Tulare County Biographies

LESLIE A. CLEARY

Transcribed by Jeannie Miyama

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
One of the younger law firms of Tulare county is that of Feemster & Cleary, 
which was formed in 1922.  The junior member of this firm, Leslie A. Cleary, was 
born in Coalinga, Fresno county, California, September 13, 1895.  His 
grandparents on both sides were among the pioneers, crossing the plains before 
transcontinental railway facilities were provided.  His parents, Frank and Mary 
(Cooper) Cleary, were both born in Calaveras county, California.  They were 
early settlers in the Coalinga district, where Frank Cleary assisted in drilling 
the first oil well in that field.  Further mention as to his activities may be 
found in the sketch of Charles W. Cleary, which appears elsewhere in this work.
 
Leslie A. Cleary acquired his elementary education in the public schools of 
Coalinga, Santa Cruz and Lindsay.  He then entered the University of California 
and graduated with the class of 1918, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts.  
During the World war he served in the Eighth Aero Squadron, with the rank of 
second lieutenant, and saw active service in France as pilot of an observation 
plane.  Upon being discharged from military service, he enrolled as a student in 
the law department of the University of California, from which he was graduated 
in 1921, with the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence.  The same year he was 
admitted to the bar and began practice in the office of Jesse Steinhart of San 
Francisco.
 
The following year he came to Visalia, where he formed a partnership with E. L. 
Feemster, under the firm name of Feemster & Cleary.  In October, 1924, he was 
appointed deputy district attorney for Tulare county, but retained his 
membership in the firm.  Mr. Cleary is a member of the American Legion, in which 
he keeps in touch with his comrades of war days.
 
On March 30, 1918, Mr. Cleary was married to Miss Irma Tourtillott, a native of 
California.  Mr. Cleary is president of the board of trustees of the 
Presbyterian church and a member of the Tulare County Bar Association.
 
History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen Edwards Small & 
J. Larry Smith, Vol. I, Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1926, Page 
449