The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-02-13

Joseph Galloway Lea, the second
son of DR.. Pleasant j. G. Lea and
Lucinda Galloway Lea, was born i'll
the hamlet of Cleveland, Tennessee,
on November 9Th. 1S41. In 1S49 DR..
Lea moved with his family to Jack
son county. Missouri. and located on
the land where now is situated the
town of LEAFS Summit. SO named in
his honor. Educational opportunities
were limited at that early day. and
While DR.. Lea was a successful coun
try practitioner and farmer, he was
able to give his children only the
rudiments of an education. But by
precept, admonition and example he
instilled in them the principles OF
honor, sobriety and rectitude of pur-
pose more valuable than the worlds
accumulated store of knowledge.
Joseph C. Lea grew to manhood
a hard working energetic farmer
boy of simple tastes, n who view
ed the internicine struggle then just
beginning as something at a distance
that did not especially concern boys
of his age. From this. however. he
was suddenly awakened when in De-
cember, 1861 he and his younger o
while gathering corn in their faith
er's field by a squad of Kansas Dor
derers. Those ~delectables who were
too cowardly to go to the front and
who showed their manly valor in
numbering non-combatant old men
insulting and harassing helpless wo-
burning property.
Making their escaDe just before
all the other captives of that raid
were shot down. and realizing that
their safety depended upon staying
away from home, they Immediately
joined their fortunes with the Con
federacy, 9th Mo-, Shelby's brigade.
How well he bore his part in the
great struggle is but attested by the
records. He entered the service a
farmer boy without any training and
declined a colonelcy before the third
year of his service had expired. A
dashing young officer who seemed
to have no thought of fear for him
self, yet he was constantly on the
alert to protect his men, especially
his close personal friends. A vacan-
cy in the office of first lieutenant
was to be filed. Captain Jason w.
James of this county. and another
whose name is not now at hand,
were aspirants. Capt. James felt hurt
at not getting the place and asked
Capt. Lea why he had turned him
down. With a look that showed his
heart was touched he replied, James
place where I know you will get
killed." Instances like this could be
multiplied. When the end came and
the Stars and Bars were furled "
q cause that was lost Capt. Lea ac-
cepted the situation with the same
fortitude he displayed in everything
else. He first went to Georgia and
engaged in railroad building and in
cotton planting, but in a short time
came to Mississippi, where in 1867
ne married Mrs. Douglass Burbridge
who lived about 4 years after their
marriage. In 1875 he married Miss
Sally Wildly, sister of Ernest L. Will
dy and Mrs. Geo. T. Davis. In 1876
they moved to Colfax county. New
Mexico, and in 1877 they moved to
Roswell, where in 1884 Mrs. Lea
died. leaving two children Harry
Wildly Lea and Mrs. Ella L.. Bedell.
In 1889 Capt. Lea married Mrs. Ma
bel Doss Day of Coleman. Texas.
who survives him. On Thursday.
january 28, Captain Lea was taken
sick. pneumonia soon developed and
On Thursday. February 4, just Is the
was at his zenith the grim mes
came and his spirit took its
dieht to that bourne from whence no
returns. !