Leeper, Henry bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 458-459; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Henry Leeper is a member of one of the most popular and prosperous families in Fairview Township, and has inherited all the nobility of character and strength of will that have combined to bring success to each member of the Leeper family. He is a brother to Hon. John Leeper and Isaac N. Leeper, whose sketches appear in this Album.
Our subject was born on section 24, on the old homestead of William Leeper, and there he passed his youth, being the youngest son in his father's family. His father, William Leeper, was one of the old pioneers of Fulton County, settling on the section above mentioned in 1840, and his mother, Eleanor (Lake) Leeper, came with her father, John Lake, who settled on the same section in 1838. The Lake and Leeper families both came from Ohio, the former coming originally from New Jersey and being connections of Anneke Jans, whose vast estates have been for such a long period in litigation. Of the Leeper children there are eight living, viz: John A., Isaac N., Harriet, Emmaline, Oliver, Charles E., Henry and Nettie M. Harriet is the widow of Joseph McMillan, and resides at Ft. Scott, Kan.; Emmaline married Josiah Brooks and lives in Kan.; Oliver makes his home in the West; Charles E. resides in Sabetha, Kan., and is a farmer; Nettie M. married William Slack, and makes her home in Farmington Township.
Our subject's father was a noble looking man, and was prominent in political, social and religious matters, and his business career was exceedingly prosperous. His death occurred in June, 1888, after he had attained his eightieth year, and at that time he owned about eighteen hundred acres of land in Fulton and McDonough Counties, and also some in Iowa. His wife died at the age of seventy-six, in July, 1890.
Mr. Leeper was born March 1, 1850, and received a common-school education, after which he entered the Lombard University at Galesburg, when eighteen years of age. But after one year there he returned home and began to work on his father's farm and has up to the present time been interested in a stock farm which he has run most successfully. He owns a considerable amount of land and is prominent both as a farmer and a horseman, and is well thought of by his fellow-men, having a large circle of acquaintances and friends. His country residence is a very attractive place and his barns are unusually good ones. He breeds Clay and Hambletonian horses, having on his farm sixteen head of the same.
The subject or our sketch was married January 1, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth Gentle, daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca (Higdon) Gentle. Her parents came from Ohio and settled in Farmington Township. To them were born four children, viz: Mary A., Julia, Lottie and Emma. Our subject's wife died in 1872, and September 30, 1874, he was married to Miss Evaline Garnsey, daughter of Sylvanus and Margaret (Knickerbocker) Garnsey. She was born in Ontario, Canada, and came with her parents to Illinois when quite young. To this marriage have been born two children, viz: Earl L., who is fourteen years of age; and Cora E., who is eleven years of age.
Mr. Leeper, besides his other possessions has four hundred and fifty head of Shropshiredown sheep. He is a prominent man and served as School Director for nine years and also as Highway Commissioner. He is a member of the Republican party and a strong advocate of those measures that benefit this community.