| The Highland
Township Historical Society THE LEONARD FAMILY |
|---|
BACK TO THE FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM PAGE
Jason Leonard, the second son of Jonathan and Persis (Hencher) Leonard, was born May 9, 1819, at Parma, New York, and died at Highland on July 1, 1873. He came to Michigan circa 1836 and settled on 160 acres given him by his father, consisting of the northwest quarter of Section 14 (the northeast corner of Harvey Lake and East Wardlow Roads). Just west of his property lay Curtis Lake; now called Leonard Lake in honor of the family. Jason Leonard married first, December 26, 1844, Rachel Ann Atwood, by whom he had two sons: (i) Theodore M. Leonard, born 1848; died 1863; and (ii) William Leonard, born 1851; removed to Bay City, Michigan. After Rachel (Atwood) Leonard died September 18, 1851, Jason Leonard married second, January 27, 1852, Elizabeth Wardlow, born 9 July 1833, the daughter of his neighbors, James and Elizabeth (McGhee) Wardlow. See the Wardlow Family Photo Album. This union produced children (iii) Ann Leonard, born June 1, 1854; married Charles St. John; (iv) Louisa Leonard, born 1857; m. Clarence E. Stiff; (v) Newton Leonard, born circa 1860; died young (vi) Oliver P. Leonard, born March 20, 1860; married 1st Emma J. Shoebridge; m. 2nd, Mary Shoebridge [Note 1]; (vii) Joseph W. Leonard, born June, 1865; married Hester Baker; (viii) Elmer J. Leonard, born circa 1868; and (ix) Irving/Irvin C. Leonard, died November 10, 1901, at age 30. The illustration below shows the Jason Leonard farm as it appeared at the time it was owned by his son, Oliver P. Leonard, in 1891.
Note 1 - For a biography of Oliver P. Leonard click here.