LEATHERMAN-John - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

John LEATHERMAN, farmer, Newtown, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio March 5, 1811. His mother, Rachel SPRAGUE died when he was 11. In 1828 he removed with his father, John Leatherman, to Fountain County and settled 4 miles SW of Newtown. His father died in 1833. In 1831 he began the cabinet trade with George W. Hicks. Indoor work not agreeing with him he worked at carpentering much of the time summers. He followed these two trades 30 years In 1838 he married Elizabeth Brimm, daughter of Churchwell Brimm, who came from Ky and settled near Roseville on the big Raccoon, Parke County in 1815. Her parents died the next year. She was born Aug 14, 1811 and lived in Parke County till 1830 when she removed to Fountain. They had 8 chldren: William M. born Dec 8, 1833; Mary Catherine, Feb 9, 1836 died May 28, 1843; John April 9 died June 19, 1838; Sarah Sept 1, 1839 wife of Daniel Reed; James P Jan 25, 1841 died June 4, 1843; John W. April 11, 1844; Harriet June 26, 1846 died Sept 10, 1847; Clinton Hale July 30, 1847 died Oct 18, 1872 leaving a family Mr. and Mrs. Leatherman have been members of the Methodist Church about 50 years and the former an Odd-Fellow about 20. Mr. Leatherman cast his first vote for Henry Clay for president. He then became a free soiler and later a republican John Wesley was enrolled in County H 72nd Ind Vol July 1862. His regiment was one of those composing Wilder's celebrated brigade of mounted infantry and with this command he fought at Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Dalton and Rosaca; did duty throughout the Atlanta campaign and was engaged at Peachtree Creek; then returned to Louisville where the command was remounted and reached Nashville after the destruction of Hood's army before that city. He was with the expeditionary force of Gen. Wilson at taking Selma, Ala by assault just at the close of the war. He was mustered out at Indianapolis in July 1865. Returning home, he sold groceries one year in Newtown; since that he has been farming; in addition he is now operating a large tile factory. He was married March 27, 1874 to Mary Dimmick. His wife belongs to the Methodist Church; and he has been an Odd Fellow since 1865 and is republican.