July 17, 1899-May 28, 1962
Parents
Daniel Robert Leslie (1866-1940) and Mary Ellen Wheeler (1869-1961)
Siblings
- Mary Mabel Leslie
- Hazel Ellen Leslie
- Beatrice Eleanor Leslie
Marriage
- Florence Eleanor Jickling on June 12, 1929 Bay Port, Michigan, USA.
Stories
Skating To School
Albert attended Leslie School in Evergreen Township, Sanilac, Michigan, USA through eighth grade. He then made arrangements to attend high school in Sandusky, about twelve miles away. He lived in town. During the winter months, he was able to come home for weekends by walking four miles west of Sandusky to the Cass River. There he would don ice skates and skate the remaining way home because a branch of the river flowed through the Leslie farmstead.
Lifelong Farmer
Albert farmed on the family farm founded by Henry Leslie.
- He owned a threshing machine and would travel from farm to farm threshing.
- Albert was a 4-H leader and trucked cattle to the Detroit Livestock. He showed registered shorthorn cattle a lot in Michigan and was well known and respected. At one time he travelled to Iowa to purchase a herd bull and paid $1000 for the bull – quite a price. He dispersed some of his herd in a sale on 20 April 1950 at the Lapeer County Center, 4-H Barns, Lapeer, Michigan (daughter Bea has the sale catalog.) This was a sad time for the family. He built the herd back up and had more than 80 cattle.
College (1917-1918)
- Albert attended Alma College in Alma, Gratiot, Michigan, USA. He was a member of the Student Army Training Corps (SATC.)
- Students who join SATC received uniform, lodging, board, college tuition, and $1 for every day they were in the corps.
- During World War 1, the Hood Building at Alma College was used as a barracks for members of SATC.
- The May 25, 1918 (page 2) edition of the Cass City Chronicle notes, “Albert Leslie went to Big Rapids to attend summer school at Ferris Institute.”
US Marine Corps (1919)
- May 20, 1919: U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls show Albert Wheeler Leslie enlists.
- May 23, 1919: The Cass City Chronicle (p. 3) notes that “Mr. and Mrs. Dan Leslie and family were in Cass City to get a family picture taken as their son, Albert Leslie, left Monday for Virginia, where he has enlisted in the U.S. Marines.”
- May 29, 1919: He is a private and living in the barracks at Quantico, Virginia. Shortly after arrival he is shown on a Muster Roll aboard the U.S.S. Agamemnon in Hoboken, New Jersey and headed for Camp Pontanezen in Brest, France. He is in Company A, and moves between the 12th Replacement Battalion and the 15th Separate Battalion.
- December 1919: He has returned to Quantico and has been ill for a few days.
- January 1920: He is discharged shortly thereafter and returns home.
- Does not appear on the 1920 census because it was taken early January 1920 and he wasn’t home yet.
- Citations from U.S. marine Corps Muster Rolls 1893-1940 and from p. 78 of Biographical Sketches of Sanilac County’s War Heroes.)
World War 1 Draft Registration Card
Letter from Albert
This is a transcription of a letter from an unknown newspaper. The letter mentions uncle Alex Wheeler (1877-est 1940) who lives in Lake, Snohomish, Washington, USA.
Muster Rolls
May 1919 Private Barracks, Quantico.
- from the Barracks, Quantico, VA
- Enlistment Date: 20 May 1919
- #79 Leslie, Albert W.
- 21, jd by trans from Detroit, Mich.
- 25 or 23 to B.Co., 12th Repl. Rp ABF
May 1919 aboard the USS Agamemnon.
- From Company “A” 12th Replacement Battalion, Aboard the USS Agamemnon, Hoboken, NJ
- Private
- jd by transf rom Bks Det MB Quantico VA
July 1919
- from Company “A” Provisional Battalion USMC, Camp Pontaznezen, Brest, France
- 24 jd for Co. B 12th Replacement En.
October 1919 Brest France
- from Co “A” Separate Battilion US Marine Corps, Pontanezen, Brest, France
- 1 and 6 to 31, ED, messman, 2 to 5, on class C leave.
