Dewitt Clinton Leach, (November 23, 1822 – December 21, 1909) was a politician and newspaperman from the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

. Leach was born in

Clarence, New York Clarence is a town and affluent suburb located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States, northeast of Buffalo. The population was 32,950 according to the 2020 census estimate. This represents an increase of 7.4% from the ...

, and moved with his parents to

Genesee County, Michigan Genesee County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 406,211, making it the fifth-most populous county in Michigan, and the most populous in Mid Michigan. The county seat and largest city is ...

, in early youth. He attended the

common school A common school was a public school in the United States during the 19th century. Horace Mann (1796–1859) was a strong advocate for public education and the common school. In 1837, the state of Massachusetts appointed Mann as the first secretar ...

s, taught school, and located in

Lansing Lansing () is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. It is the sixth-most populous city in Michigan with a popul ...

in 1841. He was editor of the ''Michigan State Republican'' for several years. He was a member of the

Michigan House of Representatives The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2020 ...

in 1849 and 1850 and a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1850. He was present at the formation of the Republican Party at

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The population was 31,309 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along Interstate 94 in Michigan, Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127 in Michigan, U.S ...

, July 6, 1854. He was State librarian, 1855–1857. Leach was elected as a Republican from

Michigan's 4th congressional district Michigan's 4th congressional district is a United States congressional district located in the state of Michigan. The current 4th district contains much of Michigan's 2nd congressional district, Michigan's old 2nd district, and includes all of A ...

to the

35th Military units *35th Fighter Wing, an air combat unit of the United States Air Force *35th Infantry Division (United States), a formation of the National Guard since World War I *35th Infantry Regiment (United States), a regiment created on 1 July 1 ...

and 36th

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

es, serving from March 4, 1857, to March 3, 1861. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1860. Leach was Indian agent for Michigan, by appointment of

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

, 1861–1865. He moved to

Traverse City, Michigan Traverse City ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, Michigan, Grand Traverse County, although it partly extends into Leelanau County, Michigan, Leelanau County. The city's population was 15, ...

, in 1865, and published the ''Grand Traverse Herald'' for nine years. He was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1867. He moved to

Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the List of cities in Missouri, third most populous city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County, Missouri, Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 censu ...

, in 1875, where he published the ''Patriot Advertiser''. He returned to Traverse City in 1882 and published the ''Northwest Farmer''. He retired in 1902 and returned to Springfield where he died and was interred in Maple Park Cemetery.

References

The Political Graveyard
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leach, Dewitt Clinton 1822 births 1909 deaths Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan People from Clarence, New York 19th-century members of the Michigan Legislature 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives