The Life and Times ofJohn Hess Leathers (1841-1923) Confederate veteran Louisville financier Philanthropist Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt The Center for the Study of the American Civil War 1 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt John Hess Leathers (1841-1923) o Born April 27, 1841, in Middleway, Jefferson County, West Virginia (then Virginia), to the son of a cabinetmaker. Died 6/30/23. o Youngest of seven children. o Worked in father’s shop, writing bill of sales, delivering invoices, keeping inventory. o By age 16 was clerking at dry goods store in Martinsburg. o Came to Louisville in 1859 upon being called by an uncle, to work for a retail druggist, George H. Cary. o 1860 became a bookkeeper in the wholesale clothing firm of William Terry & Company. o In 1861, when the war broke out, returned home and enlisted in Company D, in the 2nd Virginia Infantry. o Suffered an injury at Gettysburg. o Returned to Louisville in autumn of 1865, his former employer founded a new firm – Jones & Tapp - and held a position for him. He managed the firm’s accounts. o 1869, became a Mason. o 1869, 12th of March, married Miss Kate Armstrong of Nelson County. o 1870, admitted as a partner in the renamed firm of Tapp, Leathers & Company. Did this from 1870s thru early 1880s. 2 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt o Wore nice suits at 5 feet 10 inches tall. o 1875-76 served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State o 1878, organized Company C of the Louisville Legion, and chosen Captain of Co C. o 1879, elected Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge. o By 1885, firm had 500 employees under Leather’s supervision, manufacturing Kentucky jeans and lines of men’s and boy’s dress clothing. o April 1, 1885, Theodore Harris, a financier, convinced Leathers too verse day-to-day operations of the Louisville Banking Company. o By 1888, the LBC was the largest financial institution in Kentucky. Deposits had tripled since Leather’s took over. o 1888, Leathers became a charter member of the Confederate Association of Kentucky. o 1891, listed as Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. o 1895, elected President of the Kentucky Banker’s Association. o 1905, his photo is included in the Confederate Veteran, Vol. 13, No. 5, May 1905; front cover “Members of Executive Committee for Louisville Reunion, June 14, 15, 16, 1905: John H. Leathers, Bennett H. Young, Thomas D. Osborne, John H. Weller, D.W. Sanders, Thomas W. Bullitt, Sam H. Buchanan, W.M. Marriner, John B. Pirtle, Basil W. Duke, Andrew M. Sea, George C. North, John B. Castleman, E. Bayse, A.E. Richards, J.W. Green, W.B. Haldeman, J.A. Shuttleworth, and D. Thornton.” 3 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt Remembering Kentucky’s Confederates, Geoffrey R. Walden, p.98. o 1909, President of Louisville National Banking Company Also: o President of the Louisville Industrial School of Reform o President of the Kentucky Humane Society o Director, the Cook Benevolent Institute o Member of the Democratic Party o Presbyterian o Mason o past Grand High Priest of the Kentucky Chapter of Royal Arch Masons o past commander of Louisville Commandery, No. 1 Knight’s Templar. o attained 32nd degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 4 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt o member of the Kosair Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. o United Confederate Veterans o served as vice-president of the UCV’s Association of Kentucky o served on the committee that also brought in the GAR Reunion to Louisville in1895. o Had four children: o Charles F. Leathers, worked in banking o John Allen Leathers, worked in Post Office o Stuart Robinson Leathers o Annie, wife of Stuart F. Duncan o Died June 30, 1923; buried in Section O, Lot 210 at Cave Hill Cemetery. 5 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt John Hess Leathers’ Civil War Record Residence Louisville KY; 18 years old. Enlisted on 8/12/1861 at Camp Harman, VA as a Private. On 8/12/1861 he mustered into "D" Co. VA 2nd Infantry (date and method of discharge not given) He was listed as: * POW 6/25/1862 Woodstock, VA * Exchanged 8/5/1862 (place not stated) * Absent 3/15/1863 (place not stated) (Estimated day) * Returned 5/15/1863 (place not stated) (Estimated day) * Wounded 7/3/1863 Gettysburg, PA * Hospitalized 8/3/1863 Charlottesville, VA * Returned 8/21/1863 (place not stated) * Absent 1/15/1864 (place not stated) * Returned 3/15/1864 (place not stated) (Estimated day) * POW 5/12/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA * Confined 5/18/1864 Point Lookout, MD * Exchanged 2/13/1865 (place not stated) (No further record) Promotions: * Sergt 4/19/1862 * Sergt Major 11/15/1862 (Estimated day) Intra Regimental Company Transfers: * 11/12/1862 from company D to Field & Staff Other Information: born 4/27/1843 in Middleburg, VA died 6/29/1923 in Louisville, KY Buried: 2nd Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Louisville, KY (Postwar banker in Louisville, KY, became President of Kentucky Banking Association.) After the War he lived in Louisville, KY 6 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt 7 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt 8 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt 9 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt 10 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt Title Author Publisher Length In appreciation. Major John H. Leathers: on his seventy-third birthday, 1914, April 27. Galt House, Louisville Louisville (Ky.). Citizens Courier-Journal Job Print. Co., 1914 13 pages Title Author Publisher The Southern Exposition at Louisville, Ky. opens August 16, 1884, closes October 25, 1884: grand competitive drill John H. Leathers s.n. Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, 1913; Report of the New York State Commission . The Story of Camp Chase: A History of the Prison and Its Cemetery, Together with Other Cemeteries Where Confederate Prisoners Are Buried, Etc Format: Trade paper By William H. Knauss Remembering Kentucky's Confederates (Images of America: Kentucky) by Geoffrey R. Walden (Nov 3, 2008) Oldham County, Ky (Oldham County History & Families) [Hardcover] Turner Publishing Company (Compiler). Pp: 258ff article on the Old Confederate Home Camp Fires of the Confederacy: A Volume of Humorous Anecdotes, Reminiscences, Deeds of Heroism, Thrilling Narratives, Campaigns, Hand-To-Hand Fights, . . : Confederate Poems and Selected Songs Format: Trade paper (ISBN: 1142177440 / 1-142-17744-0) Benjamin La Bree (See: “Bravery of a Green Mountain Boy,” by John H. Leathers. Pp. 162ff. 11 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt Found in: Heritage Inaugural Auction of Civil War History #642 - Session 1 by Tom Slater, Marsha Dixey and James L. Halperin (editor) (Dec 1, 2006) 12 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt Southern Practitioner, Vol 27 13 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt 14 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt Oldham County, Ky (Oldham County History & Families) [Hardcover] Turner Publishing Company (Compiler). Pp: 258ff article on the Old Confederate Home 15 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt Pick up at page 260 16 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt Bravery of a Green Mountain Boy, by John H. Leathers in . . . Camp Fires of the Confederacy: A Volume of Humorous Anecdotes, Reminiscences, Deeds of Heroism, Thrilling Narratives, Campaigns, Hand-To-Hand Fights, . . : Confederate Poems and Selected Songs Format: Trade paper (ISBN: 1142177440 / 1-142-17744-0) Benjamin La Bree (See: “Bravery of a Green Mountain Boy,” by John H. Leathers. Pp. 162ff. 17 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt On November 16, 1897, Leathers wrote a letter to authenticate the identity of Confederate female spy Belle Boyd. This letter is mentioned in Belle Boyd in camp and prison, by Belle Boyd; pp 46-47 18 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt The Spirit of Gettysburg: The Growth of a Nation, By N. A. Meligakes; pp; 199-200 19 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt 20 The Life & Times of John Hess Leathers (1841-1923). Compiled by Kraig W. McNutt
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