page_title: John Leary (politician)
section_title: Family
hierarchical_section_title: John Leary (politician) / Personal Life / Family
caption_attribution_description: English: Panoramic view of the south façade, 1551 10th Avenue E., Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington. The Eliza Ferry Leary House (a.k.a. Diocesan House), headquarters of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, in the same complex of buildings as St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, ID #72001274. 2-1/2 story mansion built 1904-07, from designs by Alfred Bodley. Eliza Ferry Leary lived here until her death in 1935. The Red Cross used the house as its headquarters until 1948, when it was purchased by the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. Summary for 1551 10th AVE / Parcel ID 2025049121, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. This &#32;image&#32;was created with Hugin.
context_page_description: John Leary was an American businessman and politician who was a key civic leader in Seattle, Washington. He made contributions to virtually all civic and business activities during the city's early years.
  Leary started as a small lumber merchant in New Brunswick at 17. A successful entrepreneur, he accumulated "a modest fortune" and traveled to Seattle in 1869 in search of greater opportunities. Leary died one of the richest person in Seattle with a net worth of $2 million, most of which was acquired through real estate deals in Seattle and her vicinity. He participated in many other Seattle projects, including railroads, mining, banking, water and gas works, steamship operations, law, and others, many of which were unprofitable, but at the time, served an important public purpose. He was also known for his extensive charitable activities.
  Leary served multiple terms as Seattle councilman and as Seattle mayor in 1885. He was one of the founders of Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Rainier Club, and of First National Bank of Seattle – Seattle's first bank.
context_section_description: John Leary was married twice, but had no children from either marriage. His first wife, Mary B. Leary, died on July 17, 1890 in San Francisco, "after a short illness."
  On April 21, 1892, Leary married Governor Elisha P. Ferry's daughter, Eliza P. Ferry.
  The family resided on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Madison Street. In 1903, Leary started the construction of a new family home at a prime location in Capitol Hill, overlooking Lake Washington. At the time, it was estimated to be the most expensive private residence in Seattle. The architects were John Graham (the founder of John Graham & Company, later credited for many historic Seattle landmarks, including the Space Needle) and Arthur Bodley.
  The new house wasn't fully completed before Leary's death, but remained the residence of his widow and a famous place for social and charitable gatherings until Eliza Leary's death in 1935. In 1948, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia purchased the house which remains its headquarters in 2020. The house was added to National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
  At the time of his death, two of Leary's relatives were known to be still living: his sister Margaret (or Maggie) Leary Baker of Philadelphia, and Jane Leary of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
caption: The Leary new family house on Capitol Hill, 1551 10th Avenue East, Seattle
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