Gen. Joseph B. Leake

Lt. Col. Joseph B. Leake 20th Iowa Infantry

Joseph B. Leake was born April 1, 1828 in Deerfield, Cumberland County, New jersey. His family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio; where Leake graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1846. He studied the Law and was admitted to the bar in 1850. He removed to Davenport, Iowa and became a member of the Iowa Legislature during what was known as “the war session” of 1861. Leake resigned his seat to become Captain of Company G, 20^th Iowa Infantry which was being recruited in Scott County. He  commissioned Lt. Colonel upon the organization of the regiment at Camp Kirkwood near Clinton, Iowa. Lt. Col. Leake led the 20^th Iowa at Prairie Grove, Vicksburg, Yazoo City, and Port Hudson. In September, 1863 near Morganza, Louisiana in an engagement called Stirlings Farm, Leake was wounded and captured. He was sent to Camp Ford POW camp at Tyler, Texas. As the highest ranking officer, he made great effort to take care of all the Union soldiers incarcerated there, sharing in the hardships of heat, as well as bad water and food.  In July of 1864 he was exchanged. While  marching through New Orleans, the ladies of the town initially thought he and his men were rebel prisoners due to their poor condition and ragged  uniforms. Upon learning they were exchanged Union prisoners, the heart-sick ladies gave  what food and clothing they had to ease their suffering. Some  of the soldiers of the  19^th Iowa presented Lt. Col. Leake with a new sword to  on behalf of the prisoners to replace the one he had surrendered at the time of his capture. Leake returned to the regiment and participated in the capture of Forts Gaines and Morgan near Mobile Bay, Ala. In April, 1865 leake led the regiment during  the siege and assault of Fort Blakely, Ala. Leake was awarded  the brevet rank of Brigadier General on March 13,1865. When the war ended he returned to Davenport and was elected to the Iowa Senate. In 1871 he moved to Chicago and was appointed U.S. District Attorney for the northern district of Illinois. On Sept. 21, 1887 he was elected attorney for the Board of Education of the City of Chicago. He was involved in many clubs and organizations in Chicagoand was a member of Ulysses S. Grant G.A.R. Post #28  and served as State Commander of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion (MOLLUS) in 1894-95.  He returned to Iowa on numerous occasions to attend reunions of the  20^th Iowa  held in Davenport and Cedar Rapids. Although he was married twice ( to Cordellia Scott and to Mary P. Hill on Dec. 9, 1865) he apparently had no children. Gen. Leake died in Chicago on June 2, 1913 and is buried Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport, Iowa.  He was well respected by all he knew and led.  

Post-war photo of J.B. Leake	Gravesite of J.B. Leake, Davenport, Iowa.