----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Wis.) 02/09/1928

Leichtnam, Martin (1841 - 2 Feb 1928)

Martin Leichtnam, one of the first settlers of this vicinity, died Feb. 2, 1928, at the home of his son, Ed, at Abbotsford, epilepsy of the heart being the cause of his demise. Funeral services were held at the home at Abbotsford Sunday afternoon, Rev. Lachnitt officiating, and interment made in the Colby Catholic Cemetery.

The deceased was born in Canada in 1841 and came to Colby, Wis. with his parents when ten years old. He was married to Caroline Strasberg in 1864. This union was blessed with eleven children, seven of who are still living. His wife died thirty-eight years ago. The children still living are Mrs. Mike Firnstahl of Colby, Mrs. Rose Simons of Milwaukee, Mrs. W. W. Fisher of Chicago, Mrs. W. Herman of Curtiss, Mr. Albert Leichtnam of Colby, and Mr. Ed Leichtnam of Abbotsford.

The deceased was one of the early pioneers of Colby, and when this was still a vast wilderness, homesteaded here. It was he who roamed the woods in search of suitable burial grounds and located the present Colby Cemetery. He helped bury the first person to be laid at rest here. He was a kind and loving husband and father and had the respect and esteem of all who knew him.