Isaiah Leist

Isa Leist was one of the early druggists of Napoleon and he was the son of Levi and Harriet (Moore) Leist of Liberty Township. His paternal grandparents were David and Elizabeth (Neff) Leist. David and Elizabeth were the parents of Levi, Elias J., Elizabeth, Elmira, Christina, Mary Ann, Susan, Ellen and Caroline. The children were raised in Pickaway Co., Ohio until the family came to Liberty township, Henry County, Ohio in 1845. David Leist died on July 30, 1853 and his wife ELizabeth died on October 3, 1887. Many members of the family were buried in the Liberty Chapel Cemetery.

Levi Leist was born on November 2, 1823 at Pickaway Co., Ohio and died on December 7, 1893 in Liberty township, Henry Co., Ohio. His wife Harriet (Moore) Leist was also born in Pickaway County on November 12, 1826 and she died in Henry County on August 10, 1902. They were buried in the Morrison Cemetery. Levi and Harriet Leist were the parents of Isa; Cordelia (married Joseph F. Russell and lived at Ansley, Neb.); David (born Aug. 6, 1853 and married Sylvia Jennings); Monroe (died Mar. 20, 1865 aged 7 yrs., 8 mo. and 16 days); Katie (married C.W. Fouts); and Raleigh Sherman Leist (born Jan. 18, 1867 and married Nellie M. Wright and lived at Toledo, O.).

Isa Leist was born at Liberty Township on May 22, 1849. He was one of two Isaiah Leists to operate a drug store at Napoleon. Isa Leist established a drug store in the year 1882 and for many years the firm was located on Perry St. The firm was known as Isa Leist to differentiate it from his competitor I. Leist & Co. which was later known as Leist & Yeager. Isa Leist sold drugs, chemicals, patent medicines, druggist sundries, toilet articles, books, stationery and cigars. In 1900 he was described by the Democratic Northwest newspaper as "an enterprising business man and first-class druggist. He is one of our solid business men who made the town what it is." Isa Leist was an officer of the Napoleon Clan No. 1156 Royal Arcaneum. In January, 1903 he sold his drug store to Frank Shaff and moved to Lakewood, Ohio where he opened another drug store. In about 1924 the Leists retired from business and Isa and his wife moved to Westen, Ohio where he lived until the early part of 1927. During that year the Leists again returned to Napoleon to live but on July 2, 1927 Isa Leist died from injuries sustained from a fall down the cellar stairs of his home at Napoleon.

On August 29, 1882 Isa Leist had married Miss Harriet Jane King, a daughter of John A. and Rosannah (Beatty) King of Colton, Ohio. Hattie King was born on November 24, 1857 at Stark Co., Ohio. She was a member of the first class that graduated from the Napoleon High School in 1875 and she then became a teacher in the schools of Henry County. They had one son, Roll Leist, who was born on Dec. 23, 1883 and he died in infancy on Jan. 2, 1884 at Napoleon. After her husband's death, Hattie Leist lived with her older sister Mrs. Mary Ellen Maerker and when the Maerker house on W. Washington St. was sold in 1942 she went to live with her younger sister, Mrs. Belle. Manson at Toledo. Harriet Leist died at the home of her sister in Toledo on Oct. 7, 1949 at the age of 91 years. The Leist and Maerker families are buried together in Glenwood Cemetery at Napoleon.

Submitted by: Robert Barnes