Leech - Thomas Franklin
Source: Downers Grove Reporter,
Downers Grove, Illinois Friday, November 7, 1919
Dr. Thomas Franklin Leech, son of
David Leech and America Taylor, was born near Flat Rock, Shelby Co, Ind.,
December 27, 1840. His parents had taken up land there, having come out
from Virginia. Th boy was educated at an academy, at Hope, Ind., until he
reached the age of twenty, when he went to the Jefferson Medical College of
Philadelphia, to attend a course of lectures. The war broke out before he
had a diploma, so he enlisted with the 33rd Indiana Infantry at Shelbyville,
Ind., and went with his Company into Kentucky. His work naturally fell to
caring for the sick, as that was his natural bent, hence he was soon put in
hospital service. He had charge of the hospital at Louisville, Ky., for
eighteen months. He was granted a furlough to return to the Medical
College to continue his course, and during that time he was offered a position
in the Mississippi Squadron, U.S.S Peri, so he transferred from the Army
service to the Navy. He spent about two years in the Navy, being
stationed near Vicksburg, during some of its most perilous days. After he
was mustered out, in 1866, he returned to Philadelphia for his diploma and his
degree. While his duties kept him off the firing lints, he was during the
whole four years and three months of his service ministering to the sick and
wounded. Many soldiers has testified through the years to his having
saved his life from either wounds or disease during the time of the country's
peril.
Most of his practice in
general surgery was during his residence of 25 years at Crawfordsville, Ind.,
where he was president of the level of Medical Society form many years,
secretary of the Board of health and also on the Indiana State Board of
health. He was an organizer for the Grand Army of the Republic,
organizing McPherson Post G.A.R. at Crawfordsville in the earliest days of the
Grand Army.
He moved to Downers
Grove, Ill., in April 1899, and has since that time became affiliated with
Grove Lodge No. 824. A.F. & A.M. During the latter years his
associations with his Comrades and Brothers have been his greatest comfort.
He originally united
with the Methodist church at Hope, but when he married Mary E. Locke, in 1866,
he joined with her in the Presbyterian church. On coming to Downers
Grove, they united with the Congregational church, and attended there until two
years ago when he put his church letter in the Central Church of Chicago.
He is survived by two
children, Charles Hugh Leech of Chicago, and Mrs. Alice Mabel Paine of Downers
Grove, at whose home he passed away October, 30, 1919. He rests beside
his wife at Oak Hill, Crawfordsville Indiana, where he was buried with full
masonic Honors on November 7, 1919. - thanks to Kim H