My Genealogy Hound

ARCHIBALD T. LEA, druggist, drugs, and editor and proprietor of Lea’s Columbus Advocate, was born in Nashville, Tenn., February 14, 1840. In 1847, he went to Illinois where he was raised and educated. In 1861, entered and enlisted in the United States Army, and served two years, when he was discharged for disability, and in 1868, he moved to Kansas City, Mo., and remained there until 1870, at which time he came to Columbus, and started the publication of the Columbus Independent. He went to Baxter Springs in 1872 where he published the Baxter Springs Republican, and remained until 1877, when he returned to Columbus and engaged in the newspaper business with S. O. McDowell, publishing the Republican Courier. In April, 1877, he went to Short Creek and started the Galena Miner, in company with Mr. McDowell, and became a stockholder in the East Galena Lead Mining Company, whose property proved to be the best piece of mining land ever developed in Kansas or Missouri. He remained eighteen months when he sold out, and January 21, 1879, was appointed Postmaster at Columbus. He then sold out his interest in both papers and confined; himself to business of the post office until April 1, 1882, when he went into the grocery business and commenced the publication of the Columbus Advocate, which made its first appearance May 5, 1882. In December, 1882, sold out grocery business, and January 6, embarked in the drug business in Columbus. He owns a considerable amount of coal and farm lands besides property in Baxter Springs and Columbus. He is also interested in mining property in Colorado, near Leadville. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W. and K. of P. He was married to Miss Margaret Newton, of Macomb, Ill., April 13, 1864, and has one child— Asa.