Joseph Leach Biography


	This biography appears on pages 794-797 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	CAPTAIN JOSEPH LEACH, president and general manager of the 
Missouri River Transportation Company, with headquartered in the 
village of Running Water, Bon Homme county, has had a varied and 
eventful career and has passed practically his entire life in the great 
west, being familiar with the vicissitudes, trials and dangers 
incidental to life on the frontier, while he has gained success through 
his own efforts, having been dependent upon his own resources from 
early boyhood, and being one of the best known citizens of South 
Dakota, where his friends are in number as his acquaintances. He is a 
true type of the stalwart, straightforward, honest, bluff and generous 
westerner, and is also an astute and able business man and executive, 
so that there are many points which render most compatible a review of 
his career in this history. 

	Captain Leach was born in Cambridgeshire, England, on the 7th of 
March, 1849, and is a son of William and Susan (Edwards) Leach, who 
were likewise born and reared in the "tight little isle," where the 
former was engaged in merchandising until 1851, when he came with his 
family to America, the voyage being made on a sailing vessel and the 
trip consuming a period of eight weeks. Landing in New York, he soon 
afterward made his way westward to Cook county, Illinois, and purchased 
a farm in the district now covered by the beautiful suburb of 
Washington Heights, the property which he thus owned being now worth 
millions of dollars. He was there engaged in farming until 1857, when 
he came to what is now Sioux City, Iowa, the largest and most imposing 
building in the little frontier village at the time being the barn of 
the Northwestern Stage Company. He crossed the Missouri river on the 
7th of June, 1857, and took up government land where now is located 
South Sioux City. Upon his claim he constructed as the first family 
residence a rude dugout of the type so common in the early days in that 
section, as also at a later date in the Dakotas, and he developed and 
improved a good farm, becoming one of the well-to-do and honored 
citizens of that locality. Privations and. hardships of other orders 
were the portion of the family during the formative era, and at times 
it was impossible to secure flour and other commodities now considered 
absolutely essential, and the first flour which he purchased cost 
twenty dollars for one hundred pounds. William Leach continued to 
reside in Nebraska until his death, which occurred in 1869, and his 
widow still resides on the old homestead farm, in Dakota county, 
Nebraska, having attained to the venerable age of seventy-six years 
(1904), She has long been a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, 
as was also her husband, and he was a staunch Republican in politics, 
having identified himself with the party at the time of its 
organization. Of the thirteen children in the family our subject was 
the eldest, and only he and his sister are now living, she being 
married and a resident of Chicago, Illinois.  

