Below is a transcribed copy of a newspaper article that focused on my Leslie ancestors.
Reno Evening Gazette Saturday, July 29, 1939
Children Reside in Nevada Still and are All Well Known
By Mrs. Thurlow Douglas, Written under the sponsorship of the Sagebrush chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, as one of a series of articles on Nevada pioneer families.
George Alexander Leslie, whose ancestors were Scotch, and his wife, Ann Howard Leslie of Newton Moor, Cheshire, England, arrived in Dayton in 1862. They came from Utah Territory, where Mr. Leslie had furnished supplies for the army during the time the army was in Utah. He had amassed considerable property there, a store at Camp Floyd, another at Fort Lehigh, two grist mills, stock, and land.
Had he left the territory with the army, he would have fared better, for good times for him and his family departed with the army. When he did leave, he was fortunate to salvage several big six-horse wagons loaded with grain and his family. At that time his family consisted of his wife and three children – George, Lillie, and Minnie May, the latter being a babe in arms. Belle Leslie was born later in Dayton.
His objective on leaving the Utah Territory was California, but when he reached Dayton on the Carson River there was a placer gold boom on Gold Creek, which ran through Dayton. There the family made their camp on the spot where years afterward, the railroad depot stood. The family lived in Dayton for many years until both parents died and were laid to rest in the peaceful cemetery.
Shortly after arriving in Dayton, Mr. Leslie purchased four blocks of land and had a substantial home, still standing, built. An office and stables entirely enclosed one block of his land and he conducted a big hay and grain yard until his death. He also built an immense stone barn which is still a landmark of Dayton. One interesting item concerning the stone barn is that when Grant and Seymour were opponents for election to the United States Presidency, a bet was made between two men as to which candidate would be elected. One of the men posted $2,000 in gold coin against $2,500 of the rancher’s grain. The rancher lost and the grain was stored in the Leslie barn where the children of the neighborhood played happily among the grain sacks until the grain sacks were finally plied to the top of the barn.
During the Civil war feeling in Dayton ran high between the Republicans and the Democrats. Leslie was a staunch Democrat, but was a great admirer of President Lincoln and a believer in his policies. He was bitterly grieved when news of the President’s assassination reached Dayton.
While conducting his hay and grain yard Leslie invested in Como mining ventures and lost heavily. After his death, among his assets was found a whole chest full of Como mining certificates, all worthless at that time.
Of the four children, George Alexander Leslie, Jr. married and developed a fine ranch in Oregon on which he raised a family of three children, a son and two daughters. The three Leslie girls, Lillie, Minnie, and Belle all taught school and also assisted in church and cultural activities in Dayton and elsewhere. They married and established homes of their own In Nevada. Lillie married a mine and mill owner, Albert J. Taylor of Silver City. Three of her four children are still living – William Leslie (“Big Dick”) a mining engineer; Chester C. Taylor (“Little Dick”), traveling engineer under the Taylor Grazing Act, and Mrs. Hazel Cain, wife of a California business man.
Minnie married John Edwards Bray, who did much for the educational system of the state and served over eight years as State superintendent of public instruction. Her older daughter, Florence Leslie Bray, died on December 30, 1933. Mrs. Bray and her younger daughter, Mildred, make their home in Carson City. Mildred Bray is at present superintendent of schools for Nevada.
According to an early history of Nevada, John Bray was superintendent of the Lyon County schools in 1881. He and Miss Minnie Leslie were teachers of the Dayton school at that time. Quoting from the historical record: It was remarked by the Hon. John Sett, one of the most experienced teachers in the United States and now principal of the Girl’s High School in San Francisco, while present at an Institute held in Virginia City in 1880, “that it was a pleasure for him to meet the teachers of this state, that he found them sprightly and familiar with details of their work, and that they lost nothing by comparison with the teachers with whom he was co-worker in California.”
Bell married Ed Hancock, well-known machinist and they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary this week. They have four living children: Mrs. Edna Hardy, a successful teacher in Fernley; J. Leslie Hancock, division engineer of the state highway department in Reno; Leonard Hancock, prominent young business man of Carson City; and Mrs. Florence Cool, a talented singer and happy housewife of Oakland. Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Hancock live in Reno.
Devoted to Nevada, the three daughters of this pioneer couple who crossed the plains in covered wagons have always been glad that destiny directed their parents to western Nevada.
Photo caption: Dayton’s public school building, erected in 1865, still is one of the old town’s landmarks. This photo was taken in 1882 when John Edwards Bray was State superintendent of public instruction after serving as head of Reno’s schools. In the picture are several boys and girls who are today living in Reno and vicinity.
