Richard, we are indeed speaking of the same Peter Leatherman. He was born January 24, 1795 in PA and died in Clark County, AR October 13, 1875. He married Mary Bassett, daughter of William Bassett in Hempstead County, Arkansas Terr. April 1, 1817. They had a daughter, Louisa A. Leatherman born 1817 in AR (my gggrandmother). He married Mary Stillwell bef. 1820. She died December 25, 1829 in Rapides Parish, LA. I have the names of their children if you need them. He married thirdly, Martha Thornton Hollomon abt 1833 in Clark County, AR. This is the "Martha" seen on the 1850 census. Martha was the sister of Andrew Jackson Thornton who was my Louisa A. Leatherman's husband. On October 25, 1995 I received a letter from Thomas E. Leatherman of Stevenson, WA who had apparently gleaned his data on his family from a Thomas Hughes, Jr who was Emily Fish Leatherman's grandson. She was Peter's daughter by Mary Stillwell. He had listed that Peter had a daughter Louisa but she was listed as being born abt 1826. This was an estimated date based on an every 2 year child. He noted that she married a Dave Wells. I could not find any evidence of such in AR records or in the census records under Dave or David or D. Wells. I believe that this is spurious data and that the family compiler tried to fit Louisa into the child line under Mary Stillwell. Thomas E Leatherman gives an interesting dissertation as follows: "As at first it was that he came from Pennsylvania to Arkansas in 1812, but later, by newspapers and records and older relation shows he was born in Germany (note: this is wrong as all census data indicates that he was born in PA), and brought to this country when young by his parents. He came to Louisiana when a baby in the late 1700's. Evidently, he raised his family there as they were all born there except David, who by his obituary, shows he was born in Clark County, AR." There are a lot of errors I believe in this passage, but the gist is that he did come to LA early on and on the 1830 census for Claiborne Parish, LA (just across the border from Arkansas) there are Peter Leatherman, John Leatherman, and David Leatherman all adjacent to one another. There is also in that parish a Samuel Leatherman. Peter is listed as 40-50, David is 20-30, John is 40-50, and Samuel is 20-30. Even though Peter would have been only 35 at this time, I believe that this is our Peter. This may only muddy the water, but it is intriguing! Doug Wilson

WELCOME COUSIN: THOMAS STILLWELL LEATHERMAN, son of Peter and Mary Stillwell was my link to Peter. My recollection is that the 1830 Clark Co.,Ark, census showed Peter there with the children. I will have to relook at my info. I know Peter married a martha Bassett but the infor I have indicated after Mary's death.(?) Thomas Leatherman's info was based on info gathered from Hughes or others who thought Peter came from Germany. About David Leatherman- brother to Thomas: I believe he was older and think mary was his mother also. Thomas married Mary Logan and had a daugher Catherine Elizabeth. Thomas served in the civil war, first in Arkansas (Dawson's 16th Infantry regiment, and maybe later with Crawford's Arkansas cavalry--Later after being wounded, Thomas was stationed in Texas as a gunsmith at the Tyler Texa Arsenal. He is listed in the book "Confederate Arms" by William Albaugh and Edward Simmons (Bonanza Books, NY) as T S Leasherman (Guess they couldn't read his writing) listed as a private in Co. A, Dawsons Regiment (19th Ark) from January 1865. Thomas, David and Catherine Eliz. took the Oregon trail and homedsteaded at the end of the trial. __? county. David may have preceded Thomas to Oregon. Catherine married my Grandfather there ane are shown living with Thomas.
I have more but haven't looked lately. Be glad to refresh and let you know. Send your email so we can bypass message board. My email is rancher2@g;flash.net Richard Johnson in Dallas,TX.