Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Northern Michigan B. F. Bowen & Co., - 1905 [55-57] CHARLES LEONARD We now enter a brief review of the career of one of the representa- tive citizens and prominent farmers of Custer township, Antrim county. MR. LEONARD is a native of the “right little, tight little isle” of England. having been born in Affordshire, on the 7th of December, 1842, and being a son of WILLIAM and MARY (DAY) LEONARD, both of whom passed their entire lives in England, where the father followed the great basic industry of agriculture as a vocation. This worthy couple became the parents of five children, namely: ANN, HANNAH, CHARLES, MARTHA and ARTHUR. The subject was reared to the sturdy discipline of the old homestead farm and secured his educational training in the excellent schools of his native land, where he was reared to maturity and where he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until he had attained the age of twenty-seven years, when, in 1869, he determined to seek his fortunes in America, where he believed he could find better opportunities for the gaining of independence and prosper- ity through individual effort. He first located near Portsmouth, Ken- tucky, on the Ohio river, and there remained a few months, at the expiration of which he went to Chicago, Illinois, and thence to Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, where he remained but a short interval, since he arrived in Antrim county, Michigan, in the autumn of 1869 and here made permanent location, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of this section of the state. He took up eighty acres of government land, which was still covered with the native timber and entirely unreclaim- ed. This original tract constitutes his present finely improved and valuable homestead, and the conditions today indicate how strenuous must have been the efforts which he has put forth in the intervening years. MR. LEONARD was the first permanent settler in Custer township, while there were but few families then located in the county, this entire section being practically an unbroken wilderness at the time. On his embryonic farm Mr. Leonard put up a rude and primitive shanty, which served as a domicile until he completed the erection of a sub- stantial log house, which latter was utilized as the family home until 1902, when he erected his present fine residence, which is of modern design and accessories, being one of the most attractive rural homes in the township. The subject aided in laying out the original roads in the county and in making other early improvements, while he was equally alert in the perform ance of his other civic duties and was one of those prominently identified with the organization of Custer township, which was named in honor of GENERAL CUSTER. He has ever commanded the most unqualified respect and confidence in the county and is one of our most popular pioneers. He cleared his farm and has made it one of the valuable places of the county, and it is interest- ing to record the fact that he felled the first tree to be cut on the land. He and his son together own one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which one hundred acres are under cultivation, being devoted to diversified agriculture, while the remainder of the land is still covered with the native timber, which is of the best quality and very valuable. In his political adherency MR. LEONARD is arrayed as a stal- wart advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and he has ever taken an active interest and part in local affairs of a public nature. He served for two years as road commissioner of Custer town- ship, and for many years has been a valued official of the school district in which he resides and which he aided in forming. In a fra- ternal way we find him identified with the Grange at Mancelona, a prosperous body and one whose meetings he regularly attends. He and his wife belong to the Congregationalist church, in which he has been an official member. In 1861 MR. LEONARD was united in marriage to MISS ELIZA LEONARD, who died in 1886. He was later married to MISS SARAH JOHNSON, who died in 1902, and in 1904 he wedded MISS ANNA REED, daughter of WILLIAM REED, who came with his family from England to the United States and finally became a resident of Antrim county. Of the four children of the subject two are living, namely: ARTHUR, who married MISS JANE HART, who resides at the parental home, being associated with his father in the management of the farm and also his own property; and ALICE, who is the wife of WILLIAM CAMPBELL, a prominent farmer and sterling pioneer of the county, where he took up his residence in 1870. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================