ERWIN LEONARD, a prosperous cheese maker, residing at Middletown Springs, Vermont, is considered an expert cheese and butter maker.  He has had wide experience in the business and fully understands the correct methods employed to secure the best results.
     Mr. Leonard was born in the village which is still his home, July 5, 1856.  He is the elder of two sons, who, with a daughter, comprised the offspring of his parents.  His only brother, George Leonard, is a sturdy farmer, and a confirmed bachelor.  The daughter, Ida, died, when three years old.  The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, where he remained until he attained the age of eighteen years.  He then began to learn the craft to which he has since devoted his energies.  After working with R. C. Cook, at Shoreham, Vermont, for about three months, he had completely mastered the business and was able to start into trade for himself.
     The first cheese factory of which he had charge was at Hampton, New York.  Since then he has put up and conducted several factories at different places.  He has been located at the following places Clarendon, six years; Weston, four years; Pawlet, one year; Tinmouth, two years; Granville, two years; Hampton, one year; Ausable, one year; Castleton, three years; North Georgia, Vermont, one year; and Middletown Springs, five years.  Erwin Leonard is a son of Calvin and Abigail (Caswell) Leonard.
     His paternal grandparents lived in Poultney, Vermont.  They reared four sons and three daughters.  One daughter married, but the other remained single.  The sons are all now deceased.  Each left a small family.  Calvin Leonard was also a native of Middletown Springs, where his birth occurred in 1810.  He followed the occupation of farming in the same town where both he and his wife were born, reared, married, spent their lives, and died.  Calvin Leonard was joined in marriage with Abigail Caswell, in 1849.
     Mrs. Leonard was a daughter of John Caswell, who died July 13, 18130.  The Caswell family is particularly noted for longevity.  Valetta Caswell, a maiden aunt of the subject of this sketch, attained the remarkable age of ninety-two years.  His uncle, Josiah Caswell, died May 20, 1833, when only eighteen years old, and his little sister Rosealba was accidentally killed by a rolling log.  She was only four years old.  The cemetery at Middletown Springs contains about twelve Caswell graves.  Many of the members of the family there buried died at an advanced age.  The maternal grandmother of Erwin Leonard died Dec. 22, 1864.
     Jesse Caswell, the great-uncle of Mr. Leonard, was a Congregational missionary to Siam.  While there he taught the King of Siam the English alphabet.  After returning to America, the missionary died.  Upon learning this fact, the King sent his widow $1,000.  Another great-uncle, Vanira Caswell, died in Castleton, where his widow also died, in 1899, in her ninety-fourth year.  Mr. Leonard is an enterprising business man and is a general favorite in his community.  He is a master Mason.
Source:  Book of Biographies, containing Biographical Sketches of Leading Citiznes of Rutland Co., Vt - Publ. 1899 - Page 23