William Leasure, born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1830, served in the Calvary during the Civil War. He married Sarah Trauger in 1869 and they came to the Melville area in 1882 and built their home. The lumber was hauled up from Jamestown since the railroads had not yet reached Melville. His farm was just over the line into Stutsman County. Later his son, William Jr. farmed the land.
The couple had four children: one daughter died in her late teens. A son was killed in an accident in 1930.
Mrs. Leasure died on June 21, 1899; her husband died August 11, 1910. They are buried in the Melville Cemetery.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 85B