History of Lexington, (Davidson County) North Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

James Madison Leach Biographical Sketch

James Madison Leach, representative, was born at Lansdowne, N.C., Jan. 17, 1815; son of William and Nancy (Brown) Leach; grandson of William Leach, and a descendant of Hugh Leach who emigrated from the north of Ireland about 1740. He received a classical education; was admitted to the bar in 1842, and practised in Lexington, N.C. He was married, June 24, 1846, to Eliza, daughter of the Rev. Archibald D. Montgomery, of Lexington, N.C. He was a member of the house of commons, 1848-58; and a Whig representative from the sixth North Carolina district in the 36th congress, 1859-61. He opposed secession till the secession of his state, when he joined the Confederate army and served as lieutenant-colonel of the 21st (formerly 11th) regiment, North Carolina infantry, for one year, and then resigned and served as a representative in the Confederate congress, 1864-65. He was elected a state senator for two terms after the war and was a representative from the fifth North Carolina district in the 42d and 43d congresses, 1871-75. He was a presidential elector at large on the Democratic ticket in 1876 and in 1880. He died at Lexington, N.C., June 1, 1891.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor