Stephen Leonard (1783 - 1869)

Born 29 Oct 1783 in West Springfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Mar 1869 at age 85 in Lowville, Lewis, New York, United States

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Biography

From Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. by W. R. Cutter, 1910. Vol 1, p. 16-17:

(VI) Stephen, oldest son of Phinehas Leonard and Sybil Leonard, was born October 29, 1783, at West Springfield, Massachusetts, and died in Lowville, New York, March 13, 1869. In 1802, Mr. Leonard removed to Skaneateles, New York, and six months later to Manlius, where he remained two or three years and then located at Lowville, same state, which was his home until his death. He early identified himself with the progress and development of the town, and became one of its most highly respected and influential citizens. He embarked in business in partnership with James H. Leonard, a relative, which business firm continued nearly a quarter of a century. In 1809 Mr. Leonard received the appointment of postmaster at Lowville, under the administration of President Madison, and held this office until President Polk took his office, in 1845. a period of thirty-six years. He was a friend of education, and in 1808. in company with twenty-four other citizens of Lowville, applied to the Regents of the State University of New York, for the academy which was afterwards located at Lowville. He served as trustee of this institution nearly forty years, and always gave the enterprise his heartiest support. He contributed liberally to all good causes, and was a true friend to the poor and distressed. He was a member of the Presbyterian Society in Lowville, from its beginning, in 1820. being one of the trustees, which post he held many years; he was one of the earnest supporters of the society, and a regular attendant at its services. He was identified with many movements for education and charity, and his memory has been blessed by hundreds. He was a public-spirited citizen, and took great pride in the growth and achievements of his adopted town. Mr. Leonard married, December 11, 1806, Jane, daughter of General Walter Martin, founder and first proprietor to reside in Martinsburg, Lewis County, New York: born in Salem, New York, February 16. 1788, she came with her parents to Lewis County in March, 1802. They settled in a wilderness, and there had to endure the hardships common to frontier life. Mrs. Leonard died May 4, 1871, in Lowville, New York, two years after her husband passed away. Their children were: Jane Anne, born September 4, 1807, died July 22, 1810; Christina, August 14, 1809. died August 22, 1812; Martin, September 29. 1811, died August 14, 1814; Alexander, December 25, 1813, died December 22, 1819: Jane Maria, July 10. 1816, married Francis B, Morse; Cornelia, December 20, 1819: Elizabeth, December 20, 1821, married Reverend L. W. Norton; John, April 8, 1824: Charles P. and George C., twins, August 22, 1826; and Lewis, March 30, 1832, died August 27. 1853. At the beginning of the war of the rebellion, George C. Leonard enlisted in Company B, Ninety-fourth New York volunteers, and lost his life in service, dying at Ely's ford, on the Rapidan river, in Virginia, December 1, 1863: besides the important battle of Gettysburg, he took part in several other important engagements, among them Bull Run, Cedar Mountain and Rappahamnock.

In 1855, the family lived in Lowville, Lewis, New York. Stephen was 69, a merchant, Jane was 65, Four of their children, all grown, lived in the home: Cornelia (35), George (26), Lewis M. (24), a machinist, and John Leonard (28), a laborer. ^[1]

Stephen is buried in Lowville Rural Cemetery in Lowville.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ 1855 New York State Census, FamilySearch
2. ↑ Findagrave

• Cutter, William Richard. Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. United States, Lewis historical publishing Company, 1910. Vol 1, p. 16-17 FamilySearch
• History of Lewis County, New York; with...biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, by Franklin B. Hough, 1883, p. 398 Archive.org