William J. Leach
Son of Esom and Lucinda (Corn) Leach, is a native of Fairmount Township, where he was born on February 2, 1840. Esom Leach, the father, as a native of Franklin County, Indiana. Esom came with his father, William Leach to Fairmount Township in the early day. William Leach stopped the first night in the new country at the McCormick Tavern. From this friendly cabin he went forth with a compass and blazed his way through the forest to the location where he afterwards made his home.
On August 24, 1838, Esom was married to Miss Lucinda Corn, who was born in Kentucky, December 15, 1823. She was a daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Said) Corn, pioneers of Fairmount Township. Joseph Corn lived to be eighty-three years of age. His wife died at fifty-four. Bred to farming and stock raising, William J. Leach has never been permanently engaged in any other occupation.
In 1865 he married Miss Sarah E. Havens, the daughter of Jonathan and Gabrille (Clark) Havens. Mrs. Leach, like her husband, was a native of this county, where she was born April 23, 1843. Four children were born to this union, namely: Lucinda A., Anna J., Charles E. and Martha C. The wife and mother died April 17, 1888. March 16, 1890, Mr. Leach was again married to Miss Jennie Wood, of Bluffton, who is a native of Ripley County.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner