LEARY: Pioneer of Middle Fork of Reedy.
Silas Benjamin Leary is the first of this name here. The family is of Irish extraction; and descendants of emigrants who landed on "The Eastern Shore," possibly before the Revolution. I have heard Silas B. say, "The name was once spelled O'-L-e-a-r-y," but as "Leary," they had married and signed their business papers at least one generation before his. He was born June 1O, 1823; was a saddler an_ harness maker, of the entered-apprentice training; worked when a young man in Harrison and Gilmer Counties, then came to Ripley about the year 1856, where he maintained a shop a short time. Visiting Reedy, he there met and married Margaret Roach, in the year 1854; she was born Febrwary 1, 1836, daughter of William and Delilah (Carney) Roach, pioneers on Middle Fork of Reedy.
They made their lifetime home on a farm they carved out of the Roach estate. They lie buried in the Roach Cemetery. He farmed in Season_ and is one of those mentioned as a workman at the James W. Seaman Tan-yard. To Silas Benjamin and his wife, Margaret, were born and by them reared six sons, and two daughters, their names in order of respective births: William, Calvin, Sarah Delilah, Conda, Henry, John, Esther, "Hester", and Grigg.
Only one of the name claims a home in Reedy, but further:
William married Miss Susan Victoria Candler, of Right Reedy, January 1O, 1883; Sarah D., married Amos B. Michell of Jackson County, December 2O, 188O; Calvin married Millie Catherine Chancey, May 18, 1883, she a daughter of Calvary Chancey of the Reedy Chanceys; Conda, married Miss Carrie L. Rhodes, of Middle Fork, October 27, 1886; John and Henry each married elsewhere, we have not their record here, both made homes in Clay County, West Virginia, for a time; Esther "Hester" married Thomas A. Chandler, March 22, 1891; his age then 25, her's 2O, They have their home in Missouri; he a son af John W. Candler of Right Reedy, one mile above Town of Reedy, at that date.
The children of William and S. Victoria are Charley, and two daughters, Nettie and Maud.
Calvin and M. Kate, his wife, reared several sons; they are at Akron, Ohio, and scattered elsewhere. -
Conda Leary is a business man (1927}, at Harris, Missouri.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 582
