James McLeish

Living married Elizabeth Hayes [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Archibald married Lila Bennet in Nov 1907. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

When Andrew was 23 years old he came to America in 1856. He spent a few years in the states of Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois and Ohio before coming to Iowa on February 14, 1866. He became one of the first settlers of Fayette County when he began
farming 2 1/2 mile south of Maynard, Iowa, in Jefferson Township, Section 2, which was an 80-acre tract brought from the govenment for $150.00. He united with the church in Scotland and on December 13, 1899, with the First Presbyterian Church
in Maynard, Iowa. He was active in the work for many years. He served first as treasurer of the church and later as elder. He was with the National or Greenbacks in politics. (Greenback-Labor Party: In the years of 1874-1878, better known as
the panic years, the workmen resorted to political activity to right their greivances. They called themselves the National Party from Ohio. In 1877, the National Party fused with the Greenback party from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Their
platform was to fight against prison contract labor and for being in favor of shorter working hours.) He was a School Director for one year and Supervisor for two years. The farm he owned was then 160-acres worth $25.00 an acre. He later gave
each son 80 acres of land to start farming. When his wife, Katherine, died; he went to live with his daugther, Ellen, in Maynard, Iowa. He died there in a fire in 1930 at the age of 97.



Two newspaper clippings about Andrew McLeish:



Maynard Man 94, has never worn glasses or visited a dentist.

Maynard: June 15--Few men live more than four score ten years with the full enjoyment of every faculty yet this is the privilege of Andrew McLeish of Maynard, who has just celebrated his 94th birthday.

Mr. McLeish likes to read and is proud of the fact that he has never worn glasses. Neither has he ever been to a dentist. He was born in Scotland, June 10, 1833, coming to America when 23 years old. He spent a few years in the states of
Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois and Ohio before coming to Iowa on February 14, 1866. He became one of the pioneer settlers of Fayette County when he began farming two miles south of Maynard on an 80 acre tract bought from the govenment for
$150.00.

He married Katherine Strawn on November 26, 1868 and to them eleven children were born. Mr. McLeish united with the church in Scotland and on December 13, 1899 with the First Presbyterian Church in Maynard. He was active in the work for many
years. He served first as treasurer of the church and later as elder.

Since the death of his wife 17 years ago, he has made his home most of the time with his only daughter, Mrs. A.G. Simpson of Maynard. The living sons are John of Oran, Ia.; George, Robert and Arch of Maynard, James of Denver and LeRoy of
Chicago. The are also 20 grandchildren and 16 great- grandchildren.

Each year a family reunion is held to commerate his birth and he has great enjoyment looking forward to these events.



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Pioneer Scot is 96, oatmeal his daily dish since boyhood.

Maynard--June 10--Andrew McLeish, Promient pioneer of this vicinity and a native of Scotland is 96 years old today and enjoying life. He hasn't missed having a large dish of oatmeal for breakfast each day since he was a boy in Scotland. He
believes it to be one of the most healthful of foods, conducive to longevity. He recalls that as a lad he enjoyed a breakfast of "broes", made simply by pouring boiling water over finely milled oats.

Celebration of Mr. McLeish's birthday was held yesterday so that as many members of his family as possible could be here. He resides with his daughter, Mrs. A.G. Simpson, who planned the party. His health is good and he is able to read parts of
the newspaper without glasses.

Mr. McLeish is the last surviving member of a family of 10 children. Born in Scotland, he came to America at the age of 23 and in 1866 began farming near Maynard. He has six sons living: John and Arch of Oran, George and Robert of Maynard,
James of Denver and Roy of Chicago.

Andrew married Katherine Strawn on 26 Nov 1868 in Iowa. Katherine (daughter of John Strawn and Margaret Archer) was born on 26 Jan 1852 in Durand, Howard Twp., Winnebago Co., Illinois; died on 2 Sep 1910 in Maynard, Iowa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Came to Iowa 2-14-1866

cause of death, cancer