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CHRISTIAN
P. LEATHERMAN, a highly respected citizen of Mason, Effingham
County, is a retired blacksmith and gunsmith.
After a long business career he has at length put aside life's labors and is now enjoying a well-earned rest. He
was born in Ohio, on the 10th of July, 1814, and is a son
of John and Wilhelmina Henrietta (Hankins) Leatherman. The father was a native of Ohio, and was of Dutch descent. The grandfather
of our subject, Peter Leatherman, was a native of Pennsylvania, and also lived in Mississippi
and Ohio. He died when about seventy-five years
of age. The mother of our subject was a native of Germany. Her father came to this country when quite
an old man. By the union of John and Wilhelmina Leatherman were born four children, three sons and a daughter:
Henry, David, Dorothy and Christian P. With the exception of our subject all are now deceased. The father of our
subject was a blacksmith and gunsmith, and for a number of years followed that business in Orange County,
Ind., where his death occurred about 1846. His
wife passed away the year previous. They were both members of the Dunkard
Church, and lived to quite an advanced age.
Christian P. Leatherman was reared to manhood in Indiana, near Little Orleans, where he learned
his trade and received his education. He attended school in the little old-fashioned log schoolhouse, with its
puncheon floor and slab seats, upon which the scholars sat conning their lessons. He remained at home until twenty
years of age, when he began learning the business which he has made his life work.
On the 20th of October, 1836, near Little Orleans, Ind., Mr. Leatherman married Miss Elizabeth Krutsinger, daughter
of Jacob and Sarah (Lee) Krutsinger. Her mother was a native of Tennessee. Her father was born in Kentucky, and was of Dutch descent. By the union
of our subject and his wife were born twelve children, eight of whom are yet living. Sarah, the eldest, is the
wife of Jacob Cornwell, a blacksmith of Golden
City, Mo., by whom she has seven children: Henrietta,
Christian P., Charles, Lewis, Robert, Mary and Alice. Samuel is now deceased. Henrietta and Harrison have also
passed away. William married Miss Keziah J. Davis, and resides in Farina, Ill., where he is engaged in teaching, being
a minister of the Methodist Church. They have four children: Frank, Della,
Charles and Lewis. Jacob, who is also a Methodist preacher, married Miss Jane Misenhamer and resides in Anna,
Ill. They have three children: Effie, Clarence
and Elsie. Nancy is now deceased. Mary is the wife of Thomas
Hale, a blacksmith of Louisville, Ill.
Four
children have been born unto them: Driley, Artie, Levi and Bessie. James H. married Miss Lottie Golden, by whom
he has five children: Myrtle, Eddie, William, Gertrude and a baby. They reside in Macon,
Ill., where he carries on business as a brick
mason and a plasterer. Harvey T. married Miss Mary Andrews and with his wife and child, Earl Orville, resides in
Mason, Ill. George W. married Miss Alice Dunlap and is a blacksmith and silversmith of Walnut, Kan. Alice is the
wife of Pierce Goodnight, who is engaged in farming in Edgewood, Ill. They have two children, William and James.
The year 1844 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Leatherman in Illinois, he locating in Clay
County, near Saylor Springs. The county was then
wild and but sparsely settled. The prairie grass was higher than a man's head when he was seated on horseback.
Many prairie fires occurred and were a source of terror to the inhabitants. All kinds of wild game, including turkeys,
prairie chickens and ducks were plentiful, and wolves and wild hogs were very numerous. There were also large herds
of deer and in one season Mr. Leatherman killed seventy-five of those animals.
During his residence in Indiana, our subject enlisted as a soldier in the
Mexican War, serving under Col. Bowles and Gen.
Jo Lane.
He removed from the vicinity of Saylor Springs to Oskaloosa, in the same county, and there resided for about four
years. It was in the year 1868 that he came to Mason and opened a shop, in which he carried on blacksmithing and
gunsmithing until seventy-seven years of age. His life has been a busy and useful one and by his industry and enterprise
he has gained a comfortable competence, which now enables him to live in retirement. He owns a good home property
in the village, and in the community he has many friends.
In politics, Mr. Leatherman is a Democrat. Himself and wife are both faithful and devoted members of the Christian
Church, of which he has been an Elder since its organization. He labors earnestly for its upbuilding and growth
and is an earnest worker in the Master's vineyard. He is a man of benevolent and kindly impulses, and the poor
and needy find in him a valued friend. He is a plain, unassuming man, but his very unpretentiousness has won him
high respect. His word is never broken, his promises are always kept, and his career has been an honorable and
upright one. Mr. Leatherman is now about seventy-nine years of age, and his wife has reached her seventy-second
year. This worthy couple have traveled life's journey together for the long period of fifty-six years. Their mutual
love and confidence have increased as time has passed and hand-in-hand they go down the hill of life together.
Well may their children follow in the footsteps of their honored parents.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and
Richland Counties Illinois, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Governors
of the State, and the Presidents of the United States. (Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887), p. 220. Transcribed by
Judy Rosella Edwards.
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