Biography of Jacob D. Leighty, pages 535 / 536.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Jacob D. Leighty, merchant, St. Joe, Ind., was born in Westmoreland County, 
Pa., Oct 19, 1840, a son of John and Elizabeth (Sowash) Leighty.  He was 
four years of age when his parents moved to De Kalb County in 1844, and here 
he was reared.  When he was sixteen years of age he began teaching school, 
and subsequently taught and attended school till the breaking out of the war 
of the Rebellion, being at that time in the sophomore class at Wittenburg 
College, Sprinfield, Ohio.  July 8, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Eleventh 
Indiana Infantry, and was appointed a Sergeant of his Company.  His first 
engagement was in the spring of 1862, at Fort Henry.  Subsequently he 
participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Grand Gulf, Port 
Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hills, and others.  At the last named battle he 
was wounded in the left hip and disabled from active service for sixty days.  
He joined his regiment at Baton Rouge, and from there went down the 
Mississippi to New Orleans and into West Louisiana as far as Opelousas, his 
regiment being in several engagements on the way.  Then he returned to New 
Orleans, but as he was still suffering from his wound he resigned in March, 
1864, and returned home.  He was a gallant soldier, and for his bravery was 
commissioned Second Lieutenant Jan. 24, 1862, and First Lieutenant Dec. 1 
following.  After his return home he engaged in the mercantile business in 
Spencerville in company with Miller & Myers a short time, and then he and 
Mr. Miller purchased Mr. Myers’ interest and the firm of Miller & Co. 
continued a year, when his father bought Mr. Miller’s interest, changing 
the firm to John Leighty & Son.  In 1872 he bought his father’s interest 
and in 1874 sold his stock to P. Bishop.  In 1875 he and his father laid 
out the village of St. Joe and the following year he became established in 
the mercantile business at this place.  He was appointed postmaster in 
1875 and served till 1880, when he was elected Township Trustee.  He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, Concord Lodge, No. 556; William Hacker 
Chapter, No. 56; Angola Council, No. 27; Apollo Commandery, No. 19.  He is 
a member of John C. Carns Post, No. 144, G.A.R. In March, 1866, Mr. Leighty 
was married to Kate A. Metzger, a native of Circleville, Ohio, daughter of 
Judge Andrew Metzger, of Fort Wayne.  To them have been born three children, 
but one of whom is living---John R.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com