Holloween, Norwalk, Iowa 1930s

Jane, who is 86 now, remembers when her dad used to take her into Norwalk trick-or-treating.  She and her friend Ester would go to the houses of the "grandmas" (their word for a group of Norwalk widows.)   She also remembers one year in which the boys put an old outhouse on top of the school.

Heart of the Hawkeye Council of Campfire Girls December 12, 1945

Two poems by Jane Winter Leddy [signed Jane Winter]


Candle Flame

We have been led by candles through the quiet
              twilight hours
We have carried candles and searched the yellow
              crown of flame with wistful eyes
Seeking within it's core the mystery of our-
              selves,
Glimpsing instead the pattern of eternity.
           

Vagabond Memories

Navy blue thunderheads against a sunset sky,
 Lovliness enough for you and I;
Flash of scarlet along a woodland trail,
 Such memories will not grow pale;
Bid notes like polished silver
 Float to us across a quiet river.
We have gazed at dying embers lovingly;
 We have grown stronger silently. 

Annie Murray (Sister Mary de Sales) 1879-1920

Villa Maria Convent, West Chester, PA

My grandfather (Harold de Sales Leddy)'s aunt on this mother's side was Sister Annie Murray.  He took his middle name from her religious name, De Sales.  The following information is provided by Tom Wagner who is the son of Florence Barnes, daughter of Samuel Barnes, son of Henry Barnes. Anthony Parone, who is big into the genealogy of the Barnes family.

Annie Murray "entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Villa Maria Convent, West Chester, PA on May 1, 1879.  Annie received the Holy Habit of Religion in West Chester on January 3, 1880 and was given the name, Sister Mary de Sales.  She made Profession of First Vows on January 3 1882 in the Chapel of Villa Maria, West Chester. 
     Although our Community Record Cards usually list the various missions of each of our Sisters this is not true of Sister de Sales. The only other information about Sister is that she died in Villa Maria Convent, West Chester on April 28, 1920 and is buried in the Community plot at St. Agnes Cemetery.  May her dear soul rest in the peace and joy that our most loving Lord promised to all good and faithful servants."  This quote, although coming from Tom Wagner, looks to be based on an earlier document by a member of the community.

One entry in the Menology says "Mother de Sales and a Sister companion, walking through Wanamaker's furniture department, were confronted with two Immaculate Heart Sisters coming toward them.  The companion was not concerned but Mother kept tugging her and finally, wondering at their proximity said, "Sister, I saw these two Sisters before."  They then realized that they were looking in a long mirror in the aisle, directly in front of them and enjoyed a good laugh at their own expense."  Wanamaker's was where my grandfather's father made his fortunate as a cabinet-maker.  So perhaps they were visiting him on this occasion. 

From 1892-1898 she was Mistress/Directress of novices under General Superior, Mother Mary de Chantel (who was General Superior 1886-1904)

Wikipedia provides this information:  "Villa Maria Academy is an all-girls Catholic college-preparatory high school located in Malvern, Pennsylvania. The school was formed and carried out by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Growth and development is key to this institution whether it be spiritually or intellectually. It is operated independently and with the blessing of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.... The foundation of the academy dates to July, 1872. At that time, the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary transferred their motherhouse, novitiate, and boarding school from Reading to West Chester, PA. Occupying the property formerly owned by the Pennsylvania Military Academy, the school flourished in West Chester until 1914, when Villa Maria moved to Immaculata College, which today houses the retired sisters."

In a notice of her death Reading Eagle, May 4, 1920, it is mentioned that at the time of her death she was assistant to the mother superior.  The notice says she was formerly of St. Peter's convent "this city." There are listings for a St. Peter's convent in Philadelphia, where she was born.

Ned Goode, Photographer July 1958 SOUTH FRONT - West Chester Young Ladies Seminary, 300 Maple Avenue, West Chester, Chester County, PA

James B. Eddie in Oakland as Congregational Minister

James B. Eddie is listed as the pastor of the Golden Gate Congregational Church (also called the Fourth Congregational Church in Oakland in 1892.  The church was at Adeline and 34th.  The Morning Call of San Francisco says on May 1, 1892 that he accepted the call to be pastor of this church.  I also discovered that in May 1895 he was a missionary listed in the Annual Report of the Congressional Home Missionary Issue 69 here

"Raised to the Priesthood" article on James B. Eddie

An article appear in the San Francisco Chronicle "Raised to the Priesthood: Impressive Ceremonies at St, Paul's" Feb. 29,1896 on the ordination of James B. Eddie.  It states that he was "born in Scotland.  He was originally a Baptist, but entered the Congregational ministry and served ten years as a missionary in Africa, and later was minister to Congregational flocks in the Richmond district and at Oakland.  One year ago he was ordained to the Episcopal diaconate and placed in charge of a mission at Haywards, where he remained until a month ago, when he was called to St. Peter's, Carson City."   This sheds more light on the intriguing life of James B. Eddie.  I had no idea that he was a Baptist, then a Congregationalist, become becoming an Episcopalian, nor that he had been a minister in Richmond, Oakland, and Hayward. 

Letter Associated with 19th century Family Locket

I was looking at the early locket, a family heirloom, and found this letter under some wrapping in the little cardboard box in which the locket is housed.  Here is the letter,

Dear Margaret [Leddy, John B. Leddy's mother]                                   Feb. 13 1975
  
I found this watch piece in Anna B[reen's] lockerbox and I think she wants one of your sons to have it.

On the envelope there is an address and in her address book there is another address. I do not know which is correct, so I thought you would not mind giving it to him [John B. Leddy].

