He enlisted as a Private in Company E, 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on 20 March 1865 and was mustered out on 25 June 1865 at New Berne, North Carolina as a result of the conclusion of the Civil War. His civil war records spell his surname as Leech.
JOHN LEACH, INDIAN FIGHTER OF DAKOTA, DEAD AT AGE OF 82
No longer will John Leach lead the Memorial Day parade in Mandan.
The civil war veteran, pioneer and Indian fighter died yesterday of general debility. He was 82 years old.
Coming to Dakota as a young man, he literally grew up with the Northwest and his active mind was a storehouse of historical data, much of which now is on file in the archives of the state historical society.,
Standing six feet four inches tall, Leach was a powerful man and earned the respect of the Indians with whom he came in contact.
Born at Coursingville, Pa., on February 8, 1847, Leach joined the 103rd Pennsylvania infantry in 1864 and served until the close of the civil war. Later he moved to Osakis, Minn., and in 1870 came to Fort Sisseton, S. D. He returned to Osakis the same year.
In 1872 he hired out with Din Stevenson who had a contract to furnish wood and hay to Fort Rice. Other members of Stevenson's crew at that time were the late William Wade of Shields and Hans C. Christenson of Croff, McKenzie county, who died recently. Steve Welch of Bismarck also was a member of the crew.
The crew worked for Stevenson nine years, filling contracts at every fort along the Missouri except Fort Lincoln. Included in the list were Fort Sully, Grand River agency, Fort Stevenson and Fort Buford.
In 1878 the Stevenson outfit took a contract to furnish hay for Fort Keogh, in Montana. Working on the west side of the little Big Horn, they ran into so many stakes which had been driven into the ground to mark the places where members of Major Reno's command fell after the Custer massacre, that they had to abandon the work for fear of ruining their hay machinery. Leach said horse and human bones were scattered all over the region. The next ear the government sent men to properly bury them.
In 1876 Leach made two trips to the Black Hills for Stevenson and in 1879 he ran a ferry across the Missouri to Gayton postoffice, below Glencoe. Later he worked for H. S. Parkins in the latter's store on the Cannonball and in 1895, when Parkins died, he purchased it. When the Mott line of the Northern Pacific railroad was built in 1910 he discontinued the store.
When Sioux county was organized in 1914, Leach was appointed county commissioner. He served eight years and refused to run in 1922 because of his advanced age. He retired to a little house at Solen where he lived until his death. He was a bachelor.
Leach never failed to come to Mandan for the Memorial day exercises and his giant figure often led the parade.
His Indian fighting was done as a member of Stevenson's haying crew. On several occasions the haymakers were set upon by hostile Indians but always managed to fight them off.
Funeral services have not been arranged pending the arrival here of Otto Schimansky of Solen, who was Leach's guardian toward the close of the latter's life. The veteran probably will be buried with full military rites under the auspices of the local post of the American Legion.
** The Bismarck Tribune, Tuesday, April 30, 1929, Page 1.
JOHN LEACH, INDIAN FIGHTER OF DAKOTA, DEAD AT AGE OF 82
No longer will John Leach lead the Memorial Day parade in Mandan.
The civil war veteran, pioneer and Indian fighter died yesterday of general debility. He was 82 years old.
Coming to Dakota as a young man, he literally grew up with the Northwest and his active mind was a storehouse of historical data, much of which now is on file in the archives of the state historical society.,
Standing six feet four inches tall, Leach was a powerful man and earned the respect of the Indians with whom he came in contact.
Born at Coursingville, Pa., on February 8, 1847, Leach joined the 103rd Pennsylvania infantry in 1864 and served until the close of the civil war. Later he moved to Osakis, Minn., and in 1870 came to Fort Sisseton, S. D. He returned to Osakis the same year.
In 1872 he hired out with Din Stevenson who had a contract to furnish wood and hay to Fort Rice. Other members of Stevenson's crew at that time were the late William Wade of Shields and Hans C. Christenson of Croff, McKenzie county, who died recently. Steve Welch of Bismarck also was a member of the crew.
The crew worked for Stevenson nine years, filling contracts at every fort along the Missouri except Fort Lincoln. Included in the list were Fort Sully, Grand River agency, Fort Stevenson and Fort Buford.
In 1878 the Stevenson outfit took a contract to furnish hay for Fort Keogh, in Montana. Working on the west side of the little Big Horn, they ran into so many stakes which had been driven into the ground to mark the places where members of Major Reno's command fell after the Custer massacre, that they had to abandon the work for fear of ruining their hay machinery. Leach said horse and human bones were scattered all over the region. The next ear the government sent men to properly bury them.
In 1876 Leach made two trips to the Black Hills for Stevenson and in 1879 he ran a ferry across the Missouri to Gayton postoffice, below Glencoe. Later he worked for H. S. Parkins in the latter's store on the Cannonball and in 1895, when Parkins died, he purchased it. When the Mott line of the Northern Pacific railroad was built in 1910 he discontinued the store.
When Sioux county was organized in 1914, Leach was appointed county commissioner. He served eight years and refused to run in 1922 because of his advanced age. He retired to a little house at Solen where he lived until his death. He was a bachelor.
Leach never failed to come to Mandan for the Memorial day exercises and his giant figure often led the parade.
His Indian fighting was done as a member of Stevenson's haying crew. On several occasions the haymakers were set upon by hostile Indians but always managed to fight them off.
Funeral services have not been arranged pending the arrival here of Otto Schimansky of Solen, who was Leach's guardian toward the close of the latter's life. The veteran probably will be buried with full military rites under the auspices of the local post of the American Legion.
