Leverich, Watts Kearny

Submitted by Mike Miller

Leverich, Watts Kearny, practicing attorney, New Orleans, was born at the city of New Orleans, La., Oct. 13, 1880; son of Henry and Margaret Priestley (Richardson) Leverich, both of whom were born at New Orleans. The paternal grandparents were William Edward, a native of Long Island, and Fanny Hampton (Inskeep) Leverich, a native of New York. The paternal grandfather was accompanied by a brother when he came south. They located at New Orleans about 1830 (in the early days) and continued to reside there, where they became business men of varied interests. They came of an old American family, the progenitor of which was a minister who landed at Salem in 1633. The Rev. William Leverich was a contemporary of Roger Williams and devoted his efforts largely to missionary work among the American Indians. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Priestley, (the celebrated scientist and discoverer of oxygen) was of English ancestry, but was persecuted and driven from England, and settled in Pennsylvania and became a warm personal friend of Benjamin Franklin. Henry Leverich, father of the subject of this sketch, was long connected with the dry goods business in New Orleans. He was first associated with W. H. Letchford & Co., which firm was later succeeded by A. Lehman & Co., Mr. Leverich thereafter becoming superintendent of the Bradstreet offices at New Orleans. He died in 1895, at the age of 47 years. His wife survives at this time. Five sons and 2 daughters were born to their union. Watts Kearny Leverich, the 4th son, was reared and educated in New Orleans, where he attended the public schools. Later he entered Prof. Ferrell's select school for boys, where he was prepared for college. Following this, he entered the academic department of Tulane university, from which he graduated wfth the degree of A. B., in the class of 1901. During the succeeding 5 years he filled the position of a teacher in Prof. Ferrell's select school for boys, after which he returned to Tulane university and graduated from the law school of that institution with the degree of LL. B. in the class of 1907. Since the latter date Attorney Leverich has been engaged in the practice of his profession at the city of New Orleans, and, like most men whose records show that they earned the money with which to pay their way through college, is surely building up a substantial and dependable legal clientele, whose circle widens as the years go by, being based upon a reputation for fealty and loyalty to the interests of those represented and an abiding sense of uncompromising integrity. Mr. Leverich is a member of the Vestry of Christ Episcopal Cathedral.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 253. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.