I suppose this is a picture of his great great grandfather, as it would be Stanley['s] [Stanley is probably Anna Breen's brother, John Stanley Breen] Great Grandfather also and your John is a newer [?] generation.  I think it wonderful how it has kept it[s] color, it must be around 150 yrs old [i.e. 1825]

I have been very busy trying to get Anna[s] estate settled and all taxes paid.  I think taxes are awful.

Let me know if I am correct.

Many thanks

Sincerely

Elizabeth Breen


This is evidence that contrary to my dad's belief that this locket represented a John Barnes who was a revolutionary war hero, it represents his great great grandfather John Ford Barnes (1808-1847) of which I have spoken previously in this blog.  Elizabeth may be a sister of Anna.  Anna Breen's mother Elizabeth Hyer Grimshaw was daughter of George Grimshaw and Sarah Barnes.  Sarah Barnes was daughter of  Susannah Williams and John Ford Barnes. 

Oldest Known Ancestor of Winter Family: John Winter

Farmland of Mosstower, from the History of Eckford web page.

This material is taken from Malcolm Winter's Website.

JOHN WINTER  was born 1757 in ?Scotland or 2/20 Chester LeStreet St. Mary, Durham, and died in ? Bovina New York. He married ELISABETH (BETTY) ALLAN May 15, 1785 in Ford, Northumberland, England, daughter of ?WILLIAM ALLON.

John came to America with his 16 year old son Robert in 1822 - had a 9 week voyage and landed in Quebec. From there they came to Bovina to visit the Winters who had come first, intending to then go on to Ohio. Eventually they decided to settle in the New York region - for a time living with a married daughter named Turnbull near the United Presbyterian Church of Bovina. When young Robert became 20 he married Sally Drummond.

Below is a letter from Thomas Winter to John Winter.  I have not corrected the typos since this is the only copy I have seen.


                                                        Mosstower, May 24, 1839
Dear Grandfather,

I have now taken the present opportunity of writing these lines,
hoping you are enjoying good health.
I have taken this opportunity because there is a person by the
name of Robert Henderson going to emigrate to America. I suppose he is
going to settle about the same country where you are. He lives in
Jadburgh at present and he is going away at Whitsunday when he promised
to carry this letter. My father and mother continue in Mosstower, yet
and have given up all thoughts of ever setting out for America, and
what hinders them I know not. Perhaps it is the perils and dangers of
the sea or perhaps the difficulty of parting with their friends here,
for they have more friends here now. My sister and brother (as you
have heard) are both at Lintons and have each a family of their own. My
sister Margaret is married on the farm there and my brother John is
shepherd under them, but he met in with a grievous and lamentable
misfortune. A year and half since when his wife died In child-bed and
1eft two sons. They are now two fine boys, both able to run about.
Margaret has also a boy about 14 months old. My brother Robert is an
apprentice at Ecford where he is serving his time as joiner. Betsey
and Jessie are both at hone under the superintendence of my father. I
shall give you I history of myself but I shall reserve it to the end.
Yet I rejoice under the providence of God to say we are a11 well and
live contented with the station that is assigned us, I think sir, more
than likely that my father and mother will never see you again in this
world. Indeed it is difficult to say what providence is often pleased
to bring about, and I dare say that it wil1 be the case. I have often
heard that I had a grandfather and if I happened to meet you on the
streets of New York I would pass you by and think you was one of the
inhabitants of the city. I hope you are well supplied with ministers
of the Gospel, yet, I believe there are many places destitute of such
excellent positions on account of the inhabitants 1yiny wide and far
between. The best method I can think of to remedy this inconvenience is
that ministers should go from one place to another like the Ranters
among us.
In Northumberland, the other year they were much busied in going
from place to place but I hear no more word about them.
We had frightful accounts of war in America this winter, but I
believe now that it is in the great measure abated, but I saw in the
papers that the U.S. and Canada had a disagreement about the boundary line
between the two aforesaid countries, and whether the dispute is ended I
have not heard. The Chartists in England or what we call the Radicals are
raising such disturbances. They are arming all their followers and minions
and exercising then in the arts of war. There are some petitions sent by
them to the government and if their grievances are not redressed they are
determined to take Parliament and wrest from them at the point of the
sword the object of their wish.
This spirit has infused itself into a great number of the
inhabitants of the great manufacturing towns of England Scotland, and the
clergy here are all so alarmed that they have bills posted up on the
Church doors prohibiting any person to use or exercise in anything that is
employed in war.
We are sorry to hear such bad reports from out friends in America,
and I hope that the means used for the recovery of my cousins will prove
successful. But remember to write the first opportunity that occurs and
send us word how they and all our friends are.
My Uncle James Turnbull and all his family (the last report we heard)
are well.
My Uncle William is down about Northumberland but we have no
communication whatever with him.
I promised to give you an account of myself. I have been et Edinburgh
two winters at College and I just came out to spend two or three weeks at
Mosstower and am just preparing to go back again all summer to attend the
summer classes.
Some persons advise me to follow the ministry but I think that a
teacher in Scotland or in America succeeds very well.
You must remember that I am not a dissenter like my father but a true
and firm adherer of the Church of Scotland I must remain.
As the bounds Or this paper w11 not allow me to go farther,

I am your steady and affectionate grandson,

                                                 Thomas Winter

The foregoing letter is in the possession of Miss Margaret Storie,
Bovina Center, New York and is addressed to,

Mr. John Winter
Bovina, County of Delaware
State of New York
North America

Equitable Building

RODNEY WHITE/REGISTER FILE PHOTO

Jane remembers visiting her dentist at the top of the Equitable Building in Des Moines Iowa.  This 319 foot tall building built in 1924 was the tallest building in Iowa for 49 years.

