Esom Ruben Leach

    Esom Ruben Leach, head of the firm of E. R. Leach & Co., of Sullivan, was born March 16, 1855, in Grant County, Indiana, a son of Edward and Emily (Brewer) Leach, both of whom died in Sullivan County. The father came to this state from the East with his father and mother, and he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in grant and Sullivan Counties, moving tot he last named county in 1864. In 1887 he went to Nebraska and returned about 1890. When he first came to Sullivan County, he settled in Cass Township and raised one crop, and then moved to Sullivan, where he engaged in business. He and his wife were members of the old style Baptist Church and exemplary Christians. their children were as follows:

    The mother of these children died in 1865. For his second wife, Mr. Leach married Mrs. Sallie Martin. The children born of the second marriage are as follows:

    E. R. Leach, of this biography, was only nine years of age when he came to Sullivan County. Here he obtained  his common school education and clerked for his father while yet in his teens. When he had reached his twenty-first year, with two brothers, J. S. and G. W., he engaged in the livery business in Sullivan, continuing about two years. He then returned to the farm, which he conducted about three years. His next business was that of the grain, stock and implement business, which he carried on under the firm name of E. & E. R. Leach, operating this until 1886, when he went west, remaining in Nebraska until 1896 and being employed as a clerk for G. W. Borders, being appointed, in the fall of 1897, Superintendent of the County Asylum, which position he resigned after four years faithful service. He was then appointed Superintendent of the Orphans Home at Greencastle. He remained there four years, when he resigned and moved back to Sullivan. In April, 1907, he purchased the business of the firm of Whitman & Asdel, who operated in grain and feed. this business was run by Mr. Leach and his nephew, Clell Leach, until September, 1907, when G. F. Botts bought an interest in the business.

    Mr. Leach was married March 12, 1889, to Mary J. Turman, who was born in Turman Township, Sullivan County, a daughter of Charles and Nancy E. (Johnson) Turman, both of whom were natives of Sullivan, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Leach are the parents of two children:

    Mr. Leach affiliates with the Democratic party.

Source: A History of Sullivan County, Indiana. Closing of the first century’s history of the county and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth. Thomas J. Wolfe, Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909, page 25-26.