Notes
Note N1495
Index
Mentioned in father's probate proceedings, as being married to William H. Cash. Listed in father's probate hearing documents as receiving payments December 31, 1840 and December 31, 1844.
Living with sister Catharine Leebrick in 1850
Notes
Note N1496
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Living with Ezra Z Leebrick, her cousin.
Notes
Note N1497
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Residence 139 on page 10. Last name spelled Lebrick.
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Note N1498
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My dad has a letter from Kate dated June 27, 1932.
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Note N1499
Index
Residence 362.
Notes
Note N1500
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Occupation: Teacher
Notes
Note N1501
Index
Living with brother Charles W.
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Note N1502
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School teacher.
Notes
Note N1503
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Boarder with an unrelated person.
Notes
Note N1504
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Living with her sister Francis E. Miller.
Notes
Note N1505
Index
Listed in Woman's Who's Who of America, 1914-1915, John William Leonard editor-in-chief, page 484.
Leebrick, Kate, 82 W. Sixth St., Peru, Ind. Evangelist and missionary; b. Dublin, Ind. May 1, 1842; dau. John N. and Matilda (Fritchey) Leebrick; ed. Dublin Acad. Has seen over 1,000 persons converted at the meetings she conducted or assisted in; among the number are five ministers. Was one of the Crusaders of 1872; has been missionary to Noonsack Indians in Washington (State); was sent out by the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Church to take charge of the Pawnee Indian Mission at Pawnee, Oklahoma. Member of Women's Home Mission Society, Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Women's Christian Temperance Union. Methodist. Favors woman suffrage.
In 1883 the Woman's National Indian Association established a mission on the Pawnee reservation in Oklahoma, which in 1884 was transferred to the Methodist Episcopal Church, under whose auspices it is still in operation. Source: http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/Pawnee/pawneehist.htm
The Dublin Academy, where Kate was educated, was "a two-story building erected in Dublin in 1838 by subscription to a joint stock company. Oliver Taylor was the first teacher. Joshua W. Haines took charge the following year and he was succeeded by N.H. Johnson. William Personette followed, teaching three years. At first the school was for boys only, but one determined girl took her books and seated herself for work. As there was no law to eject her, she remained and the other girls soon followed." There was at the same time a Dublin Female Seminary, which was intended for the girls. Given Kate's later "activism", one can wonder if she may have been that precedent setting little girl. The Academy building was later occupied as a public school, and in 1867 it was torn down and a new school house was dedicated on January 1, 1868. Quote is from page 421 of "Memoirs of Wayne County and the city of Richmond, Indiana", Henry Clay Fox, Editor-in-chief (1912), accessed at http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p1819coll6/id/11378
The "Crusaders of 1872" refers to a women's group that was part of the Temperance movement and met together to actively pray that the scourge of alcohol would be removed from our land. Later in the year, the group formed into the organization known as the "Women's Christian Temperance Association of Richmond, Indiana". This led into suffrage activities, since women had no vote, and thus the WCTU had no political power, except through their husbands.
Useful source is: Blocker, Jack S. “Separate Paths: Suffragists and the Women’s Temperance Crusade.” Signs, vol. 10, no. 3, University of Chicago Press, 1985, pp. 460-76, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3174261.
John Newman Leebrick's whole family was no doubt Methodist. A Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in Dublin in 1834. They built a frame meeting house in 1837 or '38, and a brick meeting house on Dublin street in 1853-54. Most of Kate's worship experiences were no doubt in that frame church.
A request for research from DePauw University Archives and Special Collections was fulfilled by John R. Riggs, Archives Researcher. This organization holds information from early Methodist conferences in Indiana. They "believe that in 1877 she was licensed local preacher for the North Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. We can not say whether she was ever ordained a deacon and we found no mention of either her evangelical or her missionary work." Her PO Address was given as Jerome, Indiana.
Kate was a missionary to the Indians, lived at Pawnee (Mission), Ok for many years, per Hazel McMahan. She was superintendent of the mission at the time of her sister Mary D's death in 1906.
