leahyd
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
DANIEL E. LEAHY lives at Leahy
postoffice and is occupied in general farming and stock raising.
He is one of the oldest pioneers of Douglas county and is known as one
of the most successful men within its precincts. He owns a section
of good wheat land, besides one hundred head of choice, well bred cattle,
and a band of horses. His estate is well improved, has fine buildings,
fences, corrals and buildings with all conveniences needed on a first-class
farm. These large holdings have all been gained by the efforts of
Mr. Leahy since coming to Douglas county and he is known as one of the
most substantial men of this part of the county.
Daniel E. Leahy was born in the Province of
Quebec, Canada, on May 11, 1850, being the son of James and Catherine (Barrett)
Leahy. The father was born in Cork county, Ireland and came to the
United States in 1819. The mother was a native of Canada. Our
subject attended the district schools of Canada and labored on his father's
farm until twenty-one years of age, then he went to Grand Rapids, Michigan,
and did lumbering for two years. After that, he spent a year in Canada,
a couple in New York state and after a visit home, came to Silver City,
Idaho. He was engaged in mining on the Golden Chariot in Idaho, near
Boise City and in other sections of the county. Mr. Leahy was head
tunnelman in the Sutro tunnel, at Virginia City, Nevada, and in the Standard
mine, Bodie, California, for years. In 1883, he journeyed north to
Washington and camped on Douglas creek four months. Being well impressed
with the country, he took a homestead on Foster creek, where he resides
now and which has been added to until he owns a large estate. First
Mr. Leahy gave his attention to general farming and raising horses, later
he added cattle and is now handling a large bunch of them. He has
one fine heifer that took second prize at the Spokane fair in 1901.
Mr. Leahy was forced, like other pioneers, to travel clear to Sprague for
his supplies but he continued steadily in his labors until he has seen
the country develop about him to be one of the best portions of the great
state of Washington.
In Spokane, on November 1, 1896, Mr. Leahy
married Miss Mary O'Farrell. Her father, Jasper O'Farrell, was a
native of California and followed civil engineering. He assisted
to lay out a portion of the land now occupied by San Francisco and has
one street named in his honor. He married Miss Mary Christian, a
native of Maine. Mrs. Leahy was born in Sonoma county, California,
on December 28, 1861 and has four brothers and one sister, John J., Louis
J., Cathol, Gerald, and Lena.
To Mr. and Mrs. Leahy four children have been
born: Dorotha T., on September 18, 1897; Catherine, on June 12, 1899, Cecelia
G., on October 14, 1900; Mary C., on August 11, 1902.
Mr. and Mrs. Leahy are members of the Roman
Catholic church.
Sometime after Mr. Leahy had located in Douglas
county, his brother Dennis, came from California and entered into partnership
in stock raising. This continued until 1897, when by mutual consent
they dissolved and each handles his own brand.
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