Jane's Great Uncle David B. Winter

Today Jane told me a story about visiting her great uncle, David B. Winter in the Black Hills.  He was her grandfather's (father's side) brother, and he used to have a summer cabin there.  Jane remembers the sound of the creek next to the cabin when her family took a road trip to Montana and picked up Dave on the way.  My cousin Malcolm has a note on his family web site saying that David had "little black curls" all over his head and that he spent his last years in the Black Hills region.  He was born July 12, 1867 and died June 5, 1950 in Rapid City, South Dakota.  Census shows he was living in Osceola in 1885 and in 1915. (This is probably the same person since Osceola was an important Winter habitation).  Could this be the same David B. Winter of Rapid City South Dakota "who formerly was in the confectionery business and is well and favorably known in this" and was "general auditor for the Rapid [City?] Black Hills and Western Railway company with headquarters at Rapid City" according to the Alton Democrat, June 17, 1911?  Probably not, since although he died in Rapid City, he was probably in Osceola in 1911.  Malcolm Winter's genealogy site is at Winter.  

Harold Leddy on his ancestors: letter from approximately May, 1967

"I wish I could give you some good leads on the Leddy geneology (?)  Msgr. Leddy think we came from County Clare or Cavin,  They kept no passenger lists of the Irish who came over at the time of the potato famine (1848 et sec)  There is a paper in Belfast that used to print a list of family names and trace them back to some early king or saint.  I'm sure we would be included and probably could boast a coat of arms.  All I know is that my father was born in New York; that his father (whose name I believe was Andrew Leddy) served in the civil war.  That he died from wounds tho not on the battlefield.  That Papa was raised by an uncle named Daley or Daley who operated a shoe blacking factory near the waterfront in Philadelphia.  Helen says there is a A Snee living in New York or Brooklyn;  Jennie Snee was Papa's sister.  The operated a ship chandlers business and made a lot of money converting passenger ships to troop ships in W.W.I. and vice versa.

Some day you might carry on my research.  On my mothers side Anna Breen has the complete dope (or thinks she has)   She wanted to belong to the D.A.R. and for a price the experts produced a long line of ancestors which went beyond the Revolution and an ancestor is busied in Old Swedes churchyard in Phila.

As to Mother's ancestry you have all the information needed.  At least you have living Scottish relations.

Have a Happy Trip and tell the boys to watch out for those French girls.

Love Dad [Harold Leddy]"

Msgr Leddy was not a relative but a parish priest with the same last name in Bakersfield.  He married Jack and Jane.  Patrick Leddy

John Thomas Leddy and Mary Amanda Murray

John Thomas Leddy (my grandfather's father) married Mary Amanda Murray at this church in Philadelphia in 1882. 

Margaret Leddy's Uncle John Charleson

We have long heard of Uncle John Charleson, my grandmother's father's brother, and how he converted the Eddie daughters to Catholicism.  He had an estate in Kirkconnel. I thnk I found him here.

Fasti ecclesiæ scoticanæ; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation (1915)

Author: Scott, Hew, 1791-1872; Macdonald, D. F. (Donald Farquhar), 1906-
Keywords: Church of Scotland; Church of Scotland; Scotland -- Biography
Publisher: Edinburgh : Oliver and Boyd
Year: 1915

JOHN CHARLESON, born Inverness,189Q 7th Sept. 1862, son of Kenneth C. 
and Margaret Forbes, and brother of Charles Forbes C., min. of Kirkconnel ; 
educated at Univ. of Edinburgh ; M.A. (1884), B.D. (1888); licen. by Presb. of 
Paisley ; ord. 5th Sept. 1890 ; adm. first min. of the parish 8th March 1892. 
Joined the Church of Rome, when the Presb. declared him to hold "no longer 
the office of the holy ministry, and that he is disqualified and discharged from 
exercising the functions of the same or any part thereof," 30th Oct. 1901. He 
was ord. priest at Kirkintilloch in 1904 ; afterwards at Croy and Rome. Publica-
tion Why I left the Church of Scotland (1901.) 

This book is pretty rare, although one could possibly find it in the British Museum.  However he also wrote an article "Why I Left the Church of Scotland" published in the Glasgow Herald on Nov. 5, 1901, and that is available, at least currently, here.

This article is said to be the opening of his book (or, rather, pamphlet}

There were a couple replies to the book. 

Google lists  one by a Jacob Primmer,"Citizen" Office, 1901  47 pages.

Mr Charleson's "Why I left the Church of Scotland", or, The secret Romanising "Scottish Church Society" exposed

Another was 

Peter and the keys : an examination of the Rev. John M.M. Charleson's book "Why I left the Church of Scotland" by Charles Hall (Paisley : Alexander Gardner, 1901).

 See also here

 

See also 

Liturgical Space (Liturgy, Worship & Society in Western Europe 1500-2000) by Nigel Yates (Ashgate, 2008)  "complaints were made against the ministry from 1890, John Charleson, that he had introduced a service book with congregational responses, encaustic tiles and stained glass in the chancel and the erection of a communion table with a tabernacle." 129

Chronology

Born 7 Sep 1862  Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

Edinburgh University; Master of Arts, 1884; Bachelor of Divinity, 1888.
 Licensed by Presbytery of Paisley.
  Licensed by Presbytery of Linlithgow, 1889.
Minister of Thornliebank, 1890; ordained, 1890.
  Admitted first minister of the parish, 1892. 