** The Bismarck Tribune, Tuesday, April 30, 1929, Page 1.
He enlisted as a Private in Company E, 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on 20 March 1865 and was mustered out on 25 June 1865 at New Berne, North Carolina as a result of the conclusion of the Civil War. His civil war records spell his surname as Leech.
JOHN LEACH, INDIAN FIGHTER OF DAKOTA, DEAD AT AGE OF 82
No longer will John Leach lead the Memorial Day parade in Mandan.
The civil war veteran, pioneer and Indian fighter died yesterday of general debility. He was 82 years old.
Coming to Dakota as a young man, he literally grew up with the Northwest and his active mind was a storehouse of historical data, much of which now is on file in the archives of the state historical society.,
Standing six feet four inches tall, Leach was a powerful man and earned the respect of the Indians with whom he came in contact.
Born at Coursingville, Pa., on February 8, 1847, Leach joined the 103rd Pennsylvania infantry in 1864 and served until the close of the civil war. Later he moved to Osakis, Minn., and in 1870 came to Fort Sisseton, S. D. He returned to Osakis the same year.
In 1872 he hired out with Din Stevenson who had a contract to furnish wood and hay to Fort Rice. Other members of Stevenson's crew at that time were the late William Wade of Shields and Hans C. Christenson of Croff, McKenzie county, who died recently. Steve Welch of Bismarck also was a member of the crew.
The crew worked for Stevenson nine years, filling contracts at every fort along the Missouri except Fort Lincoln. Included in the list were Fort Sully, Grand River agency, Fort Stevenson and Fort Buford.
In 1878 the Stevenson outfit took a contract to furnish hay for Fort Keogh, in Montana. Working on the west side of the little Big Horn, they ran into so many stakes which had been driven into the ground to mark the places where members of Major Reno's command fell after the Custer massacre, that they had to abandon the work for fear of ruining their hay machinery. Leach said horse and human bones were scattered all over the region. The next ear the government sent men to properly bury them.
In 1876 Leach made two trips to the Black Hills for Stevenson and in 1879 he ran a ferry across the Missouri to Gayton postoffice, below Glencoe. Later he worked for H. S. Parkins in the latter's store on the Cannonball and in 1895, when Parkins died, he purchased it. When the Mott line of the Northern Pacific railroad was built in 1910 he discontinued the store.
When Sioux county was organized in 1914, Leach was appointed county commissioner. He served eight years and refused to run in 1922 because of his advanced age. He retired to a little house at Solen where he lived until his death. He was a bachelor.
Leach never failed to come to Mandan for the Memorial day exercises and his giant figure often led the parade.
His Indian fighting was done as a member of Stevenson's haying crew. On several occasions the haymakers were set upon by hostile Indians but always managed to fight them off.
Funeral services have not been arranged pending the arrival here of Otto Schimansky of Solen, who was Leach's guardian toward the close of the latter's life. The veteran probably will be buried with full military rites under the auspices of the local post of the American Legion.
** The Bismarck Tribune, Tuesday, April 30, 1929, Page 1.
JOHN LEACH, INDIAN FIGHTER OF DAKOTA, DEAD AT AGE OF 82
No longer will John Leach lead the Memorial Day parade in Mandan.
The civil war veteran, pioneer and Indian fighter died yesterday of general debility. He was 82 years old.
Coming to Dakota as a young man, he literally grew up with the Northwest and his active mind was a storehouse of historical data, much of which now is on file in the archives of the state historical society.,
Standing six feet four inches tall, Leach was a powerful man and earned the respect of the Indians with whom he came in contact.
Born at Coursingville, Pa., on February 8, 1847, Leach joined the 103rd Pennsylvania infantry in 1864 and served until the close of the civil war. Later he moved to Osakis, Minn., and in 1870 came to Fort Sisseton, S. D. He returned to Osakis the same year.
In 1872 he hired out with Din Stevenson who had a contract to furnish wood and hay to Fort Rice. Other members of Stevenson's crew at that time were the late William Wade of Shields and Hans C. Christenson of Croff, McKenzie county, who died recently. Steve Welch of Bismarck also was a member of the crew.
The crew worked for Stevenson nine years, filling contracts at every fort along the Missouri except Fort Lincoln. Included in the list were Fort Sully, Grand River agency, Fort Stevenson and Fort Buford.
In 1878 the Stevenson outfit took a contract to furnish hay for Fort Keogh, in Montana. Working on the west side of the little Big Horn, they ran into so many stakes which had been driven into the ground to mark the places where members of Major Reno's command fell after the Custer massacre, that they had to abandon the work for fear of ruining their hay machinery. Leach said horse and human bones were scattered all over the region. The next ear the government sent men to properly bury them.
In 1876 Leach made two trips to the Black Hills for Stevenson and in 1879 he ran a ferry across the Missouri to Gayton postoffice, below Glencoe. Later he worked for H. S. Parkins in the latter's store on the Cannonball and in 1895, when Parkins died, he purchased it. When the Mott line of the Northern Pacific railroad was built in 1910 he discontinued the store.
When Sioux county was organized in 1914, Leach was appointed county commissioner. He served eight years and refused to run in 1922 because of his advanced age. He retired to a little house at Solen where he lived until his death. He was a bachelor.
Leach never failed to come to Mandan for the Memorial day exercises and his giant figure often led the parade.
His Indian fighting was done as a member of Stevenson's haying crew. On several occasions the haymakers were set upon by hostile Indians but always managed to fight them off.
Funeral services have not been arranged pending the arrival here of Otto Schimansky of Solen, who was Leach's guardian toward the close of the latter's life. The veteran probably will be buried with full military rites under the auspices of the local post of the American Legion.
** The Bismarck Tribune, Tuesday, April 30, 1929, Page 1.
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