The subject of this sketch was born in Ireland, June 24, 1812, and came to America when a young man. He was a painter by trade, and did a good doal of work in New Orleans, Mobile, and throughout the Southern cities generally. He owned land in Pike county for many years, and in 1872 purchased a farm on see. 25 of this township. He was united in marriage Feb. 17,1851, with Mrs. Eliza French, daughter of Wm. Morton, of the vicinity of Milton, this county. She was born Aug. 21, 1825, in East Tennessee. They had six children,—John, Leander, Thomas, Albert, deceased, Alfred and Ella. Mrs. Leary had two children by her former husband,— Martha and William French. Mr. Leary died May 7, 1870. His son Thomas, who is a subscriber for this book, is a prominent school-teacher, and is now (March 4, 1880) teaching at Pearl Prairie.

Source: History of Pike County by Chapman 1880