Biography of Jacob D. Leighty, pages 
352/353/354/355/356/357.  History of DeKalb County, 
Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



A publication of this nature exercises its most important 
function when it takes cognizance, through proper memorial 
tribute, of the life and labors of so good a citizen as was 
Jacob D. Leighty, who was for many years one of the best 
known business men and most representative citizens of 
DeKalb county,  Indiana, having been an influential factor 
in the general development of the community. He ever stood 
as an exponent of the most loyal citizenship and was a 
noble personality whose memory will be long cherished and 
venerated in the community to whose civic and material 
progress he contributed in a most generous measure.  A man 
of great business capacity and of the highest principles of 
integrity and honor, he made his influence felt along 
diverse lines and he was long a leader in the promotion of 
legitimate enterprises which conserved the general welfare 
of the city and county of his adoption. He matured his 
plans carefully and patiently and was a man of splendid 
initiative power and constructive ability, so that he was 
well fitted to become one of the upbuilders of a thriving 
community. He gave generously of his superb powers in 
furthering the industrial, commercial and civic upbuilding 
of the locality as long honored by his citizenship,  and 
his name is one that merits a conspicuous place on the roll 
of those who have worthily swerving type and no shadow 
rests upon any portion of his career as an active business 
man and sterling citizen.  He has his limitations, as do 
all, but he gave of the best of his talents to the world 
and to aiding his fellow men. Mr. Leighty was a man of 
impressive personality, was broad of mental ken and had the 
characteristics which ever beget esteem, confidence and 
friendship. Viewing his life in its perspective, none can 
fail to have an appreciation of his great accomplishments 
at a time when such powers as his were at a premium,  and 
he should ever be remembered as one of the noble, kindly 
and public-spirited men of affairs who played a conspicuous 
role in the development and progress which characterized 
this section of the state. Jacob D. Leighty was born in 
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of October, 
1939, the son of John and Elizabeth (Sowash) Leighty, and 
his death occurred in St. Joseph’s hospital, Fort Wayne, 
Indiana. on October 17, 1912, in the seventy-third year of 
his age.  He was the third in order of birth of the ten 
children born to his parents, and he was but four years of 
age when the family came to DeKalb county, Indiana.  Here 
he was reared and secured a good, practical education in 
the common school, in which he became a teacher at the 
early age of sixteen years. He continued his pedagogical 
labors several years, and then became a student in 
Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio, where he was a 
member of the sophomore class at the outbreak of the war of 
the Rebellion.  His patriotic spirit was quickly aroused at 
the attack on the national flag and on July 8, 1861, he 
gave practical evidence of his loyalty and courage by 
enlisting as a member of Company E, Eleventh Regiment 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he was appointed a 
sergeant.  His military record was a most creditable one, 
characterized by courage of a high order, and he took part 
in a number of the most notable struggles of that great 
contest. His first engagement of importance was that of 
Fort Henry, in the spring of 1862, after which followed the 
battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, 
Raymond, Champion’s Hill, and others of scarcely less 
importance.  In the engagement of Champion’s Hill Mr. 
Leighty was severely wounded in the left hip and was 
disabled from active service for sixty days.  Upon 
partially recovering from his wound, he rejoined his 
regiment at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and from there went 
down the Mississippi river to New Orleans. He served with 
an expedition into western Louisiana, extending to 
Opelousas and engaging the enemy several time on the way.  
After his return to New Orleans and because of the effects 
of his wound, from which he still suffered, he resigned in 
March, 1964, and returned home.  That Mr. Leighty was a 
good soldier was indicated by his successive promotions, to 
second lieutenant on January 24, 1862, and first lieutenant 
on December 1st of the same year.  Upon his return to 
peaceful pursuits, Mr. Leighty engaged in mercantile 
business at Spencerville, Indiana, acquiring an  interest 
in the firm of Miller & Myers. Shortly afterwards he and 
Mr. Miller purchased Mr. Myers’ interest and the firm of 
Miller & Company was continued a year, when the subject’s 
father, John Leighty, bought Miller’s share, the firm name 
being changed to John Leighty & Son. The business was thus 
conducted, with eminent success, until 1872, when Jacob 
Leighty purchased his father’s interests and ran the 
business alone until 1874, when he sold his mercantile 
stock to P. Bishop. In 1875, when the Baltimore & Ohio 
railroad was projected through this section to Chicago, Mr. 
Leighty, with the foresightedness and sagacity 
characteristic of him, saw the possibility of a thriving 
town between Hicksville and Auburn, and, with this in view, 
he and his father bought what was then known as the Blair 
farm, on which they platted and laid out what is now the 
town of St. Joe. Three years later Mr. Leighty engaged in 
the mercantile business in the new town, having associated 
himself in business with  M. T. Bishop.  About seven years 
later Mr. Leighty bought his partner’s interest in the 
business, which he thereafter conducted alone until about 
1894, when he disposed of his business to W. C. and C. A. 
Patterson, J. K. Stafford and M. E. Olds. In many other 
ways he was a prominent figure in the upbuilding and 
development of the town, having assisted in the 
organization of a bank, of which he was elected president, 
