Adelbert J.Leaneagh

Adelbert "Del" J. Leaneagh was born January 3, 1896 in Valentine, Cherry Co, Nebraska, son of George F. Leaneagh and Kittie Elwell.

This entire family search started with his delayed birth registration done at the end of his life. There is no birth certificate. View

This is his baby picture. On the back - "Adelbert J. (crossed out) Leaneagh, About 7 months" Then below that is "George Adelbert Leaneagh for Papa". In a third handwriting is Adelbert Jess Leaneagh.

The first census that he shows up on is the 1900 for Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska. He is 4 years old. View
He is found next in the 1910 census for Valentine also. View - I have not found a census for him in 1920 or 1930.
He spent his early years around Valentine until he signed up for the draft in WWI. He is listed as being 21 years old, single and self employed replating silverware. View

In his personal things, I have found his military records. He enlisted June 24, 1918 and was discharged Aug 16, 1919. Enlistment Record - Honorable Discharge - Back side

Another paper is the Marital Status. It lists his three marriages and that he is currently unmarried in 1961.

  • Helen Rice, Sept 23 1919 in Ainsworth, NE, divorced in 1930 in Lusk, WY, no children.
  • Arlouine Palmer, married May 2, 1931 in Bethany, MO. She died Nov 27, 1954 in Algona, IA, 2 children
  • Margaret Woolsey married Jan 10, 1958 in Rochester, MN, divorced Oct 4 1961 in Des Moines, IA, no children
He didn't have any children with first wife, even though they were together over 10 years. Helen A. Leaneagh is found in Lusk, WY in the 1930 census with her parents, Jesse and Allie Reid/Rice. She is a waitress at the Palace Cafe on Main St. I found a marriage of a Helen Rice of Lusk, WY, age 29, American, divorced, to a Charles Synder, age 37, he is American, divorced, they are married on May 19, 1931 in Hot Springs, SD.

Del married Arlouine (Palmer) Coon, daughter of James Harley Palmer and Dorothy Amundson in Bethany, MO on May 2, 1931. View . She was born Oct 29, 1910 at the family farm at Ledyard, IA. If you search the internet for Arlouine, she is not the only one with that name, which surprised me. The family story told was because she was born close to Halloween.

Arlouine was married first to Wade Coon and one child came of that union, Larry Wade Coon, who was later adopted by Del.

Del and Arlouine had two children: Jerry Del and Arlouine Jan. Click on right image to enlarge.

One of our favorite pictures of Del is him with his dry goods delivery truck. Based out of Valentine, Nebraska, he sold dry goods for A. John & Co. It was the first vehicle in Nebraska to have tubed tires, according to his son Jerry.

Click on the picture to see it larger.

Directory Service Company was a farm directory publishing business that Del started and developed in the 1940's. In his travels he found a need for a booklet that showed how to get around in the rural Midwest.
Newspaper articles about the Directory Service Co. - to build new plant - Groundbreaking Photo - New plant opens
Del Leaneagh died May 10, 1963 in Valentine, Nebraska. I transcribed his obituaries here.
I have the Loving Memories book from his funeral, and in reading the cards and letters that came in I found saying about Del like "tower of strength", "one of my favorite people" and that he was always there for his family. His sister Cherie wrote "Everyone who came within his sphere was enriched by his kindness. I think he did more kind things for more people than anyone I've ever known ... I shall miss his wise counsel and love". She went on to say that "he was so proud of his family. He had so many pictures of the children with him and he enjoyed talking of all of you."