Leonard, Patrick (1818-1896)

LEONARD

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/2/2008 at 13:28:52

Patrick Leonard
Mar 18, 1818 - Feb 2, 1896

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.187, Neola Twp.)
P. Leonard, farmer, P. O. Neola, was born in Ireland March 18, 1818, son of Mark and Agnes (Durkin) Leonard, natives of Ireland; he, born in 1776, was a farmer, and died in his native country; she died in Ireland, and was the mother of eight children, two of whom came to America. Mr. Leonard learned theoretical and practical surveying in Ireland. He came to America July 12, 1841, landing at the port of St. John, N. B., where he remained eight years, teaching school six years of his time. He left New Brunswick in May, 1849, and after traveling in the States of Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, he located in Middlesex County, province of Ontario, where he taught one school eight consecutive years, and another seven. While teaching, he boarded on his farm, which he conducted at the same time, walking to and from his farm, a distance of seven miles, each day. He continued farming in Canada till April, 1872, when he came to Neola, Iowa, and settled on the southeast quarter of Section 26, where he still resides. This first quarter has been improved, 200 acres added to it, and the whole inclosed by fence. Mr. Leonard married Miss Ann Van Tassel, born in Queen's County, N. B., in 1820, daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Foster) Van Tassel, he born in New Brunswick aboug 1788, she born in New Brunswich in 1801. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard have had ten children, five of whom have taught school; two are dead. Mr. Leonard is President of the Board of School Trustees, which position he has held for the past five years. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and a Democrat in politics.