In 1856 the village of Leo was established on Section 10, Burr Oak Township by Isaac and Thomas Wynn, and Oliver Tillotsen. The streets were named after the founders. The post office was first established October 5, 1855 with Oliver Tillotsen as postmaster and closed October 8, 1869; reopened February 23, 1870 with Henry Knapp as postmaster and closed September 27, 1880. It reopened again December 14, 1896 with Inez Cardiff as postmaster and closed finally on August 31, 1904.
The post office was named Cardiff by the postal department in 1896. Part of the town was in Section 9 and part of it in Section 10, with the present Little Cedar black top road being in the location of the Main Street.
The schoolhouse was on the SE intersection, a tavern on the NE Corner of the intersection, a Free Will Baptist Church was across the road. Just north of the present day grove was a street running west from the black top road. Here were located the post office kept by Oliver Tillotsen, a general store operated by Frazer and Steele, a grocery store operated by M. Mason. Twelve of the fifteen families lived here. Nothing remains today, except the church, which has been converted to a Township Hall.
Reproduced with the approval of the Mitchell County Historical Society; from THE STORY OF MITCHELL COUNTY 1851-1973", and MITCHELL COUNTY MEMORIES 1946-1996.
LOCATION: Approximately 2 1/2 miles north of Highway 9 on Primrose Ave., at the intersection of 387th St.
Please respect landowners property, ask before you enter.
Transcribed in 2002 by: Neal Du Shane
Contact information:
LEO - CARDIFF MCHS.doc