Post Card looking South down Main St. 1910 |
Mayors 1882 to present |
Joseph W. Newcomer 1882-1883 J. S. Mumma 1883-1884 John Kershner 1884-1886 Robert Marks 1886-1887 Edward Hiller 1887-1888 Joel B. Bertolet 1888-1892 Charles E. Buzzell 1892-1893 Hiram F. Smith resigned Nov. 1893 Josiah Kretsinger 1893-1894 George L. Wiley 1894-1896 Emery I. Neff 1896-1897 Joseph W. Foster 1897-1898 Philip Sprecher 1898-1901 S. B. Bowerman 1901-1902 John A. Motter 1902-1905 F. W. Robinson 1905-1907 George W. Finkboner 1907-1909 F.W. Robinson 1909-1911 S. E. Sprecher 1911-1913 F. W. Robinson 1913-1914 J. T. Kretsinger 1914-1917 Dr. H. E. Bowerman 1917-1919 J. T. Kretsinger 1919-1925 P. W. Milhaven 1925-1928 L. L. Motter 1928-1929 Dr. H. E. Bowerman 1929-1943 Quimby H. Davis 1943-1945 C. L. Lovell 1945-1948 Herva Knodle By appointment 1948-1949 Ralph Blair 1949-1953 Wayne Otto M.D. 1953-1954 Robert G. Fry By appointment 1954-1955 John Wagner 1955-1965 Robert G. Fry 1965-1971 Donald Motter 1971-1977 Richard C. Kretsinger 1977-2001 Tim Mulford 2001-2009 Paul Bral 2009- |
Leaf River Depot 1910 |
The village has "kept up with the times" in that: the school system has expanded and they consistently remained accredited by the State; the village sewage treatment plant has been upgraded and meets the strictest State regulations; the streets are maintained regularly; there are two active churches in the community; the Bertolet Building, park, pool, and library are the geographical and social centers of the community. Leaf River has become an ideal location for rural living. Retired farmers have found a quiet and peaceful town in which to retire, while others have moved in from the City to enjoy small town living. Leaf River is a typical farming community, "typical" in the strictest sense of the word. Two farms lie within the village limits, one in the heart of the village, the other across from the High School. Homes have been built around the farm buildings. A population increase is noted in the Census reports: (1930 was 382), (1940 was 415), (1950 was 444), (1960 was 546), (1970 was 633), and (1980 was 637). While the increase from 1930 to 1980 was not spectacular, it did not show a decline. In summary, when an objective view is taken of Leaf River, one wonders just what has kept it ticking. By rights, it should have disappeared along with the bank in the 30's, the horse and buggy, and the two-party line. The doctors have died or moved away. The passenger trains no longer go through here. Many businesses have passed from existence. Yet, when an organization plans a money making project, when there is a school activity, when the churches sponsor a fund raiser, when the siren sounds, or when help is needed, community support is always evident. |
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This page was last updated on: June 26, 2009
The above article was written in 1982. |
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