"Week-end guests entertained by Mrs. Mary Leebrick and family were Miss Kate Leebrick of Peru, Ind., a well-known evangelist, Mrs. Ogle of Cloverdale, Cal., and Robert Leebrick of Long Beach, all cousins."--14 Oct 1911, Covina (CA) Argus
A letter in my dad's possession dated June 27, 1932 reads as follows.
My dear Frank, Minta and family,
I think I have written to you the last but have not heard from you for some time. Hope you are all well. We are in our usual health - able to go to S. School and stay to church. Charles takes us in his auto. My niece Lizzie Harmon and I, for which we are so thankful as it is quite a long walk to our church. The sun is shining so bright this morning. Wonder how it is with you, so many beautiful flowers on the yards of Long Beach especially large bunches of Hydrangea that you would all enjoy. The Southern Calif Conference of the M. E. church meeting in L.B. commences tomorrow Bishop Baker such a grand good man will preside. Ida just now came in to tell us that we were invited to take lunch in Los Angeles with some Peru friends. I think of Allie how kind she was to me and when I was not well came down in the night to see how I was. Must close with lot's of love to each one. Let us hear from you soon.
Your Sister and Aunt Kate Leebrick.
Regarding the Pawnee and Noonsack mission fields, the book "The Balance Wheel; a condensed history of the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1880-1920" reports the following on pages 150-151:
"The Pawnee Mission at Pawnee, Okla., is the oldest Indian mission under the Woman's Home Missionary Society. it was given to the Society by the Woman's National Indian Association. In 1885 a woman and her boy of fifteen took up the work as it was turned over from the Indian Association. We next hear of Pawnee Mission in 1891 when a group of little boys at Union City, Pa., sent money for a pony that the missionary might reach the Indians within the reservation. At this time one woman and her interpreter were working among the Pawnees. They had a very small house, with land enough to grow a garden and keep a cow. They had a little chapel with an organ and chair seats. It was the Pawnees who insisted on chairs as fitting for a church,saying "no sit on bench".
"The missionary, an educated Pawnee woman, had trouble with service disturbances. A young, half-educated Indian, a hypnotist, came among them, instituting ghost dances, and the Indians would be seized and begin to dance while in church. There was a good Government school at Pawnee, and these Indians had good farms. They had a minister in 1895, a member of the Pawnee tribe. With the help of the Church Extension Society and the Oklahoma Conference a church was built. That year, at the request of the Conference, the Woman's Home Missionary Society transferred the church to the Conference. Two years later, at the earnest request of the Conference, the church at Pawnee was returned to the Woman's Home Missionary Society. In 1898 the mission had a gift of five acres at the agency. It was much coveted by the Indians for their sports, but as long as a missionary was employed there it belonged to the Woman's Home Missionary Society. One of the Field Matrons was assigned to the Pawnees. The work of the Woman's Home Missionary Society here has since been discontinued."
On page 153 and following, we find the following regarding the Noonsacks.
"A mission to the Nooksack Indians was situated at Lynden, Wash., on the Nooksack River. Stickney Memorial Home and School was the only house and school in the bureau for Indian work. To save the making of a bridge over the Nooksack River, the course of the river was turned so that the twenty-five acre farm about this Home became an island. There, in 1899, seventeen beneficiaries, and later fifty children were given industrial training by the Society's hard-working missionaries. The children were domestic in taste. If allowed, they would be in the kitchen by five o'clock in the morning, but other studies did not come so easily to them. Learning in 1906 that one of the teachers was a dressmaker, the Indians brought bright-colored goods for their girls and there was a rush for new dresses among Indian girls. The Indians were ambitious for their children. They had gotten the idea of competition and insisted on strict attendance at school. Stickney Home was valued at $4,700. In 1897 it received forty acres from the church, a part of Government land assigned to the church. The mission was also the possessor of Angora goats. The housekeeping was particularly heavy. Accounts of canning, cleaning, washing straw mattresses for fifty children, eighty quilts, twenty blankets, and of making one hundred yards of carpets as summer vacation work were, to say the least, not alluring. From October to November, 1907, five great floods visited the island on which Stickney Home stood. Vegetables, fruit and foot-bridge were lost. Cows, pigs, fowls and goats were saved. Great trees were washed up on the island. The water rose eight feet on the side of the house, but the Home stood firm and a repetition of the Navajo disaster was spared for the faithful workers.