"Why I Left the Church of Scotland" published in the Glasgow Herald on Nov. 5, 1901, 

  Presbytery declared him to no longer hold the office of the holy ministry, and was disqualified and discharged from his office, 1901.
  Joined the Church of Rome.
  Ordained a priest of Kirkintilloch, 1904.
  Afterwards at Croy and Rome.

 

The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Rōrahi XXXV, Putanga 38, 19 Mahuru 1907, Page 31

See article Scotland: The Shadow and The Substance here for more details about his life as a Catholic.

 

 Died 30 Jun 1942  Dunranion Billericay, Essex, England

 

 

William Crowe Kellogg and Jack and Jane Wedding

Note from Jack around 2011

Re:  Bill Kellogg

"We spent our wedding night - Sept. 11 [1948] at the Kellogg Mansion.  Turned out that our "Best Man" at our wedding in Carmel gave us the gift of a night at Kellogg residence in Altadena...."

The mansion is described in an LA Times article The House Scripps Built : A Family and a Community Struggle to Preserve Their Heritage March 02, 1986 Mark Arax |.  "The mansion [Scripps Hall mansion], located at 209 E. Mariposa St., is understated despite being built on a road once known as "Millionaires' Row" because of the wealthy and famous men such as author Zane Grey and hotel builder, Col. G. G. Green who moved there at the turn of the century. Like the community's pioneers, the home is more practical than elegant, with its Oriental influences, leaded glass windows and sweeping staircase. Although empty for the past several years since the elder Kelloggs moved permanently to La Jolla, it remains in good condition."  At that time the mansion was an "old people's home" and was under threat of destruction.  "My father made this quick, rather hasty decision and then he began to reflect upon it," said William Crowe Kellogg. "I think he felt he made a mistake and feared the home would be torn down and the property developed."  Later however it was renovated and is now a school:  this from Wikipedia:  "In 1979, threatened with demolition, the Altadena Heritage Association coordinated the historic home's sale to the Pasadena Waldorf School, one of many Waldorf Schools around the world. Scripps Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 for its significance as a 'settlement site'" 

Also from the LA Times  http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-20/news/ga-37_1_altadena-home-tour "In 1987, the Waldorf School of Pasadena purchased the remaining 3.5-acre estate, including the 6,000-square-foot Craftsman-style Scripps Hall mansion, on the condition that the estate be preserved. Scripps' great-grandson, William Kellogg, had led a community battle to save the mansion from destruction by developers, and Altadena Heritage emerged from the effort to become a preservation group.
The forest-green stucco, brick and wood Craftsman-style house has jutting beams, balconies, dormer windows and elaborate beveled glass windows around the front door. A balustraded stairway, wood-paneled walls and ceilings, and wood-and-tile fireplaces are inside." 

Chronology of James B. Eddie

Janet Groat started this chronology of James B. Eddie. I have revised it somewhat based on family stories.

born Elgin Scotland 1860 Mary Margaret Leddy said his family ran a coach service between Elgin and Edinburgh.

University of Edinburgh.  [S.F. Chronicle says he was a Baptist before he became a Congregational minister.}

He heard Livingston speak and very much admired him which led him to go to Africa. [Livingston died in 1873, so this might not be true].

1884 Serving at Equator Station in Congo under the auspices of the Livingstone Inland Mission founded by H. Grattan Guinness

He left Africa after contracting malaria and went to Italy (Florence) for a year to recover before returning to Scotland, marrying Margaret Charleson (from Inverness) and immigrating to the U.S.

1887 Published vocabulary in Edinburgh [see my post on this...the book is still available]

1888 or 1890 First came to U.S.: census data is contradictory. (Pre-dates Ellis Island records, so no help there.)

The San Francisco Chronicle [see my entry on Raised in the Priesthood] says he was raised a Baptist but became Congregational and served s minister in Oakland and Richmond before he became an episcopalian and then served in Hayward for one year fefor becoming ordained in 1896.

Entered the Episcopalian seminary in San Francisco and became a minister there.


1891 Travels on Anchoria to Scotland from New York arrives Aug. 4

1892 Hamish born in California

1893 Married Margaret Charleson [did he marry her after Hamish was born?]

1895-6  episcopal diaconate in charge of mission in Haywards [sic probably Hayward]  

1896, Feb. 29  Ordained at St. Paul's Church, Episcopalian

1896 Margaret Eddie born in San Francisco

1896 In Carson City as Pastor Episcopal Church

1899 Marie born

1900-1906? Salt Lake City as Dean of St, Narks Cathedral Salt Lake City "St. Mark's Cathedral, in Salt Lake City, was built by Bishop Tuttle in 1870.
The Very Rev. James B. Eddie has been dean since Easter, 1900." The Mountain Empire Utah 1904. He was also Vice-Rector and Chaplain of Rowland Hall, a college preparatory school attached to the Cathedral. This taken from Utah As It Is.

1902 Trip of Eddie family without James B. from New York to Glasgow

Truth. (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, May 27, 1905, Page 3, Image 3
Image provided by University of Utah, Marriott Library
Persistent link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058310/1905-05-27/ed-1/seq-3/

1906 case brought against him

Jan. 8, 1908 Unfrocked Salt Lake Tribune

1910 Pasadena CA real estate agent

1920 Los Angeles CA with second wife: Emma Crist

John W. Barnes and Other Genealogical Info.

I found this typed document in Jack Leddy's papers.  I think it was written by Anna Grimshaw Breen since she did a lot of the genealogical work for the family. 

