Leak Family Siblings

This photo is the five children of Edwin & Hermena (Bulling) Leak. It was most likely taken in the 1970's, possibly at the anniversary of Mildred & Arlow Aves, which would have been in 1977. They are from left to right: Maurice, Mildred, Maynard, Naomi, and Zeno. The original photo was part of a collection of photos belonging to Christine (Aves) Towner, the daughter of Mildred & Arlow Aves.

Maurice Leak

The photo above is the family of Maurice & Bertha (Jackson) Leak with their children. The baby being held by Bertha is Dennis David Leak. In front of them is Janice Louise Leak, Larry Jack Leak & Donna Jean Leak. Behind Donna is Maurice Frank Leak and his father, Maurice Leak.

The first photo is one of the last photos taken of Maurice prior to his death. The young couple is Bertha (Jackson) and Maurice Leak.

Maurice Leak was born November 3, 1901 in Sebewa Twp., Ionia Co., Michigan. He is the son of Edwin and Hermena (Bulling) Leak. He attended the Goddard School, which is a one-room school house located on Goddard Road in Lake Odessa, MI. He did not graduate from high school. He worked as a farmer, living in the Sebewa area his entire life. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sebewa.

Maurice married his bride, Bertha Ann Jackson, in Angola, Indiana, on November 16, 1936.

Maurice & Bertha are buried at the West Sebewa Cemetery, next to the Sebewa Baptist Church located on the corner of Goddard Road and Musgrove Hwy., in Lake Odessa, MI.

Mildred Leak

Left: Anniversary photo of Mildred (Leak) & Arlow Aves.

Below: Arlow & Mildred with daughters: Norma, Marjorie, Mary Christine & Ottice Elaine

Taken at the home of daughter, Marjorie Swiler.

Zeno Leak

ZENO LEAK was born January 18, 1906 in Sebewa, Ionia Co., Michigan where he lived and farmed his entire life. He attended the Goddard rural school until he entered the Lake Odessa High School, Lake Odessa, Ionia Co., Michigan, where he graduated in 1927.

He married Doris Sherrard on July 7, 1934 in Angola, Indiana. This union bore three children, Edwin Leak, James Daryl Leak, and Nancy Almeda Leak. The photo posted here is of his family, left to right: Doris Leak, Zeno, James, Edwin, and Nancy in front.

Zeno was a member of the Sebewa Center United Methodist Church.

Zeno died November 25, 1981 at his home on Goddard Road. He is buried with his wife who died December 19, 1998, at the East Sebewa Cemetery.

Mildred Leak

Mildred Leak was born October 6, 1897 in Sebewa Twp., Ionia Co., Mich., USA. She was one of six children born to Edwin Leak and Hermena Bulling. She died April 12, 1988 in Lansing, Ingham Co., Mich., USA. On November 8, 1917 she married Arlow Aves and they lived in the Lake Odessa area throughout their life. These two photos are of Arlow & Mildred.

Mildred had two sisters and three brothers.

One sister, Thelma, died at birth March 14, 1908. She is buried at West Sebewa Cemetery, on Musgrove Hwy, Sebewa Twp., Ionia Co., MI.

Mildred's sister, Naomi Leak, was born April 4, 1904 and died November 4, 1998. She married Marcus Rudolph Gattner on October 11, 1928.

The three brothers were Maynard, Maurice and Zeno. More will be written on the siblings of Mildred at a later posting.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Leak Family of Ionia County, Michigan blog! Here you will find the history of the Leak family who lived in or continue to live in Ionia County. After compiling data for the past 12 years, I hope to be able to share it with those who are interested in the genealogy of this family. My husband, Wayne Swiler, is the grandson of Mildred (Leak) Aves. She, and her sister Naomi, three brothers, Zeno, Maurice and Maynard, are where we will begin with this journey of the Leak family history. We will take you back to when the Leak family first arrived in America from England.