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BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
Source:
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF
BUCHANAN and CLINTON COUNTIES, MISSOURI
Containing
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens,
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the
Presidents of the United States.
Publ. Chicago
Chapman Bros.
1893
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JOHN L.
LEONARD, our subject, is one of
those progressive farmers who have left the old methods
behind and have adopted such improvements in farming and
stock-raising as will make Buchanan County the garden of
the State, if his example is generally followed.
His home farm, which comprises three hundred and twenty
acres, is pleasantly located on the west half of section
24. In addition to that property Mr. Leoanrd
owns fifty-two acres in township 57, range 34, a quarter
section of land in DeKalb County, this State, and one
thousand acres in Texas. He is quite extensively
engaged in stock-raising, being the owner of some
well-bred horses.
Solomon L. Leonard, the father of our subject,
was born in 1811 in Ohio. He was a very fine Greek
and Latin scholar, and in his youth was a school
teacher, although in later life he became well known as
a lawyer. He was reared to man's estate in the
Blue Grass region. His parents died when he was
very young, and early in life he was thrown upon his own
resources. The mother of our subject, who was born
Aug. 12, 1818, was, prior to her marriage, Miss
Leanna Hall. She was born Aug. 12,
1818, and after her marriage to Solomon Leonard
came with him in 1839 to Missouri, locating in Platte
County. There Mr. Leonard
was engaged in the practice of law, in which profession
he was more than ordinarily successful. In 1841 he
removed with his family to the northeast quartet of
section 21, which property is at present in the
possession of our subject.
Solomon Leonard continued the practice of law in
this and adjoining counties until 1843, when he was
appointed one of the commissioners to select five
hundred thousand acres of land for the State of
Missouri. In 1844-45 he was appointed Judge of the
Circuit Court to fill a vacancy, and so well did he
perform the duties which the office involved that he was
his own successor until 1852, at which time he declined
a re-election. Later he was associated in
partnership with Gen. Bela M. Hughes in the
practice of law, which connection was dissolved solely
on account of great financial interests to which Mr.
LEonard was obliged to give his personal attention.
He was one of the foremost men in the State, and his
death, which occurred in October, 1864, near Ft. Gibson,
I. T. was greatly felt by all who knew him. His
widow, who survives him at the age of seventy-four
years, makes her home with her children.
Of the parental family of ten children, only four
survive, those besides our subject being Mrs.
Parrilla Connett, Mrs. Sarah E. Brown and William
Henry. Mrs. Leonard was a member in good
standing of the Christian Church. In his political
relations the father was a life long Democrat, and at
one time was that party's candidate for Congress, but
was defeated by a small majority in the convention.
He of whom we write was born May 2, 1853, in the house
where he makes his home at the present time. He
was given an excellent education, completing his studies
in the high school of St. Joseph, and was thus fitted to
embark in life on his own responsibility. In 1871
he assumed the management of the home farm for his
mother, where he has continued to reside since.
Aug. 29, 1876, Mr. Leonard and Miss America J.,
daughter of James J. and Ruth A. (Monroe) Patterson,
were united in marriage. The father was born in
Pennsylvania in 1815, while the mother was born April
27, 1825, Pike County, Ohio. They were married in
Piatt County,
Ill., in 1851, and in 1860 removed West to
Kansas, locating on a farm in Atchison County.
There they continued to reside until 1866, when they
came to Buchanan County, and in 1875 became indentified
with the interests of De Kalb County, where the father
died Dec. 4, 1891. The mother, who still survives,
makes her home with her children. Mr. Leonard
was born Nov. 13, 1853, in
Piatt County,
Ill., receiving a good education and being
trained in those household duties which are necessary in
order to make a home neat and attractive. Her
parents were members of the Presbyterian and Baptist
Churches respectively. Mr. Patterson was a
strong Republican in politics and in 1862 was a member
of the Kansas Legislature. He later served as
Postmaster of Union Star, De Kalb County, Mo., and while
residing in Illinois occupied the same position in
Monticello, Piatt County.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard of this sketch have had
five children, one having died. They bear the
respective names of Solomon L., Euphora May, Perilla
L. and Ruth A. Agnes V. died young.
Religiously they are members of the Second Presbyterian
Church in St. Joseph, among whose members they occupy a
prominent place, being active in all good works and
generous in their contributions. Mr.
Leonard is greatly interested in educational affairs
and has seen to it that his children received good
school advantages. He is a member of the School
Board, acting in the capacity of Clerk, and is the
working member of that body. In politics he is a
stanch Democrat and has been frequently sent as delegate
to the various conventions.
Source: Portrait and
Biographical Record of Buchanan and Clinton Counties,
Missouri - Publ. 1893 - Page 437 |
(Portrait)
Jno. S. Logan |
JAMES SUBLETTE LOGAN Source: Portrait and
Biographical Record of Buchanan and Clinton Counties,
Missouri - Publ. 1893 - Page 161 |
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