"John W. Barnes at the time of his decease, was Senior Adjutant of the National Guard of Penna.  He joined Infantry Corp. National Guards Nov. 6, 1855, was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of Co. E. Dec. 1st. 1860.  He served 3 mos. in 19th Penna. Volunteers and was commissioned Capt. of Co. E, 90th Penna Volunteers Sept. 3rd., 1861, served three years and in Veteran Reserve Corps of U.S. Army until his honorable discharge on Dec. 22nd, 1866.  On April 22, 1869, he assumed the duties of Adjutant of the Regiment, remaining in commission until his death in 1882.

This is taken from an appreciation sent to the members of the regiment at the time of his death and inviting them to come to the funeral.

I am sorry but  I can't give you any more information about Elizabeth Solonius, etc.  I know the Rector of Old Swedes and I am writing to him to see if they have any other records.

By word of mouth Sarah Johnson was supposed to be Elizabeth Solonius' daughter, but Sarah Johnson must have been married twice for I know definitely that Susanna Williams was her daughter.  However, her sampler which I have, bears the name of Susanna Williams 1818. Phila. Union School.
Susanna Williams married John Ford Barnes, born 1-14-1808, died 1846 in New Orleans, where they lived, and is buried there in Notre Dame Cemetery Chapel Lula St. which I could not find when I was there.  Their first child was John Wall Barnes, born 7-17-1830, died 6-12-1882.  He married twice.  I think his daughter Clara was by his first wife.  She married and had two daughters who, in turn, married and had two daughters, who in turn married and this family is still going on.
The second child was Sarah Johnson Barnes, born 1-16-1828, died 3-4-1012, and who married George Grimshaw, born 10-15-24, and died 4-9-51.  Their daughters were Susannah Barnes Grimshaw, born 1-21-48, died 4-29-42, and Elizabeth Hyer Grimshaw, born 4-29-50.  She married James Breen, who was born 9-9-1849 and died 11-21-1905.  Elizabeth dies 8-5-1926.

Anna Grimshaw Breen was born 11-29-1888
John Stanley Breen was born 7-7-1894 and married Elizabeth Oliver, no children."

More information about John W. Barnes may be found at Ancestry.com  This is consistent with the information I have above.

"These are some extracts from Samuel Bates histories of Pennsylvania in the war. In both regiments, you'll find John Barnes in the Color Company, Company E.

If you look at the rosters of the 19th Regiment, which served only three months on Mr. Lincoln's first call for volunteers, you'll also find John's brother Albert as a corporal in A Company, and Jacob D Regementer as a private in J W Barnes E Company. Neither of these two volunteered for further service after that initial three months."

John Barnes Leddy 1922-2012 Obituary

John Barnes (Jack) Leddy passed away in his apartment at Atria Senior Living, San Jose, California on Friday, January 20, only two days before his 90th birthday.  The cause of death was multiple myeloma.  He is survived by his loving wife, Jane, his four children Tom, Bill, Robin and John, his four grandchildren, Anna, Andrew, Giancarlo and Harrison, his brother Don, Don’s wife Nives, and nine nieces and nephews. Jack was born in Pasadena to Harold and Margaret Leddy on Jan. 22, 1922.  In addition to Don, he had two other brothers, Albert and Jim, who predeceased him.  Some of his earliest memories were of tough times in the Great Depression, people selling apples on the street. Since Jack showed an early interest in science his father would take him to science lectures at CalTech.  He remembered seeing Albert Einstein and Guglielmo Marconi give talks there.  His family moved to Bakersfield where he attended high school and junior college.  He received an A.A. in Physics from Bakersfield Junior College.

Jack was an avid radio fan from a very young age.  He had a ham radio license, W6PLJ, and fixed radios as a hobby. In 1938, he and Tom Nelson, along with several other high school friends, organized a high school radio club with the call letters W6EM.  In 1940 Jack was accepted to UC Berkeley and was elected President of Bowles Hall.  In 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked he relayed messages to the War Department from Hawaii by way of a station at the top of Bakersfield High School.  Shortly after, he became an ensign (a junior-grade lieutenant) in the Navy and was flown to Boston where we took classes in advanced electronics at both Harvard and MIT.  He was then relocated to Chicago where he worked on installing radar and sonar on submarines and other ships in both the U.S. and British Navies.  Some of the work he did was highly classified. After the war, Jack continued his education at Berkeley.  However, for various reasons, including a serious illness in his senior year, he was unable to finish his B.A.  Nonetheless, he was always proud of studying under several Nobel prize-winners at UC Berkeley. 

In 1948 Jack met and married Jane Winter in Bakersfield and began a career in the electronics field.  They lived first in Oakland, and then in Fresno near the Zoo, but then moved to Darby Village in Clovis, which is just outside Fresno.  There they built their own house following designs from Sunset magazine and with the help of Jim and Albert.  In 1955 the family (including now Tom, Bill and Robin) moved to Eleanor Drive in San Mateo.  John was born while they lived there.  Sometime around 1964 Jack and Jane purchased a cabin at Fly-In-Acres near Arnold, California.  The cabin is now maintained and shared by the four children and their families.  In 1967 the family moved to Parrott Drive also in San Mateo. 

From 1958-1962 Jack was a district manager for General Instrument Corp., from 1962-63 he worked for Jack Logan and Associates, from 1963-64 he was national sales manager for Griffith Plastic Products in Burlingame, and from 1964-68 he was regional manager Western USA for Sperry-Rand Corp, Semiconductor Division. In 1968 Jack founded his own manufacturer’s representative company, Leddy Associates Inc., which was located for the longest period in Burlingame.  In 1990 he sold the business and retired.  However, he continued to work as an independent consultant with an ongoing interest in electronics as well as clean water and clean energy technologies.  In 2000 he founded a new company with his son John, J. Leddy, Inc.  His longest professional association was with RAF Electronic Hardware for over 30 years.  