owning and interest in the grist mill and other enterprises 
which contributed in a definite way to the welfare of the 
town, especially in its earlier days, when men of strong 
character and positive action were needed. He was active in 
the erection of the grain elevator and he built the 
substantial brick store building now occupied by C. A. 
Patterson. After moving to St. Joe Mr. Leighty and his wife 
first lived in the residence which was standing on the 
Blair farm, but later he built a comfortable residence in 
the town, just east of the present commodious and 
attractive brick residence, which he built in 1889. No 
enterprise which promised to benefit the community ever 
appealed for his assistance in vain, for he was public 
spirited to a noble degree. In all that constituted true 
manhood, and good citizenship he was an example, his career 
having been characterized by duty faithfully performed, and 
by industry, thrift and wisely directed effort. Under a 
full page-wide heading of “Our Leading Citizen Gone,” the 
St. Joe News made the following editorial comment on the 
life and character of Mr. Leighty, the same having special 
value because of the writer’s long personal acquaintance 
with the deceased and knowledge of his life and works: “St. 
Joe has lost by death its foremost citizen, Hon. J. D. 
Leighty, and by his taking away the town suffers and almost 
irreparable loss. What he did for the place and his 
interest in its welfare has been recognized and appreciate, 
but the full measure of his worth will be better known and 
none fully understood as time revels the extent of our 
loss. He took what may well be termed a fatherly interest 
in the little town that he and his father, John Leighty, 
had platted, for, as he had been instrumental in bringing 
it into existence, he took just pride in its advancement 
and felt keenly any failure. Hence, with his pocketbook, he 
counsel and his hands, he stood ever ready to help forward 
all movements for the betterment of St. Joe.  In every 
emergency he could be depended upon, and in every move for 
civic or moral reform, he never was classed among the 
doubtful ones. St. Joe feels its loss deeply and our 
citizens are in mourning.  But the loss is not confined to 
St. Joe alone. In a relatively decreasing degree, as they 
are farther removed from the scenes of his activities and 
influence, the county and the state suffers loss by the 
death of Mr. Leighty. He was a well know figure in councils 
outside the sphere wherein he chiefly moved, always on the 
side of what he believed to be right.*** An honest man has 
been styled ‘the noblest work of God.’ J. D. Leighty was an 
honest man---honest in his dealing with his fellow men; 
honest in his outspoken advocacy of the right, as he saw 
it; honest in his abhorrence of hypocrisy and sham; honest 
in himself in shaping his course through life to the 
dictates of a conscience governed by a high sense of right 
and wrong. Men differed from him in opinion and in 
judgment, but hey never questioned his honesty nor impugned 
his motives, for he stood out in the open, never resorting 
to questionable means, and his opponents respected him.  
His veracity was unquestioned, for his word was known to be 
his bond of honor.  His acts of kindness-and they were 
many---were not performed in public places nor accompanied 
by display. He was a true scion of the ’Pennsylvania Dutch’ 
stock, which has left an impress of good upon many parts of 
the country.  Politically, Mr. Jacob D. Leighty was a 
stanch supporter of the Republican party and took a deep 
interest in public affairs. He was called upon a number of 
times to serve his fellow citizens in a public capacity, 
always acquitting himself with credit and to their entire 
satisfaction. In1875 he was appointed postmaster at St. 
Joe, holding the office until his election to the office of 
town trustee, when he resigned. In1897 he received at the 
hands of President McKinley the appointment as state 
pension agent, a position he ably filled for four years. In 
1894 he was elected to Congress as a Republican from the 
twelfth district by a plurality of about two thousand seven 
hundred,  his election being especially notable from the 
fact that the district was normally Democratic by from 
fifteen hundred to two thousand five hundred votes-
certainly a marked testimonial to his popularity and 
ability, Two years later he was again the nominee of his 
party for Congress, but was defeated, though he ran far 
ahead of the balance of the ticket. Fraternally, Mr. 
Leighty was an appreciative member of the Masonic order, in 
which he had received distinctive preferment, having 
received the thirty-third and last degree of the order in 
1889.  In March, 1966, Jacob D. Leighty was married to Kate 
A. Metzger, who was born in Circleville, Ohio, the daughter 
of Judge Andrew and Elizabeth (Driesbach) Metzger, of  Fort 
Wayne, Indiana. Judge Metzger was a native of Ohio, his 
family having come originally from Pennsylvania. He 
followed farming until his removal to Fort Wayne, in 1853, 
he being numbered among the early and prominent settlers of 
that locality. He was interested there for a number of 
years in journalism and also served for a time as deputy 
county clerk. To him and his wife were born six children, 
namely: Kate A. (Mrs. Leighty), George, Mary, Jennie, Harry 
and Frank, of whom George, Harry and Frank are deceased.  
To Mr. and Mrs. Leighty were born three children, two of 
whom died in infancy, the only survivor being John R., of 
Kansas City. Mrs. Leighty, who still resides in the old 
family home in St. Joe, is a lady of many gracious 
qualities, which have commended her to the love and esteem 
of her many friends.  She was to her husband a helpmate in 
the truest sense of the word, much of his success in life 
being due to her wise counsel and the encouragement which 
she gave him in his affairs. She takes a kindly interest in 
all charitable and benevolent work in her community and her 
heart responds to every appeal for help in all good work.

Submitted by: 

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com