My Genealogy Hound

J. W. LELAND is one of Kearney’s oldest and most highly respected citizens. He is a native of the town of Grafton, Worcester county, Mass., and come of “old Bay State” stock. His father was Luke Leland, a native also of the town of Grafton, an industrious, useful and highly honored citizen of that place, representing for several years his native county of Worcester in the state legislature. Mr. Leland’s paternal grandfather, Elijah, and great-grandfather, Phineas, were also born, reared and passed their lives in Grafton, Worcester county, the former representing his county in the state legislature. The mother of J. W. Leland was Sarah Mellen, born in Middlesex county, Mass., July 24, 1792, and was a daughter of John and Mary (Bullard) Mellen, both natives of Middlesex county.

Mr. Leland traces his ancestry on this side of his house back to the first families of Middlesex county, being respectable, well-to-do people; his maternal grandfather Mellen having represented his county many years in the state legislature. His ancestors were all people of strong religious convictions and all stanch members of some religious denomination, mostly Baptists.

Three children were born to Luke and Sarah (Mellen) Leland — Joseph Warren, Sarah M. and Luke. The youngest two are now dead. The eldest, the subject of this notice, was born June 14, 1816. He was reared in his native place, received a good common-school training, and began life as a school teacher. He afterwards engaged in manufacturing and then mercantile trade, and has, in the course of a long and active life, followed many pursuits. He lived in Chicago some years, and while a resident of that place, in 1871, lost the bulk of his life’s earnings by fire. With characteristic energy and determination, he came West after meeting with this misfortune, for the purpose of starting life anew, and settled, in 1872, in Kearney, Nebr. He has been a resident of Kearney since and has profited well by his residence there. He has been identified with the best interests of his adopted home since casting his lot there, and has always possessed an abiding confidence in the future greatness of the town. He took the census of Kearney in 1873, when the population numbered only 245. He took the census the following year also, when the population had increased to 775. He has seen the place grow and develop from a straggling railway station to a city of the first importance, and in the making it what it is he has borne the full part of an energetic, public-spirited citizen.

Mr. Leland has been thrice married and has reared a large and interesting family of children. He was married first in 1839, his wife being Miss C. A. Slocum, daughter of John W. Slocum, of Grafton, Worcester county, Mass. This lady died in 1858, leaving four children — Charles Henry, Fannie, William E. and Lucinda. He next married in May, 1872, Miss L. A. Bostwick. This lady died August 20, 1874, leaving no children. He then married Miss Samantha D. Houghton, his present wife.

At the age of thirteen Mr. Leland signed the temperance pledge, and he has led a strictly temperate life since, never having violated this pledge. He joined the Masonic order in 1841 and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1846, and he has been a zealous worker in each since. He is a man of good intelligence, possessing a large fund of general information, and an interested spectator in all events of public note. He possesses a clear judgment and discriminating views. He has never sought public position, although well qualified to fill any position to which he might aspire.