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Charles Russell Leonard died on Monday, Nov. 23, 1908. Notice of his funeral was printed in The Journal (Groton, New York) on November 25, 1908, and a "card" of thanks was published on December 2, 1908, by Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Wells and Mrs. Chas. Leonard. It took a long time to find this obituary, simply because Charles' name was abbreviated as "Chas." and it doesn't offer much information. A more interesting notice was published the following week. "A Card...to thank neighbors and friends for their kindness and sympathy during the illness and death of Charles Leonard". It was signed "Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Wells" and "Mrs. Chas. Leonard". It seems safe to assume "Mrs. Chas. Leonard" is referring to Luella, his second wife, who he was living with in Groton in 1905 , but who were Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Wells and how were they involved? A search for men named Charles Wells in the Groton area in 1908 produced two matches: Charles E. Wells in Groton in 1900. He was married to Ina Legg, but he died in 1904, prior to this notice being published. Charles Hyde Wells who was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, abt. 1839. He was counted on the census in Pompey until 1880. [ FamilySearch]   In 1865 there was a "Boarder" named John Leonard, age 26, living in the Wells home in Pompey. He was formerly in the Army. [ FamilySearch ] On the 1892, 1900, 1905, 1910, and 1920 censuses Charles Wells was living in Cortland, where he died on June 30, 1922. His wife's name was Lydia L. Wells. Her obituary claims she was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, on Aug. 8, 1840. The closest matches in Pompey in 1850 were: Lydia L. Haskins (b. 1844), Lydia A. Marsh (b. 1836), and Lydia L. Rice (b. 1837). Charles & Lydia Wells had five children in their home: Amelia (Wells) Dunn, William H. Wells, John Wells, Eugene Charles Wells, and Nellie E. (Wells) Wood. I spent a few days sorting through the paper trails hoping to find a connection, to no avail. Following is a summary of what I found and shared on Charles Hyde Wells' Wikitree . Timeline of Events: 1850 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch : Asa Wells (age 76?), born in CT Chloe Wells (age 72 or 77?), born in CT Levi Wells (age 43) - born in NY Jane Wells (24) - born in NY Mathew Wells (age 40) - born in NY, Laborer Elzada Wells (age 31) - born in NY Charles Wells (age 12) - born in NY, Farmer Asa Wells died Feb. 4. 1854, age 79 yrs 6 mos. He is buried in Pompey Hill Cemetery. Findagrave memorial for Asa Wells 1860 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch : Elzada N. Wells, Female, age 40, b. NY, Farm Laborer Charles Wells, age 22, b. NY, Farm Laborer Lydia Wells, age 18, b. NY Cloe Wells, age 82. b. CT Hamilton Squires, age 16, Farm Laborer, b. NY 1865 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch : Elzada Wells, (Female) age 46, b. NY (1 child, married once, widowed) Charles H. Wells, age 27 "Child", Farmer, (married once, married) Lydia Wells, age 25 "Wife", (2 children, married once, married) Lydia (Chloe?) Wells, age 86, "Mother", b. CT (8 children, married once, widowed) Amelia Wells, age 4, "Grandchild", b. Onondaga County William Wells, age 1, "Grandchild", b. Onondaga County John Leonard, age 26, "Boarder", Farmer (Single, formerly in Army) From the Cortland Democrat, Sept. 17. 1868: "Sept. 11 - In the guardianship of John S., Eugene C., and Nellie E. Wells. Petition for appointment of guardian filed, guardians oath and bond filed and letters of guardianship issued to Lydia Wells, of Cortlandville." 1870 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch : Charles Wells, age 32, farmer $3500 real estate and $2625 personal estate Lydia Wells, age 29, wife b. England? Amelia Wells, age 10, b. NY Nellie Wells, age 8, b. NY John Wells, age 4, b. NY (lived in Los Angeles, CA in 1935) Charles Wells age 2 mos? b. NY Alzada Wells age 59, b. NY Chloe Wells, age 92, b. CT Chloe Wells died on Jan. 4, 1872, at the age of 93, and is buried in Pompey Hill Cemetery in Pompey. Findagrave memorial for Chloe Hyde Wells 1875 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch : Charles Wells, age 38, b. Onondaga, Married, Mail Carrier Liddia Wells, age 34, Wife Amelia Wells, age 13, Daughter Willie Wells, age 11, Son John Wells, age 8, Son Eugena Wells, age 5, Son Elzada Wells, age 56, "Mother" 1880 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch : Charles Wells, age 41, Farmer, Married Lydia Wells, age 38, Keeping House William Wells, age 16, Son John Wells, age 13, Son Eugene Wells, age 10, Son Nellie Wells, age 3, "Son" (Daughter?) Elzada Wells, age 63, Mother Elzada Wells died March 23, 1891, in Cortland. From the Syracuse Standard, Tues., Mar. 24, 1891, p. 3: "Mrs. Elzada Wells died yesterday morning of consumption at the age of 72 years. The funeral will be held at the residence of her son, Charles Wells, to-morrow morning. The remains will be taken to Pompey." From the Cortland Democrat, Fri., Mar. 27, 1891: "DIED...WELLS- In Cortland, N.Y., March 23, 1891, Mrs. Elzada Wells, age 72 years." 