Leuba Family/Ernest Charles Jr. on far right


Our family history as Jehovah's Witnesses began in the late 1800's.  Selena Horn Leuba (great-grandmother of Diana) obtained copies of Studies in the Scriptures in  France.  She recognized immediately the Bible truths she read therein.  She was the wife of a Protestant minister, Ernest Leuba.  Later, he also came to embrace these Bible truths.  The Leuba family immigrated from France to the United States in 1902 and associated with the International  Bible Students (later known as Jehovah's Witnesses) in New York City.  They also lived in Alberta, Canada for a time and settled finally, in St. Petersburg, Florida.  It was there in 1913 that Ernest Leuba Jr., (Diana's grandfather) was baptized in symbol of his dedication to Jehovah God.    He spent much of his life as a full-time minister - beginning as a colporteur soon after his baptism.  One of his first colporteur partners was Melvin Sargent. (See August 1, 1987 Watchtower - Pages 21-25)

 He married Lucy Ellen Huff in his 30's and had one daughter, Helen Lucille.  He finished his earthly course faithfully in 1989.

Helen Leuba was baptized in 1941  in St. Louis, Missouri where she received her personal copy of the "Children" book.  She married Tilford Jones in 1942 and they had four children, all of whom are Jehovah's Witnesses.
Jim is the third generation of Witnesses in his family.  His maternal grandmother, Ella Sundholm was a faithful sister.  She first became associated with Jehovah's Witnesses in northern Minnesota.   Two of her three children (including Jim's mother, Bessie) followed her example.
We had a very special privilege in 1982.  Brother Frederick Franz gave a talk for our Circuit and then he and his traveling companions had dinner in our home.  He was a very dear person.  Shown above with Ernest Leuba, who was baptized one year prior to Brother Franz.  In this scene, Brother Franz is saying, "I'm counting on you to keep ahead of me!"

Melvin Sargent and Ernest Leuba were reunited in 1988.  Brother Sargent traveled to Oregon and showed a shortened version of the Photo Drama of Creation to local congregations.  He and Ernest were among the volunteers who traveled throughout the country showing the orignal. Perhaps they are working together now, in far more important assignments!

We were baptized in 1960 (Jim in Oregon and Diana in Colorado) - It brought us great joy when both of our daughters took that important step - 
Robin in 1984 and Brooke in 1987. 

Proud Dad                          Four generations

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