The Leslie Family

This tall gravestone marks the final resting place of Hiram Edwin Leslie, who died from the effects of lightning, in the 47th year of his age on May 31, 1882.

Hiram was a native of Ohio where he was born on July 30, 1835 and headed to the goldfields of California in 1854, arriving in this county in 1865 where he resided until his untimely death. He opened the first photography studio in Silver City, the only building that contained a sky light to let in natural light for studio portraits. On April 16, 1870 he married Florence E. Harris in Amherst Ohio and brought his bride back to Silver. The Owyhee Avalanche reported that “It can be said he was an honorable man in his dealing; a good husband and kind father. Strictly temperate in all his habits, with a perseverance to rise in the world, he amassed quite a property and died leaving his wife and children in comfortable circumstances. He was taken in the prime of life, having been struck by lightning near the Owyhee River." Leslie Gulch is named after him. At the time of his death, Hiram had partnered with others to take over much of his photography business and was known as being a good stockman. He was herding his cattle when the lightning storm struck. 

His obituary states, “The territory loses a good citizen, Owyhee County an honorable man, and his wife and children a husband and father whose memory will ever be dear to them, and whose love he carried peacefully to the grave.” 

The gravestone also marks the death of Hiram and Florence’s infant son Milo Harris Leslie in February 1872. Milo died just ten days before his first birthday. His obituary doesn’t note the cause of death.

Hiram’s widow and their three young children left Owyhee County by the 1900 Census where they were listed as living near San Diego with Florence’s occupation listed as farmer.