Notes
Note N1726
Index
Birth and christening source page 31.
John Newman Leebrick was born 23 March 1806 in Hummelstown, Pa. to John Philip Liebrich and Mary Gertrude Cassel Liebrech. John was baptized 13 April 1806 in the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hummelstown. He grew up in a stone house, which was the family home and store, on the corner of Market and Hanover streets. The home, much remodeled and expanded, is today the Bowser Funeral Home and Furniture Store.
On 2 Oct 1828 he married Matilda Fritchey somewhere near Harrisburg, Pa. His father had died in Nov 1827 and while he inherited the family home, he left it to his mother and the remaining children and moved west eventually settling in Dublin, Indiana about 1837.
John and his brothers and sisters had been raised in the Lutheran Church but changed to Methodist and none of the children that lived beyond childhood are buried in the Lutheran cemetery with their parents. His brothers Samuel and George and sisters Catherine and Sarah had left the family home in 1833 to travel west to Burlington, Iowa.
John is reported to have worked as a merchant and druggist in Dublin at different times. Among other properties, he owned two acres of land, according to the 1874 Atlas of Wayne County, bordering the railroad and the Friends Cemetery. He was respected as an honest and religious man in his community and he and Matilda raised a family of eleven children including five sons.
Matilda died 10 Dec 1883 and John died at the home of his eldest daughter Mary Erlougher in Howard County in 22 Sep 1885.
The name Newman apparently came from a close association with the Newman family. In 1775 Daniel Newman married a sister of John Philip Liebrech. There was also at that time a John Newman whose will was probated 5 Oct 1790. He had a son John who could have been of the generation of John Philip and Mary Gertrude.
Source: Karl C Leebrick Jr
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1850 Indiana Census lists John N. Leebrick's occupation as a druggist and the value of his real estate as $1000.
"History of Wayne County, Ind" Vol II, 1884, Courtesy of Carolyn Autry, Indiana Historical Society, 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, In 46202. page 533.
...Of the early merchants, the first three came the same year (1831). The first was Samuel Nixon, who had bought the goods of Dempsey Boswell, who, as has been stated, had a store near town on the State road. The next was Thomas Owens, from Richmond, who had been in trade there, and who bought the little store building of Boswell, and moved it into town, on the lot now occupied by a Mr. Rockefeller for a bed spring manufactory. He was compelled, from ill health, to quit in a few months; returned to Richmond and died soon after. In December, Jacob Vore commenced his long mercantile career in Dublin. Nixon soon sold out to Boswell & Sons, who traded but a short time. Among the latter merchants were James Vanuxem & Son, Benjamin and Josiah Reynolds, E. H. Vanuxem, J. & B. Kirk, John Lebrick....
A similar description is found in "History of Wayne County, Ind" by Andrew W. Young, 1872 page 262.
"Wayne County, Indiana Directory 1865", page 124, courtesy of Barney Thompson, Indiana State Library, 140 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, In 46204.
Lists the following Leebricks on page 124.
Leebrick, Miss Emma residing with John Leebrick, Dublin
Leebrick, J. W.? grocer and dry goods, SE corner Davis and Cumberland, Dublin
Leebrick, Miss Kate teacher, residing with John Lebrick, Dublin.
"Wayne County Gazeteer", page 144 in section titled "Wayne County Directory", courtesy of Barney Thompson, Indiana State Library, 140 N Senate Av, Indianapolis, In 46204 includes the following listing.
Leebrick, J.N., dry goods, &c., Dublin.
1850 Indiana Census indicates that the Leebrick's had a deaf person living with them, by the name of Sarah Hoover, age 45, a Pennsylvania native. Sarah's name also appears in the 1860 census listing, but does not appear in the 1870 census listing.
Charlie (one of John's sons) wrote to Hazel McMahan that their home in Dublin, Indiana was a station on the underground railroad and many a night, he carried soup or stew in the milk bucket to runaway slaves hiding in the hay loft.
Golden wedding anniversary (50th) was celebrated in Peru, Ind on 1 Oct 1878. Report is from "Pioneer History of Peru and Miami County as written by John A. Graham and Published in 1877".
No death or probate records found in Howard County.
Cambridge City Tribune (Cambridge City, IN) 22 Jan 1874 : Mr. John Leebrick, one of our oldest citizens, is confined to his bed nearly all the time with sciatica. He suffers a great deal. In the 8 October 1885 issue appeared John's obituary: John N. Leebrick died near Sims, in Howard County, Ind., Sept 22, 1885, at the home of his eldest daughter, Mrs. Dr. Erlougher, in the 80th year of his age. He was born in Hummelstown, Pa, in 1806, was married to Matilda Fritchey, near Harrisburg, Pa Oct. 2, 1828. They lived to celebrate their golden wedding, seven years ago. The dear mother died Dec 10, 1883. In 1837 they moved to Indiana and settled in Dublin, Wayne county, where for many years he was engaged in mercantile business. In early manhood, he gave his heart to God, and for more than sixty years lived a quiet, consistent, Christian life, earnest and zealous in the discharge of every duty. He rested only from his labors when his tongue was speechless, and even then his hand pointed upward. Grandpa's room was the sunniest, and a place loved by all, especially the children on the way from school thought it a privilege to take his hand or have it laid in benediction upon their heads. Five children surrounded him in his last moments and ministered lovingly to every wish. Three in the far West, were not able to be present. He has gone to his rest honored and respected by all who knew him, loaded with years, bur retaining his faculties in a remarkable degree. He has died in a good old age; morned by those who loved him best and blessed by those were so often cheered and strengthened by his counsel. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord "
A search of grantee/grantor index turned up the following properties:
The only one identified by lot and block number is Lot 3, block 4, town of Dublin.
There are several which are identified by landmarks and not by lot/block numbers, as follows:
A parcel bordering the National Road on the north, starting at the SW corner of a lot owned by J. P. Cragen.
A parcel bordering the National Road on the south, starting at the NE corner of a lot owned by C. M. Witt.
A parcel bordering the National Road on the south, starting at the NE corner of a lot owned by Glenny Piles and extending south to a lot owned by Josiah Bell. This parcel is described as being at the east end of the city of Dublin.
A parcel starting at the SE corner of William Norris’ lot and extending south to Samuel Schoolfield’s lot, this parcel butting up to the “county road” on the west.
A parcel purchased together with Emanuel R Albright, described as part of NW1/4 of section twenty (something), T16, R12E.
"Mr. John Leebrick, one of our oldest citizens, is confined to his bed nearly all the time with sciatica. He suffers a great deal."--22 Jan 1874, The Cambridge City (IN) Tribune
"Dublin Correspondent to the Cambridge Tribune: "Quite a little excitement took place at our post office on Monday last, over the fact that on Saturday previous Miss Ida Scott sold the post office boxes to the postmaster at Centreville, not letting the present postmaster, Miss Ella Custer, know a word about it. On Monday when the postmaster at Centreville came over for the boxes, glass, etc., Miss C was almost dumbfounded, not knowing what to do. A temporary injunction was gotten out of chaos. In a short time the corner room of the Leibrick property was secured of Mr. Hoffman and arrangements made at once to move the mail matter to its new location, and the P.M. of Centreville commenced taking down the boxes, etc., and now for the time being the mail matter will have to be in a huddled and very inconvenient condition, as new boxes and drawers will have to be made. We have understood that the two parties could not agree upon the price asked for the boxes and rent of building."--1 Oct 1885, The Richmond (IN) Item