Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-03

and only the heroic work of Mr.. Leach
and his force saved the mint. This was
the only financial institution left intact.
and it Immediately became the financial
center and nucleus for the resumption of
business and the point of distribution Of
financial relief. The mint officials han
died $40. 900 of money transferred by
telegraph from the east to individuals
and banks. The work of Mr.. Leach was
SO excellent that the bankers of San
Francisco presented him with valuable
gold watch and a library of LOCO volumes.
One of the California Pioneers.
Frank A. Leach was born in Cayuga
county, n. Y, in the year 1916 and went
to California in the pioneer days of that
state with his parents. After OBJ aiming
high school education he entered the
| office of county newspaper with the de-
termination to learn the printing bust
| ness. After working at the employment;
of printer and reporter for two or three
yeas, then at the age of nineteen years, he
started a publication of his own, a daily
paper in the town of Napa, the home OF
his boyhood. He bore the dstinc ion for
several years of being the youngest pub
Usher of a daily newspaper in the state
Mr.. Leach continued in the newspaper
business as publisher for thirty-three
years, during which time he brought into
existence five newspapers, three of these
still being published by those who sue
ceeded in ownership.
While absent from home an extern
sive trip, and without his knowledge, he
was made a candidate for the legislature
In 1880 and in the following legislative
year he served the state as representa-
tive from Solano county. At the latter
session he was solicited to accept the
speakership, but declined.
Removed by Cleveland.
In 1882. unsolicited. he was appointed
postmaster of Vallejo, Cal, and was the
first commissioned officer in the state to
be removed from office by Mr.. Cleveland
when he became President. The cause
given was offensive craftsmanship
In 1856 Mr.. Leach returned to Oakland
selling his other papers, and concentrated
his energies i'll the publication of the
Oakland Enquirer, in conjunction with
A. Il. Nye now state controller of Cali
fornia. This paper became a strong fac
tor in the politics of that part of the
state, and was one of the three daily
papers in the entire state that opposed
the silver craze.
to accept official positions during his
career in Oakland. He was rendered
and strongly urged to accept the post
mastership of Oakland but declined.
Appointed Director of the Mint
When the superintendency of the
United States mint at San Francisco
was offered to him in 1897, having an OPP
portunity to dispose of his newspaper
property, he entered upon federal service,
remaining in the position of superintend-
ent until appointed director of the mint.
the duties of which position he assumed
Mr.. -Leach's family consists of his wife.
who has been his steadfast helpmate and
companion for thirty-seven years. and
fOIlr DOvS all of HON ba onta Tho
age of manhood The eldest, Frank is
manager of the Electric Light Power and
Gas Company of the cities on the east
side of San Francisco bay-Oakland. Ala
media and Berkeley; Abraham p. is an
attorney; Edwin r. is d mining engineer
and Harry f. is a law student now TAX
ing a postgraduate course in the Wash
inSton College