My Genealogy Hound

JACOB E. LEAS, merchant, Greenville; another of the old settlers of Darke Co., born in Preble Co., Ohio, Nov. 5, 1840; he is a son of Jesse Leas, who came to Darke Co., in 1843, and located in Sampson; he died in Palestine in March, 1861; he was married, in Preble Co., to Sarah A. Cresler, who is now living in German Township. The subject of our sketch followed clerking in the merchandise store of his father until the death of the latter. On the 16th of October, 1861, he enlisted as private in the 69th O. V. I., and soon after was at the front, fighting for the preservation of the Union and the honor of our glorious flag; he was in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Buzzards’ Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, siege and capture of Atlanta, with Sherman on his march through Georgia to the sea, thence north through the Carolinas, and with Sherman when Johnston surrendered, thence through Richmond to Washington, when, after the grand review of the army, he went to Louisville and received his discharge, in August, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly four years. After serving his first term of enlistment, he returned with his regiment, Feb. 27, 1864, and remained in service until the close of the war, passing through various grades of promotion, and was mustered out of service as Captain of Co. A. He then returned to Darke Co. and followed merchandising at Greenville, Jaysville and Palestine (with the exception of a short residence in Indiana) until April, 1871, when he came to Ansonia and followed the merchandise trade for a short time. In 1874, he received the appointment of Postmaster. Upon the locating of the well-known house of Sol. Kester at Greenville, Feb. 1, 1880, Mr. Leas resigned his official position as Postmaster at Ansonia, and associated with the above firm, where he may always be found, ready and willing to attend to the wants of his many warm friends. His marriage with Rebecca Duke was celebrated Sept. 19, 1867; they have three children now living, viz., Russell D., Bertha J. and Blair.