Joshua A. Leach
American
Joshua A. Leach (May 8, 1843 – June 28, 1919) was an American locomotive worker and trade union functionary. He is best remembered as the founder of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen (B of LF) in 1873 and head of that organization from 1873 to 1876.
Traveling to Terre Haute, Indiana, on behalf of the firemen's order in February 1875, Leach inspired the 19-year-old Eugene V. Debs to become active in the organization, leading to his election as Secretary-Treasurer in 1880 and starting him on a career as a trade union organizer.
Biography
Early years
Joshua A. Leach was born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland, on May 8, 1843. He emigrated with his parents to the United States when he was a three-month-old infant, with the family settling in Port Jervis, New York. He grew up in that small town in southern New York state.
In 1861, Leach volunteered to fight for the Union cause during the American Civil War as a member of the 56th New York Volunteer Infantry. He was married to the former Sarah A. Tuthill in 1864 when at home on furlough from the war.
The 56th New York Infantry would muster out on October 17, 1865, at Charleston, South Carolina.
Founding the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
In 1869 Leach took a job as a locomotive fireman for the Erie Railroad.
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