Thomas Jefferson Leesley, Jr.

The Cherokee Daily Times, 22 September 1958, page 6: Thomas J. Leesley Sr., 74. died Friday, September 10 in Sioux City. He was born April 11, 1884, near Washta. On December 20, 1939, he married Jennie McElrath at Moville. She preceded him in death in 1932. On December 20, 1939, he was married to Bessie Brown at Cherokee. He farmed in the Grand Meadow community for 30 years and in the Oto area for I8 years. He was a member of the Oto Congregational Church and of the Washta Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his wife. Bessie; two sons, Thomas Leesley, Jr. of Oto and Dean of Sioux City; three daughters, Mrs. Vernon Brownmiller of Marcus, Mrs. Paul Drager of Fairfield, California, and Mrs. Bardwell Dickens of Walthill, Nebraska. A brother, Frank E. Leesley of Oto and two sisters, Mrs. Grover Schubert of Sioux Falls and Mrs. Grace Arehart of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren are other survivors. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 23 at the Oto Congregational Church. The Rev. John Rogers will officiate. Burial is to be in the Grand Meadow Cemetery near Washta under direction of Hudgel Funeral Home of Anthon.