"In 1909 a marked change in missionary activities took place. The work was changed from that of boarding school to a line similar to the settlement work of the city mission plus a day school. It was carried on by two person, a teacher and field matron. The teacher taught industrial classes for children who needed it. The matron went into the homes to help mothers. Both were assistants to the pastor of the church. This plan of work was originated with the Woman's National Indian Association and was adopted by other Societies. It was felt that the new method was better for the adult Indian than the boarding school. It placed on the Indian the responsibility of caring for the bodily needs of his children, a natural right and duty of the parent. The Indians were both financially able and were sufficiently trained to be able to care for their children very nicely. In the early days of the tepee the child was better away from the paternal dwelling. It was a different matter by 1909, when the Home was changed. The child needed to live at home, to learn to love it and to become part of family life. This plan has been admirably successful since its adoption by the Society."
"Wheatland street M.E. church, preaching 10:45 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. In the absence of the pastor, the pulpit will be filled both morning and evening by Miss Kate Leebrick, an evangelist in the church. The public is cordially invited."--22 Oct 1892, Logansport (IN) Pharos-Tribune
"Executive of the W.C.T.U. Last Friday afternoon, Nov. 4, there was a meeting of the executive of the W.C.T.U. by the order of the county president, Miss Kate Leibrick, at the beautiful home of the Keeran sisters at Auburn, and those ladies believing that there is a time for everything, concluded to have a social as well as business time, and invited the members of each union of the county, also several visitors. On account of the inclemency of the weather only three went from this place, Miss Leibrick, Mrs. Addie Sewell, and Mrs. Long, and although it rained quite hard, when we arrived we found quite a large company assembled. It being late the president immediately called the meeting to order. After singing and several prayers by different members the main business was taken up, which was the election of superintendents of the different departments of work..."11 Nov 1897, The Waterloo (IN) Press
"Mrs. Emma Davidson, ex-State Librarian, of Peru, Ind., arrived last week to visit her sisters, Mrs. Erlougher and Miss Kate Leebrick. She filled the office of librarian to the full satisfaction of the state and gained a wide acquaintance among thinking people."--10 Mar 1898, The Waterloo (IN) Press
"Miss Kate Leebrick, of Peru, Ind., the newly-appointed missionary to the Pawnee Indians, has entered upon her work with great interest. The Rev. Mr. Stauffer is the preacher at Pawnee and an arrangement has been made by which he is to reside in the Mission Home, thus affording protection to our missionary. Miss Leebrick is entering upon the work with the true spirit of devotion to Christ and his cause and love for his children. She finds the work among the little ones most interesting and cheering."--22 Jun 1906, The (Lawrence, KS) Indian Leader
"Miss Kate Leebrick of Pawnee Oklahoma is visiting Oliver Gilbert and wife. Miss Leebrick is a missionary sent by the Methodist church to the Pawnee Indian. She is an old friend of the Gilberts."--27 Dec 1907, Haviland (KS) Onlooker
"Missionary Worker Here. Mrs. Amelia Ruby of Bethany visited her son, G.R. Ruby here this week. She was accompanied by her sister, Miss Kate Leebrick of Pawnee,, Okla., who is a Methodist missionary to the Pawnee Indians near that place. Miss Leebrick is on her way to Chicago to visit her sister, Mrs. Emma Davidson, who is general manager of the Young Woman's Christian Association in that city. Miss Leebrick has been transferred as Missionary to the Pottawatomie Indians, who are on a reservation near Topeka, Kan., and will soon take up her work there."--20 Aug 1908, The Albany (MO) Capital
