Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Leighton, Alvin Coe 1839 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 29, 2013, 1:37 am Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher ALVIN COE LEIGHTON. The substantial development and improvement of Ottumwa are due in no small measure to Alvin Coe Leighton. He was born in Manchester, Scott county, Illinois, June 2, 1839, his parents being Joseph and Mary L. (Coe) Leighton. His great-grandfather, Tobias Leighton IV, was born in Kittery, Maine, August 31, 1742, and passed away in 1818 at Harmony, Maine, whither he had gone with his son James, the grandfather of A. C. Leighton, to establish a mill. Tobias Leighton was a soldier in the French and Indian war, serving in 1758 and 1759. He was present at the capture of Lewisburg and his military experience at that time proved an excellent training school for him in preparation for his later arduous duties of a military character, for at the time of the outbreak of the Revolutionary war he enlisted in the Thirtieth Maine Regiment, participating in the battle of Bunker Hill. When his first term of service expired he was mustered out, but later re-enlisted under General Washington. Joseph Leighton, the father of Alvin Coe Leighton, was a native of Harmony, Maine. He learned the carpenter's trade in early life and was connected with building operations for many years. Attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, he became a resident of Scott county, Illinois, in 1836 and in 1841 established his home in Des Moines county, Iowa. There he resided until Wapello county was opened for settlement May 1, 1843, when he entered a claim from the government and devoted the succeeding three years to its development and improvement. In 1844-45 he was active in the building of Meeks' mill at Bonaparte, Iowa, after which he removed to Ottumwa, where he was elected county treasurer in the fall of 1846. At that time the office carried with it the duties of both treasurer and recorder. The work perhaps was not especially heavy, however, for at that time Ottumwa contained but eighteen houses and the entire county was but sparsely settled. At the close of his first term he was re-elected and served until 1851. In that year Ottumwa received its charter as a city and Mr. Leighton was chosen the first city assessor, while the following year he was elected treasurer. During the years 1854 and 1855 he served as a member of the board of city trustees, and in 1856 popular franchise again placed him in the office of city assessor. In 1851 he embarked in general merchandising with Dr. C. C. Warden, conducting stores in both Ottumwa and Blakesburg. When the partnership was dissolved in 1853 Mr. Leighton retained ownership of the Blakesburg store and after disposing of his interests there turned his attention to the real-estate business. He also occupied the position of justice of the peace for a short time prior to his death, in 1858. His political allegiance in early life was given to the democratic party, but with the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill he joined the ranks of the new republican party. Joseph Leighton was married in 1838 to Miss Mary L. Coe, who was born in Greene county, Illinois, in 1821. They became the parents of three sons and three daughters, of whom Alvin C. is the eldest. Mr. Leighton's mother survived all of her children except himself and passed away October 15, 1905, at the age of eighty-four years, three months and twentv days. She had resided in Iowa for sixty-four years and in Wapello county and Ottumwa for sixty-two years. She was only thirty-seven years of age when her husband died and devoted the remainder of her life faithfully to rearing and caring for her children. There were beside our subject five children, as follows: Ann Elizabeth, born at Dodgeville, Des Moines county, Iowa, in 1841 and died in Competine township, this county, in 1845; James, born in Competine township November 16, 1844, and died December 15, 1882; Joseph, born in Ottumwa, February 1, 1848, and died September 1, 1888; Mary Emily, born in Ottumwa, October 9, 1851, and died February 15, 1890; and Abby, born in Ottumwa, August 25, 18^4. and died in Ottumwa in 1904. Mrs. Leighton was a kind and loving mother, a devout Christian and died beloved by all. One brother, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren survive her. She is buried in the beautiful Ottumwa cemetery, surrounded by her husband and her sons, daughters and grandchildren who passed away before her. Alvin C. Leighton was a little lad of not four summers when brought by his parents to Wapello county on the 1st of May, 1843, and was a youth of seventeen years when, in 1856, he made his way westward to the Missouri river. He remained upon the plains until 1878 and since that time has continued in Ottumwa, being today one of its citizens. His efforts have been of large value in upbuilding and improving the city. Soon after his return he purchased what is now the Leighton block on Market street and erected an addition thereto. He also erected a number of other buildings and continued in the real-estate business, handling his own property only. He has been connected with the Coal Palace, the Opera House and the Wapello County Agricultural Society and he aided in securing the building of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad through Ottumwa. He has co-operated in every movement that has for its object the benefit of the city, and his aid can always be counted upon to further any progressive plan. Mr. Leighton was united in marriage in Baltimore, June 2, 1874, to Miss Mary T. Benson, who was born in that city in 1851 and is a daughter of Benjamin S. Benson. The latter was a foundryman and inventor of Baltimore and there died a number of years ago. He possessed marked mechanical skill and ingenuity and in his boyhood invented a water ram. He manufactured all the piano plates used by the Knabe Piano Company, but his principal business was the manufacture of water and gas pipe. He was also one of the original founders of the Maryland Institute. His grandson and namesake, Benjamin S. Benson, occupied offices in the Leighton block but now resides in Los Angeles, California. In his political views Mr. Leighton is a democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and the supervision of his investments. He possesses many sterling traits of character, and a social disposition has made him popular with those who come within the circle of his friendship. He is a gentleman of the old school. He is courteous, jovial and entertaining and his friends always look forward with pleasure to a visit at his home. He holds friendship inviolable and is most loyal to those who give him their confidence and their regard. Mr. Leighton can safely be called an old resident of Iowa, having made his home in this state from 1841 to 1914. He has resided in Wapello county and Ottumwa since May 1, 1843, the day the Indians were to leave. Thus he resided seventy-three years in the state and seventy-one years in Wapello county. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/wapello/photos/bios/leighton645gbs.jpg This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 7.8 Kb