Walter was born 4 September 1866 at Hastings, Minnesota, the son of William Benton Leach and Mary Hammond. He moved to Minneapolis in 1887 and entered the fire insurance business. In 1909 he helped reorganize and became president of the Northwestern Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Minneaoplis.

Walter was married 24 October 1893 to Mary Morse who was the daughter of Elisha Morse of Minneapolis.

Their daughter was Nancy E. Leach..

Portrait/photo - A.G. Rifenburg with W. T. Kilborn, Cedar Rapids, IA

MMC-77 leach10