During this period Jack’s main interests were world travel with Jane (they went to Greece, Mexico, Egypt, Japan, Belize, Chile, England, Alaska, and many other locales), his radio ham contests with the Northern California Contest Club and his work with the American Red Cross in emergency preparedness.  He changed his call letters to N6EM in honor of the Bakersfield radio club (W6EM was no longer available).  Jack had an Honorary Life Membership in the Electronics Representative Association.  He also served as President of the Water Board for Fly-In-Acres. In 2009, Jack and Jane sold their San Mateo house and moved to Atria Senior Living in San Jose. 

Jack and Jane shared many friends in their book club, hiking groups, artist friends of Jane’s, ham radio friends, friends they made while travelling, and friends from their years on Eleanor Drive.

Jack and Jane’s children have distinguished careers and families of their own:   Tom is a Professor of Philosophy at San Jose State University and is married to Karen Haas. Bill is a partner in the architectural firm Leddy Maytum Stacy, is married to Marsha Maytum and has two children, Anna and Andrew.  Robin is an artist in the Sacramento area and is married to Dr. Tom Giustina.  She has one son Giancarlo, married to Rachel Siegel.  John is President of JLeddy Inc. and Co-Founder, along with Jack, of the nonprofit corporation U.S. Water and Power.  He has one son Harrison, and is engaged to marry Ms. Christy Lambertson in June, 2012.

Also significant in Jack’s life were the children of his brothers.  Don’s children are Mary Margaret Leddy, Annette Leddy, Don Leddy and John Leddy.  Albert’s children are Claire Hackett and Richard Leddy (who worked with Jack as an associate).  Jim’s children are Lisa Ray-Leddy, Anthony Leddy, and Valerie Leddy.  

We will all remember Jack for his enthusiasm for life, his love of his family, and his many tall tales.

There will be no funeral.  A memorial event will be held for family members only. If you would like to make a memorial contribution, please contact:  American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter  www.redcrossbayarea.org  

If you would like to share memories about Jack’s life, feel free to comment below or send messages to Tom Leddy at tle403@aol.com

More on Jack's Naval Service Including Security Work

A letter I found in Jack's papers indicates that on March 20, 1945 he successfully completed a correspondence course on Communications with a mark of 3.83. (Germany surrendered on April 29. Japan did not surrender until Aug. 15, 1945).  However what is interesting about the letter is that at that time he was an officer in the Naval Reserve.  The letter was sent to Lt. John B. Leddy, S(E3) T, USNR, Naval Reserve Educational Center, Great Lakes, Illinois.  So, although it was a correspondence course, he took it at the center or at least received his mail at the center.  S(E3) is a USNR officer designation for Special Service, Special Engineering Duties, equivalent to EDO (Engineering Duty Only) Electrical.

I was wondering why Jack would be in the Naval Reserve and not in the regular Navy... he never mentioned this.  However, in recent years he had claimed that he had done secret work for the Navy.  It turns out that the Naval Reserve was very important in cryptographic work.   I recently found an interesting document online: "Silent Warriors: The Naval Security Group 1945-2005,"  According to this work, "of the more than 10,000 codebreakers who served in the U.S. Navy between 1941 and 1945, well over 90 percent were reservists. They played key roles in every aspect of what was then termed radio intelligence — interception, decryption, translation, and analysis — at sites around the world."  It is also mentioned that many of these reservists were not allowed to talk about their work and received no official recognition.  Jack insisted he was not allowed to talk about his work.  The document also says that these same reservists were kept on in this secret work during the period after WWII, i.e. during the Cold War.  My hypothesis is that Jack was in The Naval Security Group as a reservist doing security work from 1945 to sometime during the Cold War.  He could do this while maintaining a normal civilian life.  The document also states that:  "What operational work existed [during the period immediately after WWII]  was modest, and some was downright casual. Lacking proper drill sites and equipment, units organized “ham” radio efforts, monitoring frequencies (sometimes on Navy-supplied radios residing in reservists’ homes) and copying signals on frequencies assigned by CSA. For want of other options, the USNR allowed select members to conduct this classified work from home and send the results to Washington, DC, via registered mail.".

Jack's old friend Tom Nelson writes  "I am quite sure that after MIT he was sent on classified work to a Navy base in England and bases in various parts of the USA."  This looks like it was before the end of the war.

Jack's Patent 3,313,057

Jack patented some color code caps for knobs for electronic gear on April 11, 1967.  The application was made on Oct. 26, 1964.  I remember the knobs well.  We often played with these electronic knobs that were always around Jack's workroom.  The machines that were used to produce the knobs would extrude globs of plastic that we all thought really cool-looking and collected in the family garden for a while.  You can see the patent by clicking on this link:  3,313,057

Bowles Hall, University of California Berkeley

Jack was always proud of his membership in Bowles Hall.  He was listed as a senior there in the Blue and Gold Yearbook, class of 1946.  Jack said that he was elected president of Bowles Hall, and I remember once seeing a plaque there with his name on it to that effect.  His brother Don also went to Bowles Hall.  Jack had a picture of Bowles Hall hanging in his office.  He never graduated due, he says, to a bad case of dysentery, plus not being able to get credit from Berkeley for his studies at Harvard and MIT during the war.  Jack went on without BA in hand to have a satisfying career as an electronics manufacturer's representative, which makes him not much different from many contemporary computer CEOs.  Sometime in the 1980s he was invited back to Berkeley to give a talk about his career.  He saw that as a kind of vindication.  . 

Henry Longfellow School

Longfellow Elementary School, Pasadena,

 
Jack and Don attended Henry Longfellow School.   Check the link below for a picture from that time.

