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Permanent LinkSenator Joseph B. Leake View All Years
JOSEPH B. LEAKE was born in Deerfield, N. J., April 1, 1828; he died at Chicago, Illinois, June 1, 1913. He removed with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received his early education. He graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1846, studied law under Hon. W. S. Groesbeck, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1850. After practicing in Cincinnati for about six years he removed to Davenport, Iowa. He was member of the House of Representatives from Scott county in the Eighth General Assembly and Senator during the Ninth, Ninth Extra and Eleventh General Assemblies. At the outbreak of the war he recruited a company, was elected Captain, mustered into the Twentieth Iowa Infantry and later commissioned Lieutenant Colonel. He was wounded and made prisoner at Morganza, and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Mobile, Spanish Fort and other engagements. He was mustered out with the title of brevet brigadier general. He resumed the practice of law at Davenport and served as county attorney and president of the Board of Education. In 1871 he removed to Chicago and continued his law practice and in 1879 was appointed by President Hayes district attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. For several years he was attorney for the Board of Education.