My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE EDWIN LEET is a son of William and Harriet S. (Belden) Leet, and was born at Point Chautauqua, Chautauqua county, New York, September 18th, 1862. The Leets were originally natives of England, their first settlement in America, after emigration, being in the State of Connecticut, where at one time William Leet held the office of colonial governor. Paternal grandfather, Anson Leet, was the first to emigrate to Chautauqua county, New York, where he located at Point Chautauqua and took up a farm from the Holland Land company. This he retained during his life-time, when by succession it passed to his son and was finally sold in 1875 to the present management of Point Chautauqua for the purposes of a summering place, and has since become one of the most noted resorts upon the lake. Prior to its sale in 1875 it was known as Leet’s Point. Grandfather Leet belonged to the Whigs, at that time the predominant political party. His marriage to Abigail Dudley resulted in the birth of nine children: Jonathan, Simeon, Lewis, Maria, Caroline, Franklin, Mary, Eliza and William. Grandfather David L. Belden passed to his final rest in Chautauqua county, whither he had come in the prime of life from the State of Connecticut. He was united in marriage to Sarah Hall, by whom he had four children: Harriet S., Mary, George W. and Nathan D. He was a republican in politics. William Leet, the father of our subject, was born upon the old homestead at Point Leet in 1818 and is still living, a witness of seventy-three years of transformation in the home and town of his nativity. He always took an active part in politics, and next to his religion held dearest the principles of the Republican party. He served at one time as treasurer of Chautauqua county for a period of six years. The result of his union to Eliza Strong (his first wife) was one son, Anson G., married to Nettie Thompson and now living at West Chester, Iowa, where he has an interest in a large cheese factory. His marriage to Harriet Belden resulted in the birth of four children: Mary E., Willis D. (see sketch), Eliza A. and George E.

George E. Leet was educated in the public and High schools of Mayville and afterwards graduated, in 1877, from Eastman’s business college, Poughkeepsie, New York, after which he embarked in the grocery business with his brother at Mayville, New York, under the firm name of Leet Brothers. In 1889 he purchased the interest of his brother, took in another partner and is now doing business with the firm of Leet & Belden. The firm of Leet & Belden, grocers, is one of the largest in the village of Mayville, carrying a large and well-selected assortment of staple and fancy goods. Mr. Leet is also interested in the ice business with Dr. William H. Chase. He is a republican in politics, active in the interests of his party and the present chairman of the Republican county committee of Chautauqua county. He is a member of the Masons, Lodge No, 696, at Mayville, and of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 284, of the same place.