Biography of John Leas, pages 892 / 893. History of De Kalb County, Indiana. Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885. John Leas, President of Citizens’ Bank, Waterloo, Ind., was born in Adams County, Pa., near Gettysburg, July 12, 1815, a son of Col. John, Jr., and Sophia (Spangler) Leas, native of the same State. Ten children lived to be adults, eight of whom are now living. His grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Leas was a farmer. In 1818 Mr. Leas emigrated to Stark County, Ohio, where he opened up a farm. In 1838 he went to Guernsy County and opened up his second farm in a wilderness. In the fall of 1852 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and located on section 8, Smithfield Township. Where he again made a farm. The Colonel was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was highly respected in the county where he reside. While in Stark County, Ohio, he was commissioned as Colonel of a milita regiment by Wilson Shannon. In politics he was an old Jackson Democrat, and held several local offices. He died in De Kalb County in 1875. Mrs. Leas died in 1882. They were members of the Reformed church. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm. In early life his education was sadly neglected, as his parents were poor, and all the schooling he had was in the log cabin. He was married in Stark County, Ohio, to Susan Schimpff, a native of Germany, who emigrated to America when thirteen years of age. By this union there was a family of twelve children, nine of whom are living--- Martin, Jacob, John, Obadiah, William H., Hezekiah K., Daniel, Elizabeth (wife of Oscar Taylor), Adeline (wife of Miles J. Waterman). In 1842 Mr. Leas came to Indiana, and in 1843 he moved his family, purchasing 143 acres of land. In 1867 he came to De Kalb County, where he has a fine farm and houses. When Mr. Leas came to Steuben County he was a poor man, with only $85 in money and a yoke of oxen, and a wife and baby, but by hard work he has accumulated a competency, and to-day is among the wealthy citizens of the county. For twenty-two yeas he has followed the shipping business, riding night and day. June 15, 1881, Mrs. Leas died at her home, leaving a husband and nine children to mourn her loss. She was a true Christian, and highly respected by all. She was a kind and thoroughly respected and loving wife. In December, 1881, he was again married to Amanda Malory, widow of Robt. Patterson, by whom she had five children; two living ---William and Frederick. In politics he is a strong Democrat, and has held several local offices of trust in the gift of the people. He is member of the Reformed church. Mr. Leas is a Master Mason, and a member of the Waterloo Lodge, No 207. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com