Biography of John H. Leasure, pages 565/566.  History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



Specific mention is made in the following paragraphs of one 
of the worthy citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana---one who 
has figured and is still an active participant in the 
splendid commercial prosperity, which characterizes this 
community, and who is contributing in a definite measure in 
his particular sphere of action to the growth of the 
locality and to the advancement of its best interest. 
Earnest purpose and tireless energy, combined with mature 
judgment and every day common sense, have been among his 
most prominent characteristics and he has merited the 
respect and esteem which are accorded him by all who know 
him.  John H. Leasure was born in Savannah, Ashland county, 
Ohio, on July 26, 1849, the son of Lovengar and Eleanor 
(Hayes) Leasure.  In 1852 the family moved to Auburn, 
Indiana, where he secured a limited education in the public 
schools, which, however, has been liberally supplemented 
through the years by much reading and habits of close 
observation. At an early age, the subject was apprenticed 
to learn the trade of shoemaking, that being a period when 
most boots and shoes were made by hand to order.  He worked 
at that trade for eight years, then accepted employment as 
a clerk in a hardware store at Auburn. About 1893 Mr. 
Leasure moved to Angola, where he remained most of the time 
up to 1900, in which year he returned  to Auburn and 
engaged in the hardware business on his own account. 
Subsequently he, with

W. H, McQuiston and Harry Swarts, organized the Auburn 
Hardware Company, with the intention of opening a new 
store. At that time John L. Davis estate was being closed 
up and his old established store was offered for sale.  The 
subject and his associates bought the store and ran it for 
two years. When Mr. Leasure and his wife and son bought the 
interests of Messrs. McQuiston and Swarts and thus became 
sole owners. This business has prospered under the wise 
management of Mr. Leasure and is now one of the principal 
mercantile establishments of Auburn, commanding a large and 
constantly increasing trade through this section of the 
country. A large and well selected stock is carried, 
consisting of shelf and heavy hardware, paints, stoves and 
other lines usually carried in an up-to-date store of the 
kind.  On December 30, 1880, John H. Leasure was married to 
Lida Powers, who was born near Greensburg, Indiana, the 
daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Hood) Powers, and who is 
mentioned more fully elsewhere in this work. To this union 
have been born two children, namely: Flossie, the wife of 
Harry M. Richwine, of Auburn, and they have one child, 
Helen Marguerite; J. Kent is a medical student in the 
Indiana State University, at Bloomington.  Politically, Mr. 
Leasure gives his support to the Democratic party, while 
fraternally he is an appreciative member of the Knights of 
Pythias. His religious membership is with the Presbyterian 
church, to which he gives his earnest support. In all the 
relations of life he has been a man among men, and, because 
of his high character and earnest life, he merits the 
confidence and good will which he enjoys in the community.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com