- Appointed
Sutler to the 4th Illinois
Cavalry.
From Headstone Readings, Oakwood
Cemetery, Joliet, IL, Section 13:
Alonzo Leach &
Family
(all that is on the headstone)
Will County Illinois USGenWeb
Necrologist Reports (© 2002
The ILGenWeb Project All Rights
Reserved):
The present season
will be memorable for
the
disappearance from the public square in Joliet, of the old court house,
and at
the same time of the person, who, more than any other individual has
been
identified with its history of forty years. Alonzo Leach was
born in
Sangersfield, Oneida county, N. Y., Sept. 18, 1816. At the age of eight
years
he went to Eaton in Madison county, and in 1836 to the state of
Michigan. In
1838 he came to Joliet, where he has resided continuously up to the day
of his
death, June 23rd (1887). During his first year here he had
charge of a
hotel on
Chicago street, and afterwards engaged in the soap and chandlery
business. In
1842 he was elected constable and also appointed deputy sheriff by
Risley, In
1848 he was elected sheriff, which office he filled the constitutional
period
of two years. He was again elected in 1852 and again in 1858. His
election to
these offices, while the county was still Democratic, is a strong
testimony to
the hold he had on the favor of the people. For Mr. Leach was first a
strong
Whig and then Republican, and never concealed his principles. It was
greatly
owing to his influence and efforts that J. O. Norton owed his success
in
running for congress, for he was an admirable campaigner. At the
breaking out
of the war, he obtained the appointment of sutler to the 4th
Illinois Cavalry,
but finding the position required more physical exertion than he could
bear, he
sold out after the battle of Pittsburg Landing. He met some years
before with
an accident on his farm, which required the amputation of one leg, and
this,
accompanied by rheumatism, made locomotion difficult. He engaged in
speculation
in real estate to some extent, and acquired sufficient property to
supply his
wants during his decline, and also to reward to some extent those who
cared for
him during the years he was laid aside. He was postmaster of Joliet in
1865. He
was twice married but left no children nor near relatives. There were
some
things in his life here, upon which Mr. Leach looked back with regret.
Believing as I do in the wisdom of the old Latin adage, to speak
nothing but
good of the dead. (Oh, how happy it would be if we could adopt that
diviner
philosophy which forbids us to speak and think nothing but good of the
living.)
I have alluded this only for the sake of saying for the comfort of such
as
which the best for "Lon" in that new life upon which he has entered,
that there is reason to hope that this regret took on before his death
the
deeper quality of repentance. Aside from this, Mr. Leach bore a
character for
honesty, kindness and fidelity to friends, which, with his social
qualities,
secured him the warm attachment of a host of friends. In his later
years, while
health and weather permitted, he was to be seen daily in his favorite
seat in
the vestibule of the old court house, where he was ready to greet every
one
with a cheerful word and smile. He was warmly attached to our Pioneer
Association and while able spared no effort to make our meetings a
success. He
seemed to enjoy them more than almost anything else. At my last visit
to him, a
little while before his death, he expressed to me his regret that he
would not
be here to enjoy the present gathering. His familiar face is to be seen
in the
photo of our last gathering, and also adorns the Will County history.
The
kindly feelings felt toward him by men of all creeds and parties, was
pleasantly
shown in the numbers and character of those who followed his remains to
Oakwood.
Additional Biographical Material:
From: History of
Will County, 1878
Alonzo Leach,
retired, Joliet; was born in Sangerfield, Oneida Co., N. Y., Sept. 28,
1816 when he was 8 years of age, he left his native county, and went to
Eaton, Madison Co., N. Y.; in 1836, he went to Michigan, and in 1838,
came to Joliet; he spent about a year in charge of a hotel, and then
engaged in the soap and chandlery business, in 1842, he was elected
Constable, and appointed Deputy Sheriff, and served until 1848, when he
was elected Sheriff of Will Co., The constitution not allowing an
incumbent of the office to hold two terms in succession, he retired at
the end of his term, but was again elected in 1852, and again in 1858;
in the mean time he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. On the
breaking-out of the war, he was appointed sutler of the 4th IL. V. C.,
under Col. Dickey. After the battle of Pittsburg Landing, he sold out
and returned home, where he engaged in dealing in stock. He was
appointed Postmaster at Joliet in 1867, and held the office two years.
He was married May 10, 1856, to Mrs. Mary Gutterson, of Joliet, who
died Nov. 2, 1866. Mr. Leach was married again, May 8, 1870, to Mrs.
Mary J. White, of Joliet; she died Jan. 31, 1871.