John Davis Leary

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John Davis Leary

Birth
Ohio, USA
Death
10 Jun 1900 (aged 55)
Sandusky County, Ohio, USA
Burial
Scott Township, Sandusky County, Ohio, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
John was the third child of Daniel L. Lary/Leary and Rebecca Davis. His parents were married in Lucas County, Ohio by Rev. Isaac Flagler, a minister in the Presbyterian church, in 1838, but Rebecca was granted a divorce in Sandusky County Court in 1846. She died several months later, and William W. Davis was appointed Guardian of the three children. John W. Davis and his brother-in-law Jacob A. Lemon signed as Securities. Young John and his sister were baptized shortly thereafter at St. Paul's Episcopal in Fremont, where their mother had been a member. On the baptismal certificate his name is given as John Davis Leary. John Davis and Sarah Davis were listed as sponsors.

It is not known how William Davis and Rebecca (or the other Davises) might have been related, but it is assumed that this was the William Davis who died in the Mexican American War the following year.

It is thought that John's older sister, Sarah Elizabeth, may have died young. Nellie was adopted by the Miles Williams family, and John went to live with the Caleb Minklers. They lived in Scott Township, Sandusky County, and had one daughter, two years younger than John.

In June 1861 when John enlisted to fight in the Civil War he gave his age as 18 although he would actually have been a month shy of that milestone. He mustered into Company E 25th OVI at Camp Jackson for an initial period of three years and then reenlisted. The 25th engaged in 17 battles. John was hospitalized after the second Battle of Bull Run for a serious hip wound sustained on August 29, 1862.

According to family tradition, bitter feelings arose between John and a superior officer near the end of his second enlistment period and after the war--a falling out that caused him to absent himself from his company. Nonetheless, he, and later Elizabeth, received a partial disability pension for his military service.

John and Elizabeth married in 1869 and lived near Vickery for several years before purchasing 40 acres north of Risingsun, on the east side of County Line Road. They were farmers and had five children, the youngest dying in infancy.

It appears that their home was open to relatives in need. Both Elizabeth's widowed mother and an orphaned nephew are found living with them in different censuses, and Elizabeth's sister Sarah was cared for and passed away there.

It also appears that there was a warm relationship between the Learys and the Minklers, as the two family plots are adjacent to one another in Chestnut Grove Cemetery. An attempt to interview his adoptive sister's children in the 1960's resulted in a statement that he "had been a good son" for the Minklers.

John may have passed away unexpectedly as a photo of him taken shortly before shows him standing tall. His obituary refers to him as "a highly respected citizen" and states that the funeral service was held at the Lutheran Church east of Bradner, Rev. Williston of Prairie Depot (i.e. Wayne) officiating.

Sources: Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997, Sandusky Co. Ohio Court documents, St. Paul Episcopal Church, Fremont, Ohio records (found at Hayes Presidential Center), US Census records, Bradner Advocate, June 15, 1900, p.3 c.4, Fremont News, February 3, 1894, p.2 c.3, and research by Oby Bonawit and Alsina Andrews.
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Spouse: Elizabeth SMART, b. 12 DEC 1845, OH
Married: 11 FEB 1869, Sandusky County, OH

Source: Unknown Contributor
John was the third child of Daniel L. Lary/Leary and Rebecca Davis. His parents were married in Lucas County, Ohio by Rev. Isaac Flagler, a minister in the Presbyterian church, in 1838, but Rebecca was granted a divorce in Sandusky County Court in 1846. She died several months later, and William W. Davis was appointed Guardian of the three children. John W. Davis and his brother-in-law Jacob A. Lemon signed as Securities. Young John and his sister were baptized shortly thereafter at St. Paul's Episcopal in Fremont, where their mother had been a member. On the baptismal certificate his name is given as John Davis Leary. John Davis and Sarah Davis were listed as sponsors.

It is not known how William Davis and Rebecca (or the other Davises) might have been related, but it is assumed that this was the William Davis who died in the Mexican American War the following year.

It is thought that John's older sister, Sarah Elizabeth, may have died young. Nellie was adopted by the Miles Williams family, and John went to live with the Caleb Minklers. They lived in Scott Township, Sandusky County, and had one daughter, two years younger than John.

In June 1861 when John enlisted to fight in the Civil War he gave his age as 18 although he would actually have been a month shy of that milestone. He mustered into Company E 25th OVI at Camp Jackson for an initial period of three years and then reenlisted. The 25th engaged in 17 battles. John was hospitalized after the second Battle of Bull Run for a serious hip wound sustained on August 29, 1862.

According to family tradition, bitter feelings arose between John and a superior officer near the end of his second enlistment period and after the war--a falling out that caused him to absent himself from his company. Nonetheless, he, and later Elizabeth, received a partial disability pension for his military service.

John and Elizabeth married in 1869 and lived near Vickery for several years before purchasing 40 acres north of Risingsun, on the east side of County Line Road. They were farmers and had five children, the youngest dying in infancy.

It appears that their home was open to relatives in need. Both Elizabeth's widowed mother and an orphaned nephew are found living with them in different censuses, and Elizabeth's sister Sarah was cared for and passed away there.

It also appears that there was a warm relationship between the Learys and the Minklers, as the two family plots are adjacent to one another in Chestnut Grove Cemetery. An attempt to interview his adoptive sister's children in the 1960's resulted in a statement that he "had been a good son" for the Minklers.

John may have passed away unexpectedly as a photo of him taken shortly before shows him standing tall. His obituary refers to him as "a highly respected citizen" and states that the funeral service was held at the Lutheran Church east of Bradner, Rev. Williston of Prairie Depot (i.e. Wayne) officiating.

Sources: Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997, Sandusky Co. Ohio Court documents, St. Paul Episcopal Church, Fremont, Ohio records (found at Hayes Presidential Center), US Census records, Bradner Advocate, June 15, 1900, p.3 c.4, Fremont News, February 3, 1894, p.2 c.3, and research by Oby Bonawit and Alsina Andrews.
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Spouse: Elizabeth SMART, b. 12 DEC 1845, OH
Married: 11 FEB 1869, Sandusky County, OH

Source: Unknown Contributor