Leonard Wright Colby (August 5, 1846 – November 18, 1924), who hailed from the U.S. state of Ohio, was a leader of the first Nebraska National Guard, American Indian Wars veteran, state senator of Nebraska and United States Assistant Attorney General. As a teenager, he fought in the American Civil War. During his career, he commanded both Nebraska and U.S. troops. He served as commander of the Nebraska National Guard. Family, education, and early military activities Colby was born in Cherry Valley Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio in 1846. The fifth of seven children, his parents were Rowel and Abigail (Livingston) Colby. His parents were from Grafton County, New Hampshire. When he was about four years old his parents removed to a farm five miles from Freeport, Illinois. As a teenager, he enlisted in the 8th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and served the Union Army in the American Civil War. Wounded at the Battle of Fort Blakely in 1865, in almost the last battle of the Civil War, he was recommended for promotion and a commission for gallant and meritorious services in the charge at Fort Blakely and the siege of Mobile, Alabama, where he captured a Confederate flag; he was discharged that year. After his discharge from the Union army, in 1865, he with about fifty others from his regiment enlisted with the forces of Maximilian, serving with the rank of captain for several months, until his resignation, in December, 1865. On his return home, he entered the high school at Freeport from which he graduated in July, 1867, with the highest honors. In the fall of the same year, he entered the University of Wisconsin, in the regular classical course, and he was graduated in June, 1871, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, again taking the highest honors of his class. He was graduated also from the military and engineering courses at the same institution, obtaining the degrees of Civil Engineer and Mechanical Engineer and the recommendation for a lieutenant's commission in the United States army. During the last two years of his college course, he was commissioned and served as captain of the university cadets at Madison, Wisconsin. Thereafter, he was graduated from the law department of the university, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Career Colby married Clara Dorothy Bewick in 1872 and they removed to Beatrice, Nebraska, living near Seventh and High streets. He