John Wheeler Leggett

     John was born on Monday, 23 May 1864 at Waterford Township, Oakland County, Michigan, at 2:00 pm. He was the son of William Haight Leggett and Anna Beardslee. He received his early education in the public schools in Waterford and later became a student at the Hagerstown (Maryland) Academy, which he attended until the age of fourteen. Subsequently, he returned to Michigan and entered the employ of E. B. Smith & Co., booksellers and stationers Detroit, and later accepted a situation with Morris & Davenport, insurance agents. In 1880, he entered the service of the Detroit Telephone Company, and was the first to operate the telephone of that company in the city. After a connection lasting six years with the company, he, with Wellington Q Hunt, formed the firm of Huntington and Leggett and engaged in the real estate business, and by aggressive, untiring and conservative methods they built a large and lucrative business, ranking among the most prominent firms of Detroit in their line. Aside from their real estate interests, they represent some of the most widely known insurance companies of the world. He was a director of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, of the Freeman, Delamater Company, (dealers in hardware), and a member of the Detroit Club. After his marriage, they resided at 27 Bugg Street in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Sometime after 1900, the family moved to Europe where they lived in Italy & Germany for many years.² John married Grace Estelle Frue in 1888 at Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. 1 June 1900, John and his wife, Grace, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census at 27 Bagg Street, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Enumerated in this household were John Wheeler Leggett [35 Michigan - July 1864], Grace [33 Michigan - August 1866], Willimina [8 Michigan - July 1892], Elizabeth Pearson [44 Canada - August 1855][servant], & Elizabeth Smith [25 England - May 1875][servant]. John & Grace were married 12 years with 1 child, 1 child living. They owned their home. John was a real estate agent.³ On 20 April 1910, John was listed on the US Federal Census at Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Enumerated in this household were William H. Leggett [69 New York][widow], John W. [45 Michigan][married], Fred C. [29 Michigan], Lucile V. [25 Michigan], Robert C. Beardslee [74 Michigan][brother-in-law]. William was a real estate agent, John W. has own income, & Fred a clerk. They lived at 2895 East Grand Blvd. John had been married 18 years.⁴ John died 1939 at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, at age 74 years of a heartt attack. On 23 May 1939, Fred C. Leggett, brother of deceased, was given Letters of Guardianship to John's minor grandchildren: Matilde Jacqueline & Rodolfo John Enrico.