GIDEON R. LEEDS. A reputable standing among the agriculturists of Illiopolis Township is held by Gideon R. Leeds, who has shown the qualities of worthy manhood in the prosecution of his business affairs and in his association with those about him. He is one of those whom our State delights to honor as an old soldier, several of the best years of his life having been spent in the service of his country. His home is one of the fine tracts of cultivation unexcelled in all the Mississippi Valley. It is devoted to the purposes of general farming, which Mr. Leeds carries on according to the most approved methods, thereby winning a due reward for his toil and forethought.

Mr. Leeds was born February 21, 1838, in Scott County, to which his parents had come a few years before. Absalom and Maria (Blake) Leeds were born in New Jersey and were members of the farming community. Mrs. Leeds died in 1851, but the father of our subject is still living and is now four-score years old. When our subject was quite young his father removed to Morgan County, near Bethel. There the lad grew to manhood, attending the public schools during his boyhood and youth, and beginning business for himself when eighteen years old.

Young Morgan was employed on a farm until he was twenty-three years old, when, the Civil War breaking out, he abandoned his peaceful occupation for life on the tented field. His name was attached to the muster roll of Company A, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, his Captain being named Thompson, and his Colonel, John M. Palmer. During the ensuing four years Mr. Leeds bore the part of a gallant patriotic man in various battles, skirmishes, hard marches and the trying duties of camp life. After becoming a veteran he was assigned to duty in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Battalions. Among the noted points at which he fought were Shiloh, Corinth and Vicksburg. He formed one of the sixty thousand men who, under the leadership of Gen. Sherman, made the famous march to the sea. He took part in the Grand Review at Washington, and was then sent to Leavenworth, Kan., where he received his discharge in September, 1865. At that time he held the rank of Corporal.

When his army life was over Mr. Leeds returned to his native State, and in 1866 purchased eighty acres of almost raw prairie in this county, paying for it the sum of $1,500. He continued to cultivate it until 1869, when he purchased forty acres at $17 per acre. In 1873 he added eighty acres at $50 per acre, and still further increased his estate in 1881 by the purchase of another eighty acre tract at the same price. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres, which under his careful management has been brought to a fine state of cultivation and is worth an average price of $60 per acre. This fine property has been acquired by the energy and prudence of Mr. Leeds, who when he entered the United States service had but $18. Unlike many soldiers, he was careful in expenditure while in the army, and was thus able to make a profitable investment when he returned to the North.

The marriage of our subject and Miss Cordelia Shrewsbury was celebrated January 25, 1866. Mrs. Leeds was born in Morgan County. She is an intelligent woman, possessed of much housewifely skill and imbued with the spirit of neighborly kindness. The otherwise happy union has been childless. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leeds belong to the United Brethren Church, and are numbered among the thoroughly reliable and trustworthy members of the community. Mr. Leed's affairs are upon a solid financial basis, and in business circles his reputation is of the best. He belongs to Morgan Post, G.A.R., and in the companionship of his comrades lives over again the exciting scenes and trying experiences of war times. Mr. Leeds is a member of the Republican party, and has voted the ticket ever since becoming a voter.