Henry Longfellow School, East Washington, Pasadena. 1926.
DATE: 10/22/1926
NOTES: Street view of Henry Longfellow School on East Washington. The school is a large, multistory building with a flagpole and trees on the lawn.
SOURCE: Harold A. Parker Studio Collection of Negatives
REPOSITORY: Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery

Leddy Ranch

Fire Sweeps Leddy Ranch.  [probably appeared in an L.A. paper sometime in the 1930s...clipping has no date or publication]

500 Acres of Timber Fall Before Flames, House Saved by Fighters

More than 500 acres of big timber, a saw mill and blacksmith shop of the Calaveras County ranch of Harold D. Leddy, Pasadena attorney were in smouldering ruins today in the wake of a forest fire.

At a loss estimated at more than $5,000, the fire swept over the ranch Sunday, eating through a stand of 3,000,000 feet of timber, Leddy learned today.  Back-firing saved the six-room ranch house and 50 acres of scrub land.

Leddy, who lives at 1175 Woodbury Road, said the ranch had been a hunting paradise.  It is near Railroad Flat, 10 miles from Calaveras Big Trees.


Jack always remembered time spent on the Leddy ranch with fondness as days in which he was a cowboy.  The family story is that Harold received the ranch in lieu of payment of attorney's fees.

Barnes and Murray Family Tombstone

Anthony Parone has also provided us with pictures of a Barnes and Murray family tombstone.  The second picture is of Anthony and his.Aunt Pat in the Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia.

What did his son (John Ford Barnes) do in New Orleans in the period before his death in 1846?

In a letter in a previous post Jack Leddy asked this question:  "What did his son (John Ford Barnes [son of Captain John Barnes]) do in New Orleans in the period before his death in 1846?"  We now know that answer to that.  He opened another hotel, and then another.  Anthony Parone, a fourth cousin also descended from John Ford Barnes, did the research on this. Here are two notices, one of the new Commercial Hotel in 1844, and one of the sale of another hotel, Notre Dame Hotel, upon the death of John Ford Barnes.  Anthony also provided a copy of his death certificate.   

"Mr. John F. Barnes has taken the “Commercial Hotel,” corner of Girod and New Levee streets which he opened last evening as a house of entertainment.  Mr Barnes knows how to do the thing in the handsome way, and he intends to make his terms reasonable.”  11/1/1844 Times-Picayune, New Orleans

":To Hotel and Tavern Keepers.  For Sale - A Bargain - The lease of the well known Notre Dame Hotel with the commodious Bar Room Fixtures and Household and Kitchen Furniture, with or without four House Servants.  For particulars apply on the premises, corner of Notre Dame and Tchoupatoulus Streets my 28 St."  May 30, 1847  Times Picayune

John Ford Barnes death certificate

Incidentally, two years later the Commercial Hotel was a stopping point for Californians heading to the gold rush.  “They are all stopping, previous to their departure, at the Commercial Hotel, corner of Girod and New Levee streets.”  This taken from "California Bound" S. F. Genealogy  New York Herald, New York, New York, Feb. 22, 1849. 

Captain John Barnes and George Washington?

Keep in mind that there were many John Barnes's and many Captain John Barnes too.  But, did our Captain John Barnes (see Jack's history of John Barnes in this blog) meet George Washington?  Jack Leddy would have been thrilled if this were true.  An account of the history of Trenton New Jersey in 1776-7 says "Captain John Barnes lived in the old stone house, torn down lately, just below Washington Market.  General Washington spent the night of Dec. 29, 1776, in this dwelling."  The account is found in

TRENTON

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

WILLIAM S. STRYKER,

ADJUTANT GENERAL OF NEW JERSEY.

PRINTED FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION.

TRENTON. N. J.

                                                                                 1878

 See Trenton Historical Society New Jersey

Also, in the same document:   "Thomas, Mary and Sarah Barnes lived on the ground now occupied by the Third Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Barnes was a druggist, and his advertisement of salves, ointments, &c., appears in Isaac Collins’ Trenton Gazette."

NCCC Memorial Comments About Jack

NCCC Jack Leddy, N6EM SK  [SK means "Silent Key" in ham radio slang = in Morse code is "... _._" Jack will be indicated in commentators as "N6EM SK" and that call will not be heard again on the air for two years.  Later the N6EM call can be retained in the family if applied for within the next two years and can be obtained by a closely related family member -  Tom Nelson]

Jack was a very active member of the Northern California Contest Club:  a radio ham group.  Here are some comments from members passed on to me by Tom Nelson.

From Charles K. Epps  I am saddened to report the passing of long time NCCC member Jack Leddy, N6EM [Jack's ham radio call letters].  First licensed in 1935, Jack delighted at the eyebrows he raised when he gave ?35? as his check in Sweepstakes.  Operating from his small city lot in San Mateo, jack was always in there slugging it out to help NCCC chase the SS Club gavel.

As a child, Jack personally met both Guglielmo Marconi and Albert Einstein.  Not many of us can claim something like that.

Jack's health had been failing for quite some time.  He went off the air a few years ago when he and his XYL sold their home and moved into a senior care facility in San Jose.

Jack will be sorely missed.  We have lost one of the good ones.

73 de Rusty, W6OAT

Kurt Andress  kurt@k7nv.com

What a Terrific Guy!

I got to stop by Jack's place to do a few things for him, while on one of my Bay Area tower work trips a few years ago, before he moved.  It was just a pleasure to be with that man!
He told me stories about working my Dad (W6KUT), and duking it out with Dad for some DX in the old days, and some of the first years of the West Coast DX Convention when they all got to meet eacy other in person for the first time...great stuff  ;-)

He sure loved the avocation we all share, and the people in it!

