BIO: Jefferson Kohler LEADER, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 164-165. __________________________________________________________________ JEFFERSON KOHLER LEADER, Meadow Gap, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born September 10, 1859, near Baltimore, Md., son of Charles W. and Cassie N. (Kohler) Leader. His great-grandfather, George Leader, came from Germany with his parents while yet a boy. They settled in Lancaster county, where he grew to manhood; the family then removed, settling six miles from York, York county, Pa. There he bought the farm on which he spent the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Lutheran church. Among his twelve children, all of whom attained to mature years, were Joseph; George; Rebecca, who reached the age of seventy- five; Hannah; Elizabeth (Mrs. Weiser); Susan; and John, all now deceased. George Leader, grandfather of J. K. Leader, was born and reared on the farm in York county, and received a good education. He taught school for some time while still a youth. After his marriage with Eva Weiser, he hired out to farmers by the day; he was afterwards employed as toll-gate keeper. After the death of his father, he took charge of the old homestead, a farm of 250 acres of good land, and devoted the rest of his life to its cultivation. George Leader died in 1878, aged seventy-five; his wife survived him for six years. They were both Lutherans. Their children are: Catherine, died when one year old; Susan (Mrs. John Seitz), died in York county; Sarah Ann, widow of John Stough, for one term treasurer of York county; Priscilla, of York county; Henry, of Glen Rock, Pa., married to Sarah Wambaugh; George, of York, Pa., married to Fannie Newcomer; Jesse, of Manchester, York county, married Miss Bailey; Lizzie (Mrs. William Gladfelter), of Hartley, Pa.; Lydia, widow of David Wallet, of Adams county, Pa.; Eliza, of York, Pa.; and Annie (Mrs. William Hartman), of Paradise, Pa. Charles Weiser Leader was born May 24, 1821, in York county, Pa. He received a good education, and taught school during the winter, working on the farm in the summer. At twenty years of age, he learned wagon- making with Manuel Nace, of York township, serving as apprentice for two years. He then opened a shop of his own in York township, six miles from his home, and continued the business there eight years. Charles W. Leader was twice married; first to Catharine Flinchbaugh, who lived about eight years after their marriage. Their children are: David F., married to Sarah Bile, in Clinton county, Ind., where they reside; Amanda (Mrs. William Hartman), deceased; Adam F., of Clinton county, Ind., married Fina Maish, and after her death, Letha Armentrout; Catharine, widow of Emanuel Geesey, of York county. After the death of his wife, Mr. Leader rented a farm for one year. He then married Cassie N., daughter of George and Mary Kohler; she was born June 25, 1825, in Hopewell township, Baltimore county, Md. Her grandfather, Balthasar Kohler, a farmer, came from Germany with his wife and two children and settled in Lancaster county, but afterwards removed to York county, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Leader rented a farm on the Maryland line for one year; for two years they lived in Carroll county, Md., and five years in Baltimore county, Md., where he farmed and ran a saw-mill and a grist-mill. In 1861 they removed to Springfield township, Huntingdon county. Mr. Leader bought 140 acres in Springfield township; there was little of it cleared at that time. He greatly improved it, building a barn and store house; here he lived until his death, which occurred July 7, 1888. Mr. Leader was a Democrat. He was a well read man and a fluent talker, and could speak the German language. His amiable disposition won for him the esteem of his associates. He was a member of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Leader still survives him. Their children are: Anna, wife of William Messler, of Clinton county, Ind.; Julia, wife of Emory M. Stevens, D.D., of Bedford Station; Lucy; Jefferson Kohler; Ella, deceased, was the wife of W. W. Gutshall, of Springfield township; Jeannette (Mrs. George W. Hicks), of Orbisonia, Pa. Jefferson Kohler Leader received his early education in the schools of Springfield township, his parents having moved to Huntingdon county in his second year. He also attended the Orbisonia Normal School, and Frankfort City Normal School and graduated from the commercial department of the Williamsport Business College in 1885. Prior to this he had taught school during four winter months, and since graduating, has taught continuously, save one term. Since the death of his father, Mr. Leader has worked the farm. He was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Republican of the gold standard type; he has never sought political preferment. Though not a member of the church, he sincerely believes in the teaching of the Golden Rule. He is fond of reading, subscribes for the leading periodicals, and makes himself conversant with the topics of the day. He has a fine physique; weighs 185 pounds. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and P. of H., both of Three Springs. Jefferson Kohler Leader was married to Sarah, daughter of James M. and Martha (Anderson) Wible, in Philadelphia, September 27, 1893. Their children are: Rebecca, born October 11, 1894; and Charles Wible Leader, born August 25, 1896.