Thomas Leach

Rev. Thomas Leach was born in Jackson County, Ala., July 14, 1820, and is

a son of Thomas and Ruth (Renshaw) Leach, both of whom were natives of the

"Old North State." They first moved to Tennessee, and spent five years irt.

Rutherford County, after which they moved to Alabama, and at the end of ten

years came to Washington County, Ark., locating on a tract of unimproved

land, but a few years later moved to Benton County, Ark., and there the father

died in 1880, in his ninetieth year. He served under Gen. Jackson in the War of

1812, and was a faithful and trustworthy soldier. Rev. Thomas Leach grew to·

manhood in Washington County, and was educated at Bethesda Academy, remaining

with his father for several years after attaining his majority. In 1847

he went to North Carolina on business, and while there was married to Cathe-.

rine Turner, a daughter 0f Samuel Turner, of that State, and soon after returnecf

to· Arkansas, settling on the farm on which he now lives in October, 1848.

His first purchase was 120 acres, but he has since added to that until he now

owns 225 acres, with ninety acres under cultivation, and fourteen acres in orchard.

His wife died in October, 1865, having borJle seven children, all of whom are·

livin__g- and the heads of families, with the exception of one, and in August, 1869,

Mr. Leach was married to Mrs. Louisa Woods, a native of Virginia, and a daughter

of Robert Crockett. She was the mother of four children by her first marriage.

In 1850 Mr. Leach was ordained a minister of the Protestant Methodist

Church, and has acted as a local minister of that church since his ordination.

He is a Royal Arch Mason, and as a true gentleman and honest citizen has the

respect and esteem of all his fellow men.