Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-03-17
JUDGE w. H. LEEPER DIES
AT HIS HOME IN MARIETTA A

Judge w. H. Leeper, brother o
DR.. j. F.. Leeper of this place, q
one time clerk of courts of thi
county, passed away March 10 a
his home in Marietta. While b
he had been a resident of MARKETS.
for many years, he never lost inter
est in Morgan county, often visiting
pleasure to meet old time friendi
and acquaintances, and to make
new ones.
Funeral services were held Sat
urday afternoon at 2:30 O'Clock a
the First Methodist Episcopal
church, Marietta, with the pastor
DR.. H. C. Bumgardner, officiating
conducted ritualistic services at the
Oak Grove cemetery, where inter
ment was made. Members of the
official church board of the First M
e. church were honorary pail bear
ers. Active pail bearers were DR..
Frank E. McKim, jr., Warren D.
Burns, E. S. Merriam, Judge w. d.
Sauer, Chas. D. Fogle and Leonard
B. Ogle.
From the Marietta Times is TAX
Judge William H. Leeper, SS,
dean of Washington County Bar as
sociatiOn, who practiced law in Ma
rietta for many years, died at his
home, $50 Second street, on Thurs
day, March 10, at 1880 a. m. He
was stricken with fatal illness on
Wednesday, his 88th birthday.
Judge Leeper was son OF the
late Hezekiah and Catherine Now
rey Leeper. He was born in Ames
township, Athens county, on March
8, 1850. He went with his parents
to Morgan county when two years
old, his father having settled on a
farm in Homer township. He re-
common and academic schools and
was graduated from GAINESVILLE busi-
ness college. He taught school for
several years and in 1878 was elect
ed clerk of courts of Morgan coun-
ty, serving two terms. At the same
time, he read law with Judge Will
liam B. Crew of McConnelsville,
and was admitted to the bar in
April of 1881.
In the fall of 1881, Mr.. Leeper
purchased an interest in a large
mercantile establishment at Water
ford, known as Smiley and Leeper.
While resident of Waterford he
was elected probate judge of Wash
ington county, in 1887, and served
for two terms. He moved his fam
lily to Marietta in 1887, and since
Os
piration of his terms Of service as
probate judge, he entered in law
partnership with Ellenwood and
Smith, and the law firm was known
as Ellenwood, Smith and Leeper,
which continued for number of
years.
Judge Leeper was elected to the
1$sa 1$gd Ohio ssnsfa assembly Waabggdn
county He had associated with |
him in later years his son, Charles
F. Leeper, the firm name known as
Leeper & Leeper. Attorney Charles |
F. Leeper, who had served as mayor |
of Marietta, died four years ago.
Judge Leeper was interested in !
business affairs in Marietta in his |
active years. He assisted in the or
bank, and was elected on the first |
board of directors. He had also !
been for several years director of |
the Dime Savings Society. He sery-
ed on Marietta board of education a
number Of years ago and was presi- |
dent of the board. He was also a
member of the old board Of school
ed as member of the Marietta |
civil service commission.
Judge Leeper was lifelong men,
ber of the Methodist church, and
was prominently identified with the
First Methodist church. He had
served as member of the official
board.
He was member of the Harmar
lodge, No. $50, F. & A. M, 32nd
degree Mason, and member of Ma
rietta Commandery, No. so, Knights
Templar and Aladdin Temple, Mys-
tic Shrine of Columbus. He was
also an honorary member of Ma
rietta lodge, No. 67, I. o. O. f. He
was one of the active members of
the Marietta McGuffey society, and
had served as it's president.
On December 26, 1872, he mar
ried Miss Sarah Jane Carpenter OF
Athens county and she survives
with son and two daughters, Will
liam F. Leeper of Parkersburg, w.
Va; Mrs. George S. Alexander of
of Marietta, and Mrs. W. d. VANS
ley of Minneapolis, MINI.
cor a family of eight, but two
Leeper, and Mrs. Ell
la Dew of Cincinnati. A brother,
John Leeper, grandfather of Frank
Leeper of this place, died in the
Spanish-American war. The sisters
deceased are Mrs. Jane McClanna-
han and Mrs. Caroline Carter. Two
of the family died in infancy.