Emily Leake
1813 - 1902 (88 years)
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Name Emily Leake [1, 2, 3] Birth 15 Dec 1813 Scott County, Kentucky 
Gender Female Death 2 Feb 1902 Burial Olivet Cemetery in Center, Ralls County, Missouri Patriarch & Matriarch 
James "Cincinnati" Leake, b. 1 May 1771, Marylandd. 7 May 1842, Ralls County, Missouri (Age 71 years) (Father) 
Susannah Tarleton, b. 15 Sep 1748, St. Mary's County, MDd. 13 Jan 1795, White Sulphur, Scott County, KY (Age 46 years) (Grandmother) Person ID I5573 1665 GOUGH/GOFF (US-MD-STM/US-VA-LOU) I-Y6902-A Last Modified 20 Oct 2023
Father James "Cincinnati" Leake, b. 1 May 1771, Maryland d. 7 May 1842, Ralls County, Missouri (Age 71 years) Mother Elizabeth Gough, b. 4 Mar 1781, St. Mary's County Maryland d. 23 Feb 1835, Ralls Co. MO. (Age 53 years) Marriage Aft 1796 Family ID F1753 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Richard M. Brashear, b. 1807, Maryland d. 30 Jan 1859 (Age 52 years)
Children 1. Five Children Brashear 2. James B. Brashear, b. Abt 1833, Missouri d. Yes, date unknown3. Susan E. Brashear, b. Abt 1835, Missouri d. Yes, date unknown4. Jemima Brashear, b. Abt 1838, Missouri d. Yes, date unknown5. William S. Brashear, b. Abt 1840, Missouri d. Yes, date unknown6. Ann E. Brashear, b. Abt 1842, Missouri d. Yes, date unknown7. Ellen C. Brashear, b. Abt 1844, Missouri d. Yes, date unknown8. Latetia C. Brashear, b. Abt 1847, Missouri d. Yes, date unknownFamily ID F682 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 20 Oct 2023
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Notes - Daughter of Elizabeth Gough & James Leake, wife of Richard M Brashears
Acknowledgement to the Ralls County Historical Society for the following:
MRS. EMILY BRASHEAR; NO 26 RALLS CO TIMES JULY 19, 1901
Mrs. Emily Brashear the subject of this sketch was born in Scott County Kentucky, December 15, 1813 and hence is in her eighty-eighth year. Her maiden name was Leake and is related to all those of that name residing in this part of the state. Her father, James Leake, was a native of Kentucky and son of a veteran of the war of 1812. Two uncles of her mother were soldiers in the Revolutionary struggle and hence our good old friend comes of heroic linage and may proudly boast a far nobler accessory than many of crowned heads of Europe. To be related in any degree, to those who took part in the wars against England for American freedom and national existence is no little honor. To the patriots of 1776 the world owes a dept as lasting as time and more valuable than the mines of Ophir.
In November 1828 her parents came to Missouri, making the trip in old Virginia four horse wagons. After three weeks travel westward through the almost trackless forest the family landed as St. Louis and from there came out into Ralls County and entered a farm of 160 acres in the neighborhood of St. Paul church. There he put up the first horse mill for grinding the settler's grist, in the western part of the county. The original mill built by Mr. Leake was known far and near as the "stump" mill from the fact that a large stump was used as a gudgeon for the large tread wheel to run on. Later on his farm he built several other mills all useful and highly necessary in the community about him. This old pioneer beside providing milling facilities for the temporal wants on the people was not unmindful of their spiritual needs and gave to the little congregation of Catholic believers eighty acres of land upon which to build a church, select a cemetery and provide for the support of both. On this land the lime stone edifice of St. Paul was built and by it side was consecrated a plat of ground to become the resting place the dead pending the time when God's own voice shall call them home.
In the silent city and where the evening shadows from the quaint old church rest the while, sleep the sacred dust of many an early pioneer and among them sweetly sleeping, lie all that is mortal of him who gave me birth. James Leake was one of nature's noble men and for many years presided over the affairs of law among his people as justice of the peace. He was also a captain of militia in muster in the county.