"Mrs. M.G. Ruby, mother of G.R.Ruby, came over from Bethany and visited from Friday till Monday. She was accompanied by her sister, Miss Kate Leebrick, who has spent several years as a missionary among the Pawnee Indians in Oklahoma."--21 Aug 1908, Albany (MO) Ledger
"Miss Kate Leebrick, who has been teaching the past year in the Pottawatomie Indian schools at Marietta, Kan., arrived in Albany Monday to visit a few days with her nephew, G. R. Ruby and family. She will leave the last of the week for California to spend the summer vacation with a sister there."--6 May 1909, The Albany (MO) Capital
"Methodist Episcopal Church.--Sunday school and Bible study at 10 a.m. Sunday morning sermon at 11 o'clock; subject, "Message to the Church. Sunday School Friends." Sunday evening son service and sermon at 7:30 o'clock; Miss Kate Leebrick will preach. Come."--26 Nov 1910, Cloverdale (CA) Reveille
"The Rev. David S. Jones, pastor of the Madison Street Methodist church, will preach Sunday morning on "Good Work on Good Ground." The evening sermon will be delivered by Miss Kate Leebrick."--26 Jun 1915, Muncie (IN) Evening Press
"Mrs. Charles Leibrick of Long Beach, Calif., Mrs. Ella Miller and Miss Katie Leibrick of Peru, Ind., spent the weekend here greeting old friends. They were former residents of Dublin but had not been here for several years."--30 Sep 1920, Paladium-Item (Richmond IN)
"Surprise Party for Miss Leebrick -- A very pleasant surprise was given Miss Kate Leebrick by her Sunday School class of the Methodist church Monday afternoon, February 1, at the home of her sister, Mrs. M.E. Ogle.
Miss Leebrick, whose home is at Peru, Indiana, has been visiting with her sister since sometime in last August.
It is the opinion of her many friends here that no visitor to Cloverdale has more endeared herself to all with whom she has associated than has she.
Most of her life she has been a teacher, many years of which were given to Home Mission work among the Indians in Oklahoma under the direction of the Methodist church. All of her pupils speak in the highest praise of her ability as a Sunday school teacher. She has also been prominent in the work of the W.C.T.U...."--5 Feb 1926, Cloverdale (CA) Reveille
"KATE LEEBRICK. Miss Kate Leebrick, 93, former missionary among the Indians of Kansas, Oklahoma and Washington, and a descendant of Barbara Fritchie, died yesterday morning at her home, 529 West First Street. She was born in Dublin, Ind., and taught school before she started missionary work for the Methodist Church. She came to live in Long Beach in 1924 and resided with her brother, Charles Leebrick. She was a member of First Methodist Church.
Surviving are two brothers, Charles W. of Long Beach and Frank Leebrick of Kansas.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 10:30 A.M. at the Patterson & McQuilkin Chapel with Dr. Richard N. Mettill, pastor of First Methodist Church, officiating."--31 Mar 1936, The Long Beach (CA) Sun (NOTE: The reference to Barbara Fritchie is a commonly observed but not factually correct relationship.)
The "white ribbon" symbolism of the WCTU can be found at pages 114-5 of this source: Canup, Charles E. “The Temperance Movement In Indiana.” Indiana Magazine of History, vol. 16, no. 2, Indiana University Department of History, 1920, pp. 112-51, http://www.jstor.org/stable/27785940.
"FORMER RESIDENT DIED AT HOME IN LONG BEACH, CAL. -- Word has been received of the recent death of Miss Kate Leebrick, a former resident of Waterloo, at her home in Long Beach, California at the age of 94.
Miss Leebrick lived here for three years about thirty-five years ago and was associated with her rnephew, the Rev. Frank L. Erlougher who was pastor of the Methodist church at that time. She was an evangelist, an active member of the W.C.T.U. and after leaving Waterloo was engaged in mission work with the Indians in Oklahoma and in California. She had lived in Long Beach the past twenty years."--
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Annual_Report/sMdMAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Kate+Leebrick%22&pg=PA125&printsec=frontcover