History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Leadbetter, L. A. a member of the Browne-Leadbetter Agency, engaged in the insurance business at Rhinelander, Oneida County, was born in Stevens Point, Wis., March 22, 1881, son of Alva J. and Eliza J. (AGNEW) LEADBETTER. Both parents came from the East, the father from Maine in 1888, and the mother from Pennsylvania, and they were married at Stevens Point. Alva J. LEADBETTER was a lumberman and in 1884 was operating a sawmill at Hatley, Marathon County, Wis. Later he moved to Leeper, Mo., but returned to Stevens Point in 1887 and died there on Aug. 24, in the following year; his wife now resides with her son in Rhinelander. The children in the family were: Laura, who is deceased; Mary, who married Fred N. BERRY and resides with her husband in Manila, Philippine Islands; and L.A., the subject of this sketch. L. A. LEADBETTER acquired his education at Stevens Point, being graduated with the high school class of 1899. He then spent a year or more in the employ of the First National Bank of that city and on Oct. 2, 1901, came to Rhinelander, to take a position with the Merchants State Bank as assistant cashier. After holding that position until May 31, 1917, he resigned it in order to enter the army, and after his service was over and he had received an honorable discharge he became an insurance agent and meeting with success in that business, in September, the same year, he bought a half interest in the Paul Browne Insurance Agency, the name of the firm being changed to the Browne-Leadbetter Agency. Mr. LEADBETTER'S army record is as follows: Englisted in Co. L, 2d Wis. Inf., W. N. G., March 30, 1903, being commissioned May 13, 1910; resigned from the Guard Sept. 29, 1912; reenlisted April 23, 1913; was honorably discharged Sept. 17, 1914. Returned to active service as second lieutenant July 1, 1916, for recruiting service during the Mexican border disturbances; was commissioned captain in the Wis. Nat. Guard May 21, 1917 and assigned to duty with Co. F., 4th Wis. Inf., stationed at Shanawo, Wis., taking charge of his company June 1, 1917; continued as commander of said company until Oct. 5, 1917, when the 4th, 5th, and 6th infantry regiments were transferred to other units. Went to France with the 32d Division and served with that division in various capacities, most of the time being on duty at G-3 Division headquarters; was sent to Red Cross Hospital No. 2, Paris, for operation Sept. 2, 1918; returned home on S. S. Martha Washington, landing at Newport News Nov. 17, 1918; ordered to active duty with 20th Inf. U. S. Army at Ft. Riley, Kans., May 22, 1919, and was discharged at Ft. Riley, June 2, 1919. Capt. LEADBETTER has identified himself closely with the business and social life of the city since he came to Rhinelander and for the last two years has been secretary of the Rotary Club. He formerly served two terms as alderman from the Fourth Ward, while fraternally he is a member of the Elks lodge here. His religious affiliations and those of his family are with the Congregational Church. He was married Sept. 5, 1906, at Madison, Wis., to Anna B. KING, daughter of Franklin H. and Carrie (BAKER) KING. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still a resident of Madison. Capt. and Mrs. LEADBETTER are the parents of two children: Merton K., born June 17, 1907, and Katherine, born Oct. 25, 1910.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 371-372; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others; H.C. Cooper Jr. & Co, 1924

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