| LEACH,
JONATHAN, the first settler at North Kirby, a native of Massachusetts,
married there Chloe Atwood and had two children before coming to Kirby.
He erected a “log cabin” on the farm now owned by Albert Barnett, drew
in his household goods and the two children on a hand-sled and began his
home, clearing the land without a team at the first. The second year he
put up the first frame building in town, being the barn now occupied by
Mr. Barnett. In this barn was held the first school and the first religious
meeting in town. Six more children were born to them in Kirby. His wife
died about 1810. He married again and had three more children. He built
the first sawmill in town, near his house.
Jacob
L., son of Jonathan and Chloe, married first Betsey Smith, and there were
born to them five children. Mrs. Leach died in 1832, and he married Electa
Aldrich, and five more children were born to them, after which the second
wife died, in 1853. His third wife was Clara Martin, He died in 1879, aged
eighty-one years.
George
A. Leach, son of Jacob L. and Electa, was born in Kirby, January 11, 1840.
When about twenty-three years of age he went with his brother, Whipple
A., who was captain of a whaling vessel, and spent about six years at sea.
The remainder of his life has been spent upon the farm. He married Harriet
M. Nickerson, September 12, 1866. There have been born to them six children:
Ronello R., born November 28, 1870; Frank H., March 8, 1872; Ardella A.,
August 8, 1873; Charles W., March 17, 1876; Henry W., February 16, 1880,
who died December 1, 1887; Delmer B., April 18, 1883. None of the children
are married.
Source:
Successful Vermonters, William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical
Publishing Company, 1904, page138.
Prepared
by Tom Dunn, May 2006
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