LEATHERMAN, Polly Wilson - Putnam

Mrs. Polly Leatherman was born in Knox County, Kentucky, September 18, 1815. Her father was Castleton Wilson; he died before she was born. Her mother married John Lynch, and Mrs. Leatherman was brought up in his family. They moved to Indiana when she was three years old, and it was there she passed her ear;y years. She married Daniel Leatherman, January 8, 1935. They in Putnam County, Indiana, two years, then moved to Cook County, Illinois where they remained seventeen years. In 1854 they came to Buchanan County, and settled in Middlefield township on the farm where Mrs. Leatherman still resides. They camped two weeks while building a house. Before the house was finished the family occupied it, the boys sleeping outdoors in wagons, and the girls and their mother making themselves as comfortable as possible by putting up sail cloth to keep off rain. They even passed one night in the house with an umbrella over their heads to keep off rain. Despite these rough experiences, Mrs. Leatherman was never homesick or discouraged. There were but one or two houses in the township when they came here, and only two houses in sight on the prairie. March 11, 1854, Mr. Leatherman entered three hundred and sixty acres of Government land, two hundred and eight of which Mrs. Leatherman still owns. In 1854 Dubuque was the principal point for trade; thence was brought a large part of the lumber used by Mr. Leatherman in building his houses. Wolves were plenty upon the prairie, and it required great vigilance to keep them from the sheep and other stock. In the face of such obstacles Mr. Leatherman and wife made themselves a comfortable home and reared a large family. Mr. Leatherman died November 12, 1876 in his sixty-second year. He was a man of sterling integrity and was widely known and respected. Following are the names and dates of birth of the children: Pamelia Ann, November 14, 1835; married Willard S. Blair for her first husband, is the wife of Moses Benton, Newton township; Lucy Frances, September 21, 1837; married Joshua Perkins, Quasquocton; Castleton, November 19 1839, was killed at the battle of Champion Hills, May 16, 1863; Simeon, Mary 6, 1842; married Miss Helen Brown, resides in Liberty township; Hannah, Apr 3, 1844; married Henry Blank, resides in this township; James Wesley, August 16, 1846p married, resides in Republic County, Kansas; Mary Ann, February 4, 1848; married A. B. Patterson, Liberty township; Armilda, March 23, 1852; married Dwight Manson, Cono township; Eva Rosetta, August 23, 1853; married G. W. Blank, Quasqueton; Edward Daniel, April 4, 1855, died September 23, 1879; Rhoda, June 28, 1858; Mary, November 8, 1860, married Ora Coffin, this township. Mrs. Leatherman enjoys good health and is well contented. She is the oldest settler now living in this township, with one exception. She is a member of the Baptist church.