ELDER SAMUEL LECKRONE.
Godliness or piety, moral cleanliness or integrity, activity or industry in the work of the church, all tend toward true happiness in this world and a hopeful confidence in the life to come that is assured to the possessor of these invaluable virtues.

Elder Samuel Leckrone, of Lake township, Kosciusko county, Indiana, and a son of Daniel and Sarah (Shrider) Leckrone, was born in Perry county, Ohio, April 25, 1848.

His father was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, was of German extraction, and was taken when a boy to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Perry county. He was reared on a backwoods farm and had but few opportunities for an education, but had plenty of hard work and became a good farmer. The Shrider family also emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio and settled near the Leckrones, and thus Daniel Leckrone and Sarah Shrider became acquainted.

They were married in Perry county March 15, 1847, the result being twelve children, viz.: Samuel, Lemuel, Isaac (deceased), Alva, Mary, Elizabeth (deceased), Almeda, Sarah R., Benjamin, George, Lamira and John S. Of these Samuel, Lemuel and Alva reside in Lake township, Kosciusko county. Mr. Leckrone, the father of this family, still resides in Hopewell township, Perry county, Ohio, he in his seventy-fifth year, but his wife departed this life March 22, 1902, aged about seventy-four years, the following extract being here reprinted as especially apropos in this connection.

Sister Sarah, wife of Brother Daniel Leckrone, died in the Jonathan Creek church, Perry county, Ohio, March 22, 1902, aged seventy-four years and two months. She was the mother of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, of whom two preceded her. One son is a minister, Elder Samuel Leckrone of the Eel River church, Indiana. All are members of the Brethren church except two sons. She was a faithful sister in the church over fifty-five years. She selected her own funeral text, found in Galatians 2:20. The funeral service was conducted by Elder Samuel Sprankel, assisted by Elder Tobias Hoover.

Samuel Leckrone assisted on the home farm until seventeen years of age, when he went out to work as a farm hand by the month. After he had paid for his necessary clothing he dutifully delivered to his father the remainder of his wages, and so continued to do until within six months of becoming of age. After that he retained his earnings and continued to work out until twenty-two years old.

October 23, 1870, Samuel Leckrone was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary Hendricks, a daughter of Solomon and Lydia (Stoner) Hendricks, natives of Ohio. Mary Hendricks was but nine days old when her mother died, and the babe was reared by her maternal grandmother, who gave her a common-school education. Mr. Leckrone was not possessed of a great deal of cash when married, so he rented a farm from his father-in-law in Knox county, on which he and wife lived about four years.

In September, 1874, with his wife and little ones, he came to Kosciusko county, Indiana, and purchased seventy-six acres of land in the southern corner of Lake township, on which, with the exception of the barn, he has erected all the buildings, and here he still resides.

It is the custom of the German Baptist church, to which Mr. Leckrone is so devotedly attached, to place a member of the congregation on trial as helper, and when that member has proven his worthiness and capability to advance him to the dignity and office of minister. August 24, 1876, Mr. Leckrone was put to this ordeal, and after his people became fully satisfied as to his piety and understanding he was advanced to the sacred degree in the ministry August 11, 1879, and has since performed its functions in the most satisfactory manner to all concerned. This office confers upon the incumbent the right to administer baptism, solemnize marriage and break bread at communion. December 24, 1881, Elder Leckrone was advanced to the full ministry and now has charge of three churches, one at Beaver Dam, one at Roann (Wabash county) and one in Jackson township, and he also preaches at other places voluntarily or by request.

To Samuel and Mary (Hendricks) Leckrone six children have been granted to bless their earthly existence. Of these the eldest, Charles, who was born August 25, 1871, passed through the common schools and attended North Manchester College; he then taught school two years, after which he attended Mount Morriss (Illinois) College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1894 and then taught school two terms in Kosciusko county. He next entered the Indiana State Normal School, from which he was graduated in the class of 1897; was then appointed principal of the Brownsburg (Indiana) school, which he taught two years; then entered the State University at Bloomington and was graduated in 1900.

He attended the State University at Ann Arbor, Michigan, after which he took a post-graduate course at the Chicago University. He is now professor of Latin in the Warsaw (Indiana) high school. He wedded, June 18, 1901, at Brownsburg, Indiana, Miss Ethel Chloe Free. She has an advanced education and was a teacher in Hendricks county, Indiana. Lizzie, the second child born to Rev. Samuel Leckrone, was born March 21, 1874, and is the wife of Gilbert Hartsong, of Lake township.

Martha, who was born in January, 1878, attended college at North Manchester. Cora, born August 1, 1882, graduated from the common school in 1901. Lina, born in December, 1885, also graduated from the common school in 1901, and is now attending North Manchester College. Samuel H., the youngest of the family, was born in March, 1891.

Rev. Mr. Leckrone, the father of these children, holds a very high position in the esteem of the citizens of Wabash and Kosciusko counties, and his wife and children share with him the respect which is paid to him. He takes no part in politics and has never voted.

Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902