John Leonard, one of the enterprising farmers of Clayton County, was born in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1831, and was a son of Richard and Julie (Dunn) Leonard. In 1842 Richard Leonard emigrated to America with his family, and located in Fall River, Mass., where he embarked in the dairy business, remaining until 1855, when he removed to Clayton County, Ia., where he purchased a farm, remaining until his death, which occurred in 1858, his wife following two years later. The subject of this memoir when seventeen years of age learned the trade of machinist and went to New York, where he was employed in the Singer Sewing Machine Company's shops for twenty-five years. In 1875 he came to Clayton County, purchasing the farm, where he has resided since. In 1851 he married a Miss Holan, who was born in County Meath, Ireland, in 1836. Ten children blessed this union; seven are living, viz.: Willie H., born July 10, 1853; Richard, Jan. 28, 1857; Alice, July 22, 1860; Sarah, Dec. 26, 1862; Charles, Oct. 5,1868; Joseph, May 17, 1870; Freddie, Nov. Nov. 16, 1874. Mr. Leonard has a farm of 500 acres, valued at $40 per acre, a fine residence and home, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of the county. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 662-663 |