Bio of Alva Leech

Alva LEECH was born in 1848 and lived unitl 1940. He was married to Mary Louise SANDERS in 1870, at Olney, Illinois. She was born in 1846 and lived until 1927.

The newlywed couple, along with others of the LEECH family, moved from Illinois to Dent County in the fall of 1870. The first year, Alva was employed as a farm hand, by Frank BARNITZ, near Lake Spring, Missouri. His father acquired land north of Salem and deeded forty acres to Alva, on which he built a house in 1871. Even before fencing the farm, Alva set out a fruit orchard. This farm was their home until after the death of his wife in 1927.

Two sons and four daughters were born to Alva and Mary. The first child, a son, was stillborn. Elmer, the other son, married Florence Frazer. The daughters were: Etta, Rosa, Anna and Stella. Etta married Albert RUTLEDGE. Rose married Wes PIERCE. Stella married John L. SMITH. Anna married William CALLAHAN. Anna is nearly ninety-five years old and is the only one of her family still living.

Alva and Mary were members of the Methodist Church. He was an active, prominent menber of the Short Bend Township for more than thirty years and performed many weddings For many years, Alva kept records for the U. S. Weather Bureau. Many people remember his usefulness and speak of him as Squire Leech.

By Anna CALLAHAN
(Alva Leech was my 2nd great grandfather)