1892 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch : Charles H Wells, age 55, "Teamster" Lydia M. Wells, age 52 Nellie E. Wells, age 16 From the Cortland Standard, Wed., Sept. 7, 1898: "Invitations are out for the wedding of Mr. Frank Steward Wood and Miss Nellie Elzada Wells which will take place at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Wells, 167 Railroad Street in Cortland on Wednesday evening, Sept. 14, at 8 o'clock." "WOOD-WELLS. Two Cortland Young People United in the Bonds of Matrimony. A merry gathering of friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Wells of 167 Railroad-st. last evening witnessed the marriage of their daughter, Miss Nellie B. Wells, and Mr. Frank S. Wood of Cortland. The ceremony was performed by Rev. W. H. Pound, pastor of the Congregational church, in the presence of a few invited guests. The rooms were neatly trimmed for the occasion, and the ceremony took place under an arch of evergreens. A fine wedding supper was served, and then Mr. and Mrs. Wood left on the late train for New York, from which place they will go to New Haven, Ct., for a visit with relatives, and on their return will reside at 107 Railroad-st." From The Syracuse Weekly Express, Thurs., Sept. 25, 1890: "HOMER, Sept. 18 .- Eugene Wells of Cortland and Miss Belle Lawson of this village were married on Tuesday at the Methodist parsonage by the Rev. A. N. Damon." 1900 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch : (167 Railroad Street, Cortland) Charles Wells, born Jan. 1838, age 62, married 42 years, "Night Watch" Lydia Wells, born Aug. 1840 in NY, age 59, married 42 years, five children all still living in 1900 Nellie E. Wood, "Daughter", born Dec 1876, age 23, married 2 years, no children, parents born in England. Frank S. Wood, "Son-in-law", born Apr. 1873, age 27, married 2 years 1905 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch : (167 Railroad Street, Cortland) Chas. H Wells, age 68 (est. 1837) "Night Watch", b. NY, parents born in NY Lydia M. Wells, age 65, 1910 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch : (167 Railroad Street, Cortland) Chas. H. Wells, age 72, married 51 years, Night Watchman at Lumber Yard Lydia Wells, wife, age 62, married 51 years, 5 children, all still living in 1910. From The Cortland Standard, Mon. Aug 28, 1916: "Mrs. Clarence Dunn of Pompey and Mrs. Charles Wells of Cortland visited at the home of their brother and son, Eugene Wells in Wall-st., on Saturday." 1920 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch : (South Ave) Frank S. Wood, age 47, "Com. Traveler; Groceries" Nellie F. Wood, age 43 "Wife" Chas. H. Wells, age 82 "Father-in-law" Lydia Wells, age 79 "Mother-in-law" Charles H. Wells died on June 30, 1922, in Cortland, New York. From the Cortland Democrat, Fri., July 7, 1922, p. 5: "DIED...WELLS - In Cortland, June 30, Charles H. Wells, aged 84 years, and 6 months." From the Binghamton Press, Wed., July 5, 1922: "Charles H. Wells died Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank S. Wood at 130 South Main Street. Mr. Wells was born in Pompey 84 years ago. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Clarence Dunn of Pompey and Mrs. Wood of Cortland, and three sons, Eugene Wells of Homer, William H. Wells of Groton, and John B. Wells of Denver, Col. The funeral was held Monday." 1925 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch : Lydia M. Wells, age 84 "Mother-in-law" 1930 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch : Frank S. Wood, age 56 Nellie E. Wood, age 53 Lydia Wells, age 89 "Mother-in-law" From The Syracuse Journal, Sat., Jan. 12, 1935: "Mrs. Amelia H. Dunn - Mrs. Amelia H. Dunn, 74, died here Friday. Surviving are three brothers, William Wells of Groton, John Wells of Los Angeles, Calif., and Eugene Wells of Homer; a sister, Mrs. Frank Wood of Cortland; a granddaughter, Mrs. Leora M. Wright of Georgetown; a grandson, Clarence B. Van Brocklin of Manlius; a great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews. Services will be conducted at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon in the rooms of C. G. Hall, funeral director, in Lafayette. Interment will be in Pompey." Other Sources Walworth, Reuben Hyde, Hyde genealogy, or, The descendants, in the female as well as in the male lines, from William Hyde, of Norwich (Albany, 1864), Vol. 1, p. 412-413 Other possible connections: From The Dryden Herald, Wed., Apr. 13, 1904: "Mrs. Charles Wells was called to Cortland on Saturday by the severe illness of her daughter, Maude , who is suffering from an attack of the measles. The condition of the patient was reported on Monday to be slightly improved. Charles Wells went to Cortland on Tuesday to see his daughter." From Dryden Rural News, March 30, 1938: "Extracted from a letter written by Mrs. Charles Wells in Anchorage, Alaska, to her brother Egbert McMasters of Brooktondale ..." (regarding her trip to Alaska). From The Syracuse Weekly Express, Thurs., Oct. 9, 1890: Montezuma - "Mrs. Charles Wells and her children of Auburn and her mother, Mrs. Josephine Rogers of Rose Valley, were visiting friends in town last week". If anyone knows the connection between Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wells and Charles Leonard, please share! See the Leonard page for more. Research Notes: Before finding these, I searched the following newspapers for Charles Leonard's obituary: Moravia NY Republican Register 1908 - 1912 Auburn NY Democrat Argus 1908 - 1909 (Mentions: Herman Leonard's estate and heirs: Susan Leonard, widow, George H. Leonard, son, and David E. Wallace, stepson. (April, 1908). Also, Patrick Leonard, father of Mrs. Michael Coleman.) Union Springs NY Advertiser 1908-1911 - (Mentions: Charles Leonard of Farmer) Interlakin NY Interlaken Review 1908-1910 (searched as given, sic) Newspaper Auburn NY Weekly Auburnian 1885 - 1888 #Leonard #leonard #charlesrussellleonard #obituary #death

