the same State; Altha, wife of F. Chamberlain, of New York; and three that died in infancy. Politically, Mr. Leyman is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, and for the past fifteen years has been the popular chairman of the central committee of his party, in whose success he takes a deep and commendable interest. He is a prominent and influential citizen, cheerfully giving his support to those enterprises tending to public development, and with hardly an exception he has been connected with every interest that has promoted general welfare. His name is a synonym for honorable business dealing, and he is always mentioned as one of the invaluable citizens of Centre county.