	Captain Leach was about two years of age at the time of his 
parents' immigration to the United States, and he attended school for a 
short time in Cook county, Illinois, being but eight years old when the 
family came to Nebraska. It is needless to say that in the pioneer 
locality scholastic advantages were notable chiefly for their absence, 
so that he received but little schooling after coming to the west. This 
deprivation has not proved a serious handicap, however, for under the 
direction of that wisest of all head masters, experience, he has gained 
a wide and varied fund of practical knowledge and is a well informed 
man of mature judgment. The Captain left the parental roof at the age 
of eleven years and began to fight the battle of life on his own 
responsibility. For five months he was engaged in driving stage between 
Covington and Onidie, Nebraska, and then entered the employ of the firm 
of Bozler & Hedges, who were engaged in the freighting business, for 
whom he drove a bull team for the ensuing eighteen months, after which 
he was employed in the office of the firm and later their general store 
at Sioux City, Iowa. He remained with the firm for three years and then 
remained one year at the home farm. At the age of seventeen he 
inaugurated his career in connection with steamboat transportation on 
the Missouri river, securing a position on the steamer "Miner," 
commanded by Captain Hawley, and plying between Sioux City and Fort 
Benton, Montana. He thus penetrated the various sections of the 
northwest during the early pioneer epoch when the venturesome 
prospectors were making their way into the mountain fastnesses of 
Montana in search of gold, while buffaloes were to be seen by thousands 
and wild game of all sorts were abundant and the Indians obstinately 
disputed the encroachments of the white men. He continued to be thus 
identified with the navigation of the Missouri for a few years, and 
upon attaining his legal majority he started in the agricultural, grain 
and commission business at Covington, Nebraska, where he continued 
operations until 1875, having been successful in his efforts. It should 
be noted in passing that he first came into what is now South Dakota in 
June, 1859, when he accompanied his father here with a load of produce, 
for which they received the sum of three hundred forty dollars, which 
practically paid for the farm in Nebraska. After retiring from business 
in Covington, Nebraska, the Captain removed to Dixon county, that 
state, where he erected the first grain elevator and established the 
first lumber yard in the village of Ponca. In 1877 he traded his 
properties there for mining properties in the Black Hills, to which 
section he made his way, being there engaged in prospecting for a short 
time, after which he returned to Nebraska, where he remained until 
1878, when he came again to the Hills, bringing about fifteen buggies 
and harness, of which he disposed at a good profit, and upon his return 
to Nebraska he engaged in contracting for ties, supplying the Sioux 
City, Columbus & Black Hills Railroad, which was then in process of 
construction To this enterprise he gave his attention for one year and 
then, in 1882, he built the steamer "Little Maude," which he put into 
requisition in connection with his wood trade, securing the product 
from his land on the river and selling the same in the markets at Sioux 
City. In the following year he entered the employ of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, transporting passengers and 
baggage with his boat, and on the 24th of August, 1883, he arrived at 
what is now his home village of Running Water, Bon Homme county, where 
he has ever since resided, while he has built up a large and important 
transportation business of general order on the Missouri river, while 
he has been the owner and operator of the ferry across the river from 
this point to Niobrara, Nebraska, from 1883 to the present time. In 
1893 he chartered the steamer "Last Chance," which he utilized for 
transportation purposes until 1898, when he built the steamer "South 
Dakota," which continued in service until May 10, 1902, when it was 
burned to the water's edge, at the dock in Hiles Landing, entailing a 
loss of twenty thousand dollars, without insurance. In January, 1903, 
Captain Leach purchased the steamer "Bachelor," which he now utilizes, 
having also in requisition the steamer "Little Maude," both of which 
are operated by the company of which he is president, the stock of the 
concern being owned in its entirety by his family. The Missouri River 
Transportation Company, of which he is president and general manager, 
was incorporated under the laws of the state in 1902, and does a 
general freight and passenger transportation business, having landings 
at the following named points: St. Helena, Yankton, Lyter, Springfield, 
Santee, Running Water, Niobrara, Yankton Agency, Iron Post, Scalp Creek 
and Wheeler. His son, Captain Joseph, Jr., is general superintendent of 
the company; while the other two sons of the official corps are William 
A., who is secretary, and Paul Clifford, who is treasurer. The company 
handles a large annual business and affords facilities which are of 
great value. In 1893 the Captain purchased what is known as the Chalk 
Cliff ranch, in this county, and he made many improvements on the 
place, which is one of the best in this section. He disposed of this 
property in 1901. In 1889 he erected his present fine residence in 
Running Water, the same being one of the most attractive homes in the 
county, while it is a recognized center of social life and is notable 
for its gracious hospitality. He is also the owner of a general 
merchandise store at Perkins, this county, and is known as one of the 
progressive business men and loyal citizens of the state in which he 
has made his home for so many years and in which his circle of friends 
coincides with that of his acquaintances. In politics he gives an 
uncompromising allegiance to the Republican party and is well fortified 
in his convictions on matters of public polity, as is he also in the 
other and varied relations of life. He has been an active and 
influential factor in public affairs and has been honored with offices 
of distinctive trust and responsibility. In 1895 he served as a member 
of the state legislature, and in 1900 was elected to represent the 
seventh district in the state senate, making an excellent record in 
both assemblies and gaining the unqualified endorsement of his 
constituents. He is an appreciative and honored member of the Masonic 
fraternity, having been a charter member of Mt. Vernon Springfield 
Lodge, No. 7, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Niobrara, Nebraska, 
where he is also affiliated with the other York Rite bodies, and he has 
also attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite, being 
affiliated with Yankton Consistory, at Yankton.  

	At Covington, Nebraska, on the 2d of September, 1871, was 
solemnized the marriage of Captain Leach to Miss Minnie Seeley, who was 
born in New York. She was reared and educated at Waterloo, Iowa, being 
a daughter of Clinton F. and Mary Seeley, who is now deceased, her 
father having been a successful contracting mason and now living at 
Anaconda, Montana, aged seventy-five years. Mrs. Leach is a member of 
the Congregational church in Running Water and is prominent in its work 
and also in the social life of the community. Of the ten children of 
Captain and Mrs. Leach we enter the following brief record in 
conclusion of this sketch: Joseph, Jr., the general superintendent of 
the company of which his father is president, is captain of the steamer 
"Bachelor;" Minnie C. is the wife of Marion A. Farver, who has charge 
of the subject's mercantile establishment at Perkins; George is 
engineer of the steamer "Bachelor;" Paul C. is clerk on the steamer 
"Bachelor ;" Willard A. is secretary of the Missouri River 
Transportation Company, as has been previously noted; Susan B. is a 
member of the class of 1903 in All Saints' College, at Sioux Falls; 
Arthur died at the age of two years; and Vera, Minnie and Maude are at 
the parental home.