Elmer Worthington Leatherman

6th Generation

Elmer Worthington Leatherman, my great-grandfather, was born November 19, 1861, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Elmer's father's name was Demas and he lived through the Civil War. When the war broke out, he enlisted for the one hundred days of service. He was the only Leatherman who served during the Civil War. Peter Leatherman, Demas' father, was wealthy, so he bought substitutes for his sons. Demas refused to have a substitute and he wanted to serve the North himself.

Elmer attended a one room school house, along with his brothers and sisters. In this type of school there weren't any grades. A student went through four Readers, then progressed into history and other difficult subjects.

Elmer met and married Anna Maria Barnard on Nov. 26, 1882. They had 3 children: Mary E. the oldest, William Demas, my grandfather, and Harry J., the youngest.

Elmer was a farmer until 1902. His eyesight was becoming continually worse and worse until he was nearly blind. He went to a doctor in Findlay, Ohio, and although he spent much money, his eyesight was not restored. Being brought up as a child to take all matters to the Lord, he did just that with his problem. He was directed to go to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and with money the Church gave him, he went. An eye specialist told Elmer that one eye could be saved but the other was too far gone. After treatment, Elmer regained vision in both eyes, and the doctor said it was nothing short of a miracle. From this time on, Elmer was determined to become a minister. He had been a substitute pastor before, and with this experience and three years of studying books, he became a fully ordained minister.

He lived on until February 22, 1944, to the age of eighty-three. Anna Maria lived for ten more years. She died on November 23,1954, at the age of 94.

My father, Elmer Eugene Leatherman, born January 28, 1920, was named after him. These facts were compiled after an interview with my grandfather Wm. Demas, on Nov. 30, 1970.

Submitted by Barbara Ann Leatherman Rt. #1, Napoleon, Ohio