BIO: George H. LEYMAN, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  GEORGE H. LEYMAN needs no special introduction to the readers of this 
volume.  No man in Centre county has been more prominently identified 
with the agricultural and political history of the community, or has 
taken a more active part in its upbuilding and progress.  He is one of 
the extensive and energetic farmers of the county, his own place being 
pleasantly located in Boggs township.
  A native of Centre county, Mr. Leyman was born June 22, 1843, at Mt. 
Eagle, Howard township, and the birth of his father, John Leyman, 
occurred in the same county in 1811.  For many years the latter engaged 
in cabinet-making and carpentering in Mt. Eagle, and also extensively 
followed contracting, framing the Bald Eagle Navigation Company's 
canal.  He took quite a prominent part in public affairs, served in 
several township offices, and was an ardent Democrat in politics.  At 
Salona, Clinton Co., Penn., he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy 
McGee, born

372  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in Ireland in 1813, a daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Kilpatrick) McGee, 
who were also born in that country, whence, in 1822, they came to the 
New World, locating in Ohio, where the father's death occurred.  Later 
the mother removed to Clinton county, Penn., where she married George 
Hastings, and in 1854 she died there.  The paternal grandparents of our 
subject, Michael and Rachel (Neal) Leyman, were natives of Philadelphia 
and Buffalo Valley, Union Co., Penn., respectively.  As early as 1806 
they became residents of Centre county, where they spent their 
remaining days.  The grandfather was a cabinet maker by occupation, and 
as a Revolutionary soldier he valiantly fought with a small squad at 
the battle of Brandywine.
  Our subject is the third in order of birth in the family of ten sons 
and one daughter, the others being Robert, now deceased; Franklin, who 
is engaged in the oil business at Titusville, Penn.; Henry, who died in 
infancy; Michael M., of McKeesport, Penn.; Mary, wife of Forest Dean, 
of Lebanon, Penn.; Thomas, who died in 1890; William, a merchant of 
Bradford City, Penn.; James B., an engineer of Austin, Penn.; and John, 
who is in the oil business in Indiana.  The mother died in October, 
1887, a faithful member of the Methodist Church; the father passed away 
February 19, 1891.
  Since the early age of eight years, George H. Leyman has been 
dependent upon his own resources, and for six years after starting out 
on his business career engaged in teaming on the canal.  He then 
purchased a boat, the "Isaac Buffington," which he ran until 1861, when 
the flood broke the canal.  He then went to the oil regions in Warren, 
Venango, Crawford and other counties, Pennsylvania, returning to Centre 
county from Bradford county, in 1880.  He then purchased his present 
beautiful homestead of 170 acres, to the cultivation and improvement of 
which he has since devoted his time and attention.  He also owns three 
other good farms in Centre county, and is a most skillful and thorough 
agriculturist.
  In 1866 Mr. Leyman was married to Miss Annie Graham, who died in 
1867, at the age of twenty-four years, leaving one daughter, Lena, now 
the wife of John Carson, of Johnsonburg, Penn.  On July 4, 1869, in 
Cattaraugus county, N.Y., Mr. Leyman was married to Miss America 
Meacham, who was born June 27, 1847, at Ellicottville, N.Y., and of the 
six children born of this union but one survives: Daniel H., born 
December 25, 1889; Lola and Emily M. are both deceased, and the others 
died in infancy.  Mrs. Leyman is the daughter of Daniel and Emily 
(Bowan) Meacham, natives of Cattaraugus, county, N.Y., where the 
father, who was a general farmer and dairyman, was accidentally killed 
by a threshing machine in 1876.  His widow, who still resides on the 
old homestead farm in New York State, was born March 30, 1825, and is 
the mother of ten children, as follows: Louisa, wife of C. Greene, of 
New York; Recinna, wife of H. Hopkins, of the same State; America; 
Lewis D., of New York; Janet, wife of D. Milks, of New York; Josia A., 
wife of L. Jones, of the same State; Altha, wife of F. Chamberlain, of 
New York; and three that died in infancy.
  Politically, Mr. Leyman is a stanch supporter of Democratic 
principles, and for the past fifteen years has been the popular 
chairman of the central committee of his party, in whose success he 
takes a deep and commendable interest.  He is a prominent and 
influential citizen, cheerfully giving his support to those enterprises 
tending to public development, and with hardly an exception he has been 
connected with every interest that has promoted general welfare.  His 
name is a synonym for honorable business dealing, and he is always 
mentioned as one of the invaluable citizens of Centre county.