In her native county, Emily Leake attended school at St. Paul convent and grew up in the tenets of the mother church. Her education was as extensive as usually given country girls in those days, less largely than now, but possibly as practical and useful.
In 1832 she was married to Richard M. Brashear and to this union there were born eleven children, ten of whom lived to be grown. Namely: James B., the eldest and watchful of his honored mother, her care and comfort as filial love can prompt; Susan C. wife of John C. Liter of California; Jemmima J., widow of Thos. J. Conn, late of this county; Wm. S. residing in California; Anna Eliza, decreased wife of James W. Ralls of Center; Ellen, widow of Jas. O. Leake, also of Center; Emerine, now deceased, who was wife of Jesse Smith; Richard B., who died in 1866; Maggie, died in early girlhood and Ida while wife of J. B. Chinn.
In 1858 Alphens Brown, a noted Christian minister conducted a very successful meeting in an arbor near the Brashear home in Center township and during the meeting Mr. Brashear, wife and James joined the church. Thus for forty three years, has this good mother in Israel tried to follow in the way her best judgment pointed out as the path of everlasting life. During the meeting about twenty or twenty-five additions were had and the little band of worshipers became known as the Sugar Creek congregation and later followed form the beginning the church and congregation of Olivet, a religious body long known and recognized for its eminent Christian and membership. Of the original membership Mrs. David Hulse and "Aunt Em" as Mrs. Brashear is familiarly known, are about the only now living
"I learned to weave in Kentucky," says our friend, "When I was but twelve years old. Spinning and weaving was daily labor. We wove and made all our clothing and cooked in ovens by the fire whose hot reflection come to me in memory yet." She has been a great reader of the bible and reads it daily. She taught all her children to work in early life the manliness of labor has ever been tender and her estimable family a cardinal doctrine of faith and practice. A foot at times, at others behind her husband on horseback, she attended church and counted the day lost to duty when anything prevented her attendance.
"In 1846" says Mrs. B., "all the country round about gathered on the 4th of July in a big picnic south of Madisonville at a big spring on the "Uncle Jacky" Ledford place, now owned by the Hicklin brothers. We went in an ox-wagon and my son, James rode the lead ox. It was a great meeting. John R. James, father of Alex C. James, of New London read the Declaration of Independence and James Campbell, a Presbyterian preacher, delivered a fine oration. In these days we venerated the memory of the men of 1776 and I remember well the profound attention given the reading of the great declaration of human liberty.
Being a constant church and that meant to her any place where the Word of God was preached, she soon became acquainted with the leading preachers of the day. She recalls having heard Rev. James Campbell, Jerry Vardeman and son, William, Thomas Allen, Jesse Sutton, Sandy Jones, "Raccoon John" Smith one of the most eccentric and successful pioneer preachers of those days, Bishop Marvin, L. B. Wilkes, Timothy Ford and others. Seldom did an eminent man of pious preacher come that way that our good old friend failed to hear. To her, the gospel has always been and interesting and only when the weight of years has impeded the going, has she failed to hear the preached word in the House of God.
In the early days of her married life she labored in the fields during planting time. Taking her son, James when a child and tying the little fellow to the fence, she would drop corn while the husband followed with a plow covering the seed.
January 30th 1889 Richard M. Brashear departed this life. Ripe in years and high in the esteem of all who knew him, he entered the haven of eternal rest.
Though nearing her eighty-eighth year "Aunt Em." is in the enjoyment of good health. Her hearing is exceedingly good and she spends much time in knitting and piecing quilts. She is never idle and finds many things her hand can do. Her memory of past events is ready and clear and she delights to recall the times and conditions of the long ago. She makes her home with her children residing in Center and takes the walk between them with pleasure. She is among the oldest inhabitants of the county, has a wide acquaintance and all who know her hold her in high esteem.
- Daughter of Elizabeth Gough & James Leake, wife of Richard M Brashears
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