Person:Alfred Leeman (1)

Alfred was 6'4" tall, slim, quiet and possessed of a flowing beard; Mary was outgoing and worked wonders cooking over a wood-burning stove. Their great grandchildren, including the writer, remember fondly listening to Grandpa Leeman's stories of fawns he found and raised with a bottle as a young man while clearing the forest land that still remained. Beginning with a 40-acre tract of land, he eventually built it into a fine farm of 223 acres. A contemporary writer said of him: "Alfred Leeman is widely and favorably known in Hamilton County, a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family. He now has a excellent farm in a high state of cultivation that indicates the supervision of a careful and painstaking owner." It was also noted that he cast his first presidential vote for General Grant in 1868. He lived to be 92 years old, and Mary 86.

    Alfred was one of the five children of William Leeman (1818-1915) and Harriett Edwards  (1825-1868) who were among the earliest settlers of Hamilton County. William lived to be 97 and his newspaper obituary said "He lived on the farm on which he died since 1838, a period of 77 years, and by economy, industrious habits and a good, clean life became a respected citizen and accumulated a splendid farm where he and his wife lived a peaceful, happy and contented life. He was a specimen of that grand character that made it possible for the present generation to enjoy one of the best developed sections of this great country of ours."

ILLNESS FATAL-ALFRED LEEMAN- Well Known Farmer Succumbs Last Night at Home, South-west of City.

Alfred Leeman, 92, died at his home nine miles southwest of the city at 11 o'clock last night, of infirmities of age and complications. He was born near Aroma April 25, 1844, the son of William and Harriett Leeman. On October 8, 1863 he was united in marriage to Mary Eller. She died August 23, 1929. The deceased was a member of the Omega Christian Church and was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge at Arcadia. Mr. Leeman enjoyed a wide acquiantance. Leaves Five Children- Surviving are four daughters: Mrs. Jane Faust south of Elwood; Mrs. Ola Haworth; Mrs. Ollie Thayer both of Aroma; Mrs. Sarah Harvey of Bellefontaine, O. and one son, William Leeman west of Aroma. There are ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The body was removed to the York Memorial Chapel to be prepared for burial. It will be returned to the family home at 4 o'clock this afternoon. Funeral services will be conducted at the Omega Christian Church Saturday morning at 10 o'clock with Rev. Aubrey Moore of Indianapolis in charge. Burial will be in the Aroma cemetery. Elwood Call Leader, Thursday 27 Feb. 1936

1. ↑ A. Donovan Faust (Foust). A Family History: The Ancestors of Thomas Wilson Faust. (1997).