November 1919
- Co A 15th Separate Battilion
- 1 to 20, ED, messman
December 1919
- Company A, 15th Separate Battalion USMC, Quantico, Virginia
- 1 to 15, sick present, GO #100 does not apply. 26, tr to Casual Co, 15 Sept Bn.
Corn Shredder, 1923
The Cass City Chronicle noted on December 14, 1923 (page 8) that “Albert Leslie has been busy the past week with his corn shredder in the neighborhood.”
With the Fleming boys, unknown date
Here is Albert with his nephews, possibly late 20s or 30s.
Move Into Home, 1930
The Cass City Chronicle noted on October 3, 1930 (page 2) that “Mr. and Mrs. Albert Leslie are moving into the Emily Leslie house.”
School Board Treasurer
Albert served as the treasurer for the Leslie School Board for many years.
Farmer’s Committee Vice President, 1938
The front page of the Cass City Chronicle on Friday, March 11, 1938 has an article titled “Farmers Consider Holding Better Sire Sale Here.” Albert Leslie is a representative of beef cattle raisers and is elected vice president.
Trip To Chicago, 1938
The Cass City Chronicle reported in 1938 that, “Jim Milligan, in company with Albert Leslie of Shabbona, left Tuesday evening to spend several days in Chicago where they will attend the International Livestock show.” The article appeared in the “Down Memory Lane” column on December 5, 1963, page 13.
Leslie House Fire, 1958
The family home was destroyed by fire in 1958. It made the front page of the Cass City Chronicle.
Transcript
FIRE DESTROYS FARM HOME OF ALBERT LESLIE
The house and furnishings of Albert Leslie, southeast of Cass City, were completely destroyed Monday morning by a fire discovered about 10a.m. Thought to have been caused by defective wiring, the blaze was discovered by Mrs. Mary Leslie, 88, who was alone in the house. Mrs. Albert Leslie was working at Walbro and Mr. Leslie was away on an errand when the fire was discovered. The raging fire utterly destroyed the home within 45 minutes after it was discovered. Mrs. Leslie reported that the house was partially covered by insurance. There was no insurance on the contents of the home. Among the treasured items lost in the fire were a very old family Bible and set of dishes that came from Japan. The Snover Fire Department was called, but were unable to quell the flames. The Leslie’s plans for rebuilding are indefinite.
Attends Horse Show, 1960
On August 25, 1960, the Cass City Chronicle reported that, “Mr. and Mrs. Albert Leslie attended the open house horse show at Dryden last Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Cooper of Decker accompanied them.”
Obituary, 1962
This is from the Cass City Chronicle, Thursday, May 31, 1962, page 6.
Transcript
SLATE SERVICES FOR ALBERT LESLIE, 62
Funeral services for Albert Leslie, 62, were slated for today (Thursday) at 2:00pm at Little’s Funeral Home following his death Month at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Saginaw. He had been in ill health the past 10 weeks and had been a patient at the hospital for the past seven weeks. Mr. Leslie, a lifelong resident, was born in Sanilac county, July 17, 1899, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Leslie. He married Miss Florence Jickling in Bay Port, June 12, 1929. Following their marriage, they settled on a farm in Evergreen township where he lived until his death. A Marine veteran of World War I, he was a member of the North Branch American Legion and a member of the Decker Lodge No. 479, F & AM. Surviving besides his wife are: four daughters, Mrs. Jack (Margaret) Milligan, Decker, Mrs. Robert (Beatrice) Wallace, Hemlock, Mrs. Ross (Mary) Beach, Lansing, and Miss Jean Leslie, at home, and a son, Dale Leslie, Decker. Also surviving are two sisters: Mrs. Harvey Fleming, Decker, and Mrs. Walter Emerick, Mt. Clemens, and eight grandchildren. Two brothers and one sister preceded him in death. Rev. Joseph Shaw was selected to officiate over the services and committal services were to be under the auspices of the American Legion. Interment will be in Elkland Cemetery.
