Dr. Sewell Jones Leach

• Reference: Full text https://archive.org/details/genealogyoffitts01fitt/page/n8 "Genealogy of the Fitts or Fitz Family in America" by James Harris Fitts, Jr.

LEACH, SEWELL JONES, dentist and businessman, was born in New York City, November 14, 1812, and died in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, August 6, 1885; son of Ephraim Leach and Sophia (Jones) Leach. His educational advantages were limited as he was unable to attend school longer than four months in any one year. At the age of eighteen, he took up the profession of teaching and for two years conducted a school in the state of New York. He then took up the study of dentistry at Utica, N.Y. and removed to Mobile (AL), 1837, where he began the practice of his profession. Remaining there only one year, he moved to Tuscaloosa and engaged in the jewelry business with his brother, Cyrus Sidney Leach; moved to Uniontown (Perry County), 1840, and again practiced dentistry at the same time managing his plantation in Marengo County. Returning to Tuscaloosa, 1842, he resumed the practice of his profession. He, with Dr. F.A.P. Barnard, afterwards president of Columbia College, New York, successfully conducted a series of experiments in producing sun pictures, antedating the promulgation of the discovery by the distinguished Frenchman, Daguerre. Dr. Leach throughout his entire life was a machinist of the rarest ability. On account of his practical knowledge of machinery he was employed to purchase the outfit of the first cotton mill built in Tuscaloosa, 1846, and also for the paper mill. He established, 1852, on the banks of the Warrior River, in Tuscaloosa, the Leach and Avery Iron and Plow Co. It was destroyed by fire, 1859, rebuilt and during the war was employed in casting cannons for the Confederate government, until 1864 when it was burned by the Federals. (Actually, Tuscaloosa was spared the attention of the Union forces until the Battle of Tuscaloosa, April, 1865 *http://www.historictuscaloosa.org/index.php?page=Tuscaloosa-during-...) On account of declining health, 1878, he accepted the less arduous position of general superintendent and machinist of the Tuscaloosa cotton mills, into which the foundry was converted. He was a Mason; an Oddfellow; and an Episcopalian. Dr. Leach, although a northerner by birth, was a man of strong southern feeling. Married: October 10, 1839, to Elizabeth Faulcon, daughter of James Harris and Rebecca Emily (Alston) Fitts (q.v.). Children: 1. James Harris, d. in infancy; 2. Sidney Fitts (q.v.), m. Mary Lee Peck; 3. Emily Alston, m. James Slaughter Carpenter; 4. Samuel Thomas, student at the University of Alabama, 1862-63, member of Fowler's battery, C.S.Army 1863-65; 5. Norma Lela, m. John Snow (q.v.); 6. Carolyn Medora, m. Edward E. Kirkham; 7. Susan Virginia, d. young; 8. Lelia, d. in infancy; 9. Sewwell Leach, University of Alabama, 1874-76, bookkeeper, 1888-94, manager laundry and electric light plant of University of Alabama, general manager S. F. Alston furniture co., m. Kate Brantley Arrington, of Tuscaloosa; 10. Edward Faulcon, University of Alabama, 1874-77, agent U,S, Express Co., Birmingham, 1887-92. Private, Co. F, Second Alabama Volunteer Regiment, Spanish-American War. m. Marie Louise Tait, of Montgomery; 11. Fitts, d. young. Last Residence: Tuscaloosa---History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama, Vol. 4 (1921) By: Thomas McAdory Owen, LL.D.

1. Reference: http://genealogytrails.com/ala/tuscaloosa/bios.html Vol. I:
2. Reference: http://archive.org/stream/historyofalabama01owen#page/n7/mode/2up Vol. II:
3. Reference:http://archive.org/details/historyofalabama02owen Vol. III (Included)
4. Reference: http://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Alabama_Biography Vol. IV:
5. Reference: http://archive.org/stream/historyalabamaa03owengoog#page/n10/mode/2up
6. Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 17 2019, 18:40:24 UTC