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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Joseph
A. Leonard Laborious
effort was the lot of Joseph A. Leonard, one of the substantial and well known
citizens of Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, during his youth and early
manhood, but his fidelity to duty won him the respect and confidence of those
with whom he was thrown into contact and by patient continuance in well doing he
gradually arose from an environment none too auspicious to his present high
standing among the influential citizens of this part of the County, being one of
the Township's leading general farmers and stock raisers, always giving his
personal attention to his various industries with the same energy and
discretion, persistency and foresight that have characterized his labors during
an honorable career. Having every
dollar in his possession as the result of honest effort, and that, too, not
infrequently in the face of adverse circumstances, he can claim without
ostentation the proud American title of self-made man. Mr.
Leonard was born in Clear Creek Township, this County, November 14, 1861.
He grew to manhood here and has always been identified with the
agricultural interests of this community. He
was educated in the district schools here. He is the son of A. L. and Sarah (Ashton) Leonard, the father
born in Delaware County, Ohio, and the mother in Illinois.
They came to Jasper County, Iowa, in the year 1858 and here spent the
balance of their lives, the father's death occurring at the old homestead in
Clear Creek Township, in December 1880, at the age of forty-eight years, the
mother having passed away in 1874, when forty-two years old.
They were the parents of the following children:
Mrs. Cass Stock is deceased; Joseph H., of this review; C. A. lives at
Prole, Iowa; J. H. lives at Boulder, Colorado; A. W., of Driftwood, Oklahoma.
These children were born and reared in Clear Creek Township, this County. In
November 1880, Joseph A. Leonard was united in marriage with Gracie E. Cooper,
who was born near Grand Detour, Illinois, August 17, 1854. She was the daughter
of B. F. and Mary (Wiser) Cooper, the father born in Washington County,
Maryland, February 14, 1834, his mother's birth having occurred in Fairfield
County, Ohio, July 8, 1831. They
came to Jasper County, Iowa, in an early day and are now both residing in Clear
Creek Township. There were
nine children in the Cooper family, six of whom are living, namely: Mrs.
Gracie Leonard, of this sketch; Mrs. Alice Rostern, of South Dakota; Ransom, of
Clear Creek Township, this County; Alma, deceased; Mrs. Nettie Barbee lives in
Clear Creek Township; Byron is deceased; Charles lives in Collins; Mrs. Edna
Stone lives in Story County. The
five oldest children were born in Illinois and the younger, ones were born in
Jasper County, Iowa. Two
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard, namely: Mrs. Carrie Miller,
born February 22, 1884, is living on the home farm with her father; Leora, born
May 1, 1889; is also at home with her father.
The wife and mother passed away in 1909. Politically,
Mr. Leonard is a Republican and he has taken considerably more than a passing
interest in local affairs, having ever had the interests of his community at
heart. He has served as
Township trustee, assessor, and is clerk, and at this writing he is also
president of the board of education in district No. 5, Clear Creek Township. He has discharged his duties as a public servant in a
manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and won the commendation of
all concerned. Mr. Leonard is the owner of one of the choice farms of his Township, consisting of two hundred and seventy-two acres on which are two sets of excellent improvements and he is now planning more up-to-date improvements. Personally, Mr. Leonard is an honest, public-spirited, liberal, and pleasant gentleman. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 1328. |
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