The National Cyclopedia of American Biography
LEA, Preston, thirty-fourth governor of Delaware (1905- ), was born at Wilmington, Del. Nov. 12, 1841, son of William and Jane Scott (Lovett) Lea. His father (1805-76) was a merchant miller. His earliest ancestor in this country, John Lea, a minister of the Society of Friends, is supposed to have come to America with William Penn, on his first voyage. The line of descent is through his son John and Hannah Hopkins (Webb) Lea: John 3d and Mary Yarnall (Pennell) Lea, and Thomas and Sarah (Tatnall) Lea, who were the grandparents of Gov. Lea. Thomas Lea was the second president of the Bank of Delaware. Preston Lea was educated at Lawrenceville, N.J., and at the age of eighteen entered the employ of his father in Wilmington. The firm having incorporated upon the death of his father he became its president, and in 1888 he was elected president of the Union National Bank. Still holding these positions, he is also vice-president of Farmers Mutual Insurance Co.; and a director of Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington railroad, and was president of the Equitable Guarantee Bank, and of the Wilmington City Railway Co. In November 1904 he was elected governor of the state of the Republican ticket, receiving 22,532 votes; Pennewill, the Democratic candidate receiving 19,780 votes, and Chandler, regular Republican 802. Mr. Lea is a member of the Union League and Arts clubs of Philadelphia, and of the Country and Wilmington clubs of Wilmington. He was married at Wilmington, Del., Oct 8, 1888 [sic], to Adelaide, daughter of James Vandyke Moore. She died Oct 8, 1888. He was married 2d at Wilmington, Apr. 29, 1897, to Eliza Naudain, daughter of Charles Corbit. He has four children: Claudia Wright, Alice Moore, Ethel Mildred and Louise Corbit.
Volume 13, page 586
[Entry written 1905-09; correct marriage date for Preston Lea and Adelaide Moore is October 27, 1870]
