Obituary

Joe B. Leach died Monday afternoon, Sept. 20, 1926.

The prosperous Hale County farmer and cattle raiser and had lived near Plainview for 39 years died at his home 6 miles north of Plainview at 4 o'clock Monday afternoon. He is survived by his wife and son Shelby who is looking after his father's business interests, four brothers, J. H. & M.D. of Plainview, Oran of Decatur, IL, and Denham of Beaver Dam, KY and one sister, Mrs. Hurbert Patton of Sidney, IL.

When he was 8 yrs old he moved with his mother and brothers to Beaver Dam, KY.In 1878 he moved to Denton County, TX. In 1887 he moved to Plainview and settled on the site of his present home where he continued to reside until his death. He married Pyrena Emily Parks on 30 Marh 1892 in Hale Co.,TX.

Mr. Leach has been partially paralyzed for the past 33 years. On Nov 16, 1893, while freighting between Canyon and Plainview, he met with an accident which has left him paralyzed in one side ever since. He was driving a 4 horse trail team and as customary had been riding a pole horse. Becoming tired he had rested awhile in the wagon and when he attempted to remount, the horse became frightened and jumped. He was thrown off and the back of his neck struck the front axel. He was in bed for four years and never fully recovered. He regained some use of his legs and was able to move about with the aid of crutches. He came to Plainview and filed on a homestead and from that meager beginning amassed an estate of 3000 acres of land.He had 700 or 800 acres in cultivation. He was prominent in civic and church work and during his long illness kept cheerful and attended to his own business. He was tax assessor in Hale County for 4 years.