Biography of Byron Leas, pages 575/576.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 
1914.



The best history of a community or state is the one that 
deals most with the lives and activities of its people, 
especially of those who, by their own endeavor and 
indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed 
themselves where they deserve the title of progressive men.  
In this brief review will be found the record of one who 
has achieved a career of marked success in agricultural 
affairs and a name which all who know him delight to honor 
owing to this upright life and habits of thrift and 
industry. Byron Leas, one of the most progressive and 
public-spirited citizens of Grant township, DeKalb county, 
Indiana, was born on October 6, 1873, on the farm where he 
now resides just west of Waterloo. He is the son of Obediah 
Leas, whose sketch appears elsewhere in the work, and he 
was reared on the home farm, securing his education in the 
public schools of the community.  Since his marriage, which 
occurred in 1895, Mr. Leas has been farming on his own 
account on the farm where he now lives, which was owned by 
his father and where he has resided continuously for forty 
years. His place comprises one hundred acres, the east line 
of which is only a fourth of a mile from the corporation 
line of Waterloo, and a splendid gravel road extends across 
his farm. The beautiful and attractive home, surrounded by 
graceful and shapely shade trees, the large and commodious 
barns and other necessary outbuildings which are all kept 
in first class condition attest to the sound business 
judgement and excellent taste of the owner.  Mr. Leas has 
achieved a creditable success as a farmer and among his 
fellow agriculturists he enjoys a splendid and well 
deserved reputation.  In 1895 Mr. Leas was united in 
marriage to Otie Jones, who was born and reared in Grant 
township, a daughter of John Wesley and Sarah (Plum) Jones, 
who are mentioned on another page in this work. 
Fraternally, Mr. Leas is a member of the Knights of 
Pythias, in the workings of which order he take a live 
interest. Characterized by breadth of wisdom and strong 
individuality and in all his enterprises actuated by noble 
motives and high resolves, Mr. Leas’ success and 
achievement represent the results of the proper utilization 
of innate talent in directing his efforts along those lines 
where sure judgement had led the way. Although he is too 
busy a man to devote much time to political matters, yet he 
can always be depended upon to lend his influence and 
support to all worthy movements whether political or 
otherwise that have for their object the betterment and 
upbuilding of his community.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com