Ebenezer Leach

---

Ebenezer was born to Martin and Salina (Bent) Leach in Putnam, CT in 1837/8. He was the sixth of their seven children.

On November 19, 1859 he married Lucretia Smith in Petersham, MA, and in 1860 the couple was living in Southbridge, MA with Ebenezer’s older brother Martin. Ebenezer was working as a weaver and card grinder, likely for the Central Manufacturing Company. The Leaches had five children, four of whom survived infancy: Otis, Thomas, Arnold, and Lettie.

Ebenezer served as a Private in Company H in the 34th Massachusetts Infantry during the US Civil War. He enlisted in July of 1862. The 34th Massachusetts served in/around Alexandria, VA as part of the forces building defenses and defending Washington, D.C. Ebenezer was discharged for disability in December of 1862 from Fort Lyon and returned to Southbridge to work in the cotton mills.

In the early 1880s the Leaches moved Holyoke, MA. Ebenezer and his young sons Otis and Thomas worked in the Lyman Mills processing cotton into cloth--Ebenezer worked in Mill No. 1.

He died of apraxia in Holyoke on April 16, 1884. He was laid to rest in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Southbridge. After his death Lucretia went to live with their son Otis on Fisk Hill Road in Southbridge, MA. He was an overseer in the Hamilton Woolen Mills. Lettie was also living with him and working as a teacher.

Ebenezer's gravestone is made of White Bronze, a zinc alloy that was cast into the desired form. His name and date of death are written on both sides, which is unique. The front features a draping flag to denote his military service. The back had an ornament called "Immortelle" by the Monumental Bronze Company.