Leonidas Pendleton Spyker

Leonidas Pendleton Spyker

• Leonidas Pendleton Spyker was born on 10 April 1815 in Washington County, Virginia.
• He married Sarah Mildred Gilmer, daughter of George Oglethorpe Gilmer and Martha Harvie Johnson, on 19 September 1844 in Bossier Parish, Louisiana.
• Beginning 4 July 1849, a notice appeared in The Times-Picayune that the co-parthership existing in New Orleans under the firm of Cummings & Spyker had announced its dissolution by mutual consent, to be continued by R. C. Cummings and J. D. Stewart under the style of Cummings, Stewart & Co. And on 29 March 1850, an advertisement for Cummings, Stewart & Co. appeared in the Daily Alabama Journal.
• Leonidas Pendleton Spyker and Sarah Mildred Gilmer appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, and also children Pauline and Mary E., and overseer Chas R. King.
• He was a planter, according to the 1850 census.
• He was listed in the 1860 Slave Schedule at Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, with 122 slaves, 56 of whom were age 10 or younger, and 26 slave houses. And in Algiers, Orleans County, acting as an agent, apparently for OO&GW [Orleans & Ohio?] Railroad Co, he is listed with 35 slaves, none of whom were under age 18, and 10 slave houses.
• Leonidas Pendleton Spyker and Sarah Mildred Gilmer appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Bastrop PO, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, with five children (Pauline G., Mary E., George A., David B., and Martha G.) and probably Leonidas' father, Benjamin F. Spyker, age 72, born in Pennsylvania.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1860 census.
• On 7 October 1864, Mary Jane LeGrand wrote to Rush Brevard Wood:
       Danville, Texas
  My Darling Son:
       I have been feeling quite uneasy about you. We heard you were sick from eating fruit. Do my dear child take care of yourself and you must feel no hesitancy in going to Mr. Spyker's if you should get sick or wounded. Your Pa has written to Mr. Spyker concerning you. They are most excellent people. You will feel perfectly at home there, and no doubt he would take pleasure in having the son of his old friend with him. Should you get back to Louisiana, Mr. Cummings Post Office is Collinsburg.
       Well my child, I have your clothes all ready, I believe all you sent for. I put your gloves both pair in your coat pockets. Mrs. Preston Spiller knit the woolen gloves for you. Your Pa bought the other pair.
       Rush, I did not make the coat as you directed. I intended making a short one too, but did not have time. I have had three attacks of chills and fever since Felix came home. That is why I did not have time for making the other coat. Am just up now from the last attack. I hope what I send will please you. The coat is a very good one. The outside is not as stout as I would have liked. That part of it your Grandma gave you. I made everything myself except the knitting. The socks, Mrs. Wynne knit one pair, and your sister one pair. I will tell you right here, Mrs. Wynne and her family all send much love to you. Miss Ella is looking very pretty. I tried to get her to knit you a pair of socks. She was too much afraid of being teased.
        Miss Sarah has made Jack and yourself each a hat and your Grandma sends each of you a pair of over socks for which you must thank them when you write.
       You liked to have been too late for blankets, just did have time to weave in some on the negro cloth. They are not as heavy as I would wish. It is the best I could do for the time. I intend to weave some as soon as I can and keep some on hand. Your Pa went to get you some tobacco. Mr. Pankey’s Ned has the best of any one else. He asked $2.00 in specie. Your Pa did not get any, of course he said that was entirely too much for his pile. He has gone to get some from your Grandpa’s negroes. Daniel has twisted up some to send you. Your Pa says it is not good. I will mark it so you can tell it.
       Your Pa and I have concluded to send you specie. The confederate money is so worthless. He has made arrangements with Mr. George to get $15.00. The way Mr. George rates it is $6.00. The way it is rated in Houston is $9.00. I hope that will answer your purpose. You must take good care of it.
       Rush, when you write, tell me who all your officers are, from Brigadier Gen. down. I am so glad to see you are writing often. Do continue to do so. I am always so anxious to hear. Give my love to Jack. Tell him if he should get sick he must call on Mr. Spyker. I forgot to mention it when I was speaking of it.
       Your Pa could not get the leather for but one pair of boots. He got the leather from Mr. Wynne. You will find some adhesive plaster. It will be good to put on a cut place. I send you the soap, tho it is not so good. Also a cake of suet and a bundle of rags.
       Rush, let me caution you about using too much tobacco. I hear it is making so many people sick. It made Eason have spasms. He has quit it entirely.
       From your letter to Eliza, I see you are tired of the service. I know it must be very trying to one as young as yourself particularly. I expect it goes as hard with me as it does with you, for I assure you I think of you often, often. You must cheer up and keep in good spirits. You have it to do and must make the best of it. One thing I am proud of in you, you do not aspire to office, or fame. You are fighting for your country’s sake alone. I heard you say that when you was at home last. So many are expecting an early peace. God grant that it may come. The children all join in love to brother Rush. I expect Fanny will want to write. Good bye. May the blessings of God rest upon you now and forever is the prayer of your loving Mother.
       [Signed] M. J. Wood.
• Leonidas Pendleton Spyker died on 19 November 1867 at age 52.
• His wife Sarah Mildred Gilmer became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Lafayette Cemetery #1, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana.
• The following appeared on 20 November 1867 in The New Orleans Times: [Died] On Tuesday morning, November 19, at 4-1/2 o'clock, L. P. Spyker, a native of Virginia, aged 52 years.
• Research Note: L. P. Spyker's wife Sarah Gilmer was a sister of R. C. Cummings' mother-in-law Paulina de Graffenreid's second husband James Blair Gilmer.

• Last Edited: 25 Aug 2015