Kudos, and Thanks Jack!

73, Kurt ; - (


Rob k6rb@baymoon.com

Jack was a gentleman and a good operator.  I can still hear him saying "easy money."  Save us a position at that big contest station in the sky, OM.

Rob  K6RB

Jim Brown k9yc@audiosystemsgroup.com

Yes indeed.  Jack was one of those who gave me the warmest of welcomes when I arrived here six years ago.  He very generously offered me his QTH for Sweepstakes, and I had a lot of fun there.  jack was also quite intelligent and well read.  I got the feeling he was a first class engineer and businessman as well.  He enjoyed walking, and I had hoped to join him on some of those occasions, but it was soon after that his health took a dive, and we never got the opportunity.....

David Aslin daslin@bayarea.net

Very Sorry to hear that Rusty.  As you say, one of the good ones.  I'll never forget his kindness and generosity and the fun of contesting with him at his San Mateo QTH.  Go gently Jack OM.  You're sorely missed.
73
Dave  WJ60 GeWGn

[Tom Nelson reports that Dave was one of Jack's good friends in the NCCC.  He is in England now and sent this from the U.K.]

Dean Wood cqden6de@gmail.com

I hae happy memories of Jack and missed his presence at NCCC meetings the last several years.

73...

Dean - N6DE

Kit  w6iso@sbcglobal.net

I'm going to miss the rascal.  We enjoyed many contests together and trips to the "cabin."

73 de Kit W6ISO

Bill Haddon haddon.bill@gmail.com

Jack and his lovely artist wife visited my home in Corte Madera at the Sept. 2004 NCCC meeting that Barbara and I hosted [as far as I know the only NCCC meeting held at a member's home in this century]

John Miller webaron@gmail.com

I have good memories as well.  His quick wit was appreciated.  He sent this to the reflector in 2009

A Dentist who practiced in Billings
Inserted electronic fillings
His patient's recourse
Was copying Morse
Or submitting to extensive drillings

Thanks for the smiles, Jack.

73
John, K6MM

T. L. Nelson  tlneelson@dcn.davis.ca.us

Yes indeed Jack is a great loss to electronics, ham radio in general, contesting in particular, NCCC and to his many friends and family.

I first knew Jack in high school when we both were 16 years old and living in Bakersfield.  In 1938, he and I, along with several high school friends, organized a high school radio club and obtained the club call N6EM.  His call was W6PLJ but when he found N6EM was available through the vanity program, he asked for and obtained it in memory of his old high school club call.

We both went to U.C. Berkeley but in the later part of his college years during WWII, he mysteriously disappeared - later found to have been commissioned an officer in the Navy and sent to do highly classified work both in the U.S. and England on behalf of the war effort.  Only very recently has the work he was doing been declassified and he has been able to talk about it as well as belatedly receiving public recognition for his war efforts from the Navy.

In more recent years it has been a joy to have Jack come up to my farm where we participated on several occasions in giving out Sutter County during CQO,  Dave Astin joined in with us on one of those occasions.

RIP  -  Tom Nelson, - W6EO

I will add to this with more accounts later.

Tom Leddy

Sad News About Jack Leddy

John Barnes (Jack) Leddy passed away in his apartment in San Jose, California on Friday, January 20, only two days before his 90th birthday.  He is survived by his wife, Jane, his brother Don, his four children Tom, Bill, Robin and John, and his four grandchildren, Anna, Andrew, Giancarlo and Harrison. Members of his extended family and his many friends have been contacting us to express their condolences.  I will post a longer obituary on this site later.  Please feel free to share stories and thoughts about Jack in the comments section of this posting, or send to me at tle403@aol.com   Although no formal funeral is planned, there will be a memorial event sometime in February.  .

Site of Perkins and Leddy Men's Wearables

In 2003 a Karla Everett listed some businesses advertising in the 1913 Pasadena High School yearbook. (This letter is currently posted at Ancestry.com) One of these businesses was Perkins and Leddy Mens Wearables at 17 East Colorado Street, Pasadena. Karen and I went to where 17 East Colorado Street would be and found this building.  No address of 17 was listed on the building. 

734 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena

734 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena

My wife, Karen Haas, and I had a nice adventure when we were in the L.A. area last week.  I went to the research library in the Pasadena historical museum and discovered the Directory of Pasadena from 1912 that at that time John T., Harold, Helen, and May were all living at 734 N. Raymond Ave.  So we drove over to that site and took a picture of the house.  Then it turned out that the current owners were there and were happy to show us the renovations they had done.  Some of the rooms looked just as they would have looked in 1912. Here is an example of the interior.

I also found out that they rented this place, which was constructed in 1905.  It is described in one document "A one-and-one-half-story Classic Box, the design of this residence was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement as seen in the arroyo stone piers, foundation, chimney, and walls flanking the front concrete steps."  It had been turned into a duplex at one point, but now again is a single-family house.  The owners had a copy of a census sheet from 1910 which showed living there John T and wife Mary (or is it Margaret?), and their four children: Mari, Helen, Jane, Harold and Alma.  Interestingly, John T.'s wife is shown as having a father from England and a mother from Louisiana.  Mari (26) was a "typewriter," Helen (21) a book-keeper in a laundry, and Jane (20) a book-keeper in publishing.  Harold (18) and Alma (17) were not employed.  Joseph E. Leddy (John T.s brother who co-owned Perkins and Leddy menswear) lived down the street at 501 N. Raymond (there is no longer a residence there.)