One thing I learned during my research is that “times really have changed”. The old cliché has a more literal meaning than many people realize. The calendar as we know it has a very interesting past. Why is this important? In old town records, church records, tombstones, epitaphs and written genealogies, dates were sometimes written as “1st month”, “2nd month”, etc., as opposed to writing out the name of the month. It seems reasonable to assume that when a record says “on ye 12th day of ye 7th month in the year of our Lord 1743” it is referring to July 12, 1743, however, this assumption would be incorrect. Today we consider the first month to be January, however, this was not always the case. In ancient times, the new year was marked by the Equinox which was observed, twice a year when for just a moment, the center of the sun is aligned in the same plane as our equator. Today this occurs between the 20th and 21st day of March and again on the 22nd and 23rd day of September. So, according to the equinox the first month was actually March. The Julian calendar was made in 45 B.C., under the reign of Julius Caesar, the Equinox was fixed to the 25th of March, though it was later changed to the 21st of March. It was determined that the Vernal Equinox occurred every 365.25 days (365 days + 6 hours) at that time and the calendar year was divided into months, which Caesar named, mostly after pagan deities and Latin words. In order account for the extra six hours per year not included in the 365 day calendar, the wisest scholars and mathematicians of the day came to the logical conclusion that adding one day to the calendar every four years would compensate for the 24 hours difference accumulated over a period of four years. Thus, to this day we add one day to February every 4th year, known as the “Leap Year”. As a point of interest, to determine which years are leap years the following simple mathematical rule applies: The year must be exactly divisible by 4, however it is never exactly divisible by 100, except in the case it is equally divisible by 400. For example: We can determine that 2000 was a leap year because it is divisible by both 4 and 400 equally (2000 ÷ 4 = 500 and 2000 ÷ 400 = 5). We can also see that 2011 is not a leap year because it is not divisible by 4 equally (2011 ÷ 4 = 502.75). We can see that 2012 is a leap year because it is divisible by 4 equally (2012 ÷ 4 = 53). The calendar seemed to be in sync with the seasons for a time but after 125 years, the Equinox happened a day earlier than expected and it gradually appeared earlier in the month than the day specified on the calendar, revealing that the annual cycle was actually almost eleven minutes shorter than they had originally measured. Today the Vernal Equinox occurs once every 365.2425 days (365 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 12 seconds). After 325 years went by, the Julian calendar’s date for the Equinox was about two and a half days after it had already passed. By 1582 the Equinox was falling on the 11th day of March, ten days earlier than the calendar stated. So that year, under Pope Gregory XIII, ten days on the calendar were “skipped” after the 4th day of October in order to realign the calendar with the Equinox. The following day which would have been the 5th of October, was declared the 15th instead. This temporarily restored March 21st as the date of the Vernal Equinox. Roman Catholic countries immediately adopted the new Gregorian calendar, while Protestant countries were hesitant. Some Christians were hesitant to sway from their belief that Easter was during the Festival of Unleavened Bread, a Jewish feast. Later, the Protestant Christians, too, would conform to the Gregorian calendar (also called the Western calendar, or Christian calendar). England changed from the Julian calendar, also referred to as the “Old Style” (or O.S. for short) on the 2nd day of September 1752, skipping eleven days following that date so that the “New Style” began the following day, which was called the 14th of September instead of the 3rd. Furthermore, the last three months of 1751, January, February and March were removed from that year and became the first quarter of 1752. Double-dates were used for those three months to differentiate. For any events that happened during those three months, the year was written “1751-52” or “1751/52”. Therefore, until 1752, the seventh month was actually September, which can be seen by researching the etymology of the word “September”. So when we see “on ye 12th day of ye 7th month 1643” we now know it refers to September 12, 1643. Keep this in mind for dates written in this format prior to 1752. Unfortunately, over the years, this important fact sometimes causes transcription errors. If you are using this as a resource for clues and are looking for a person said to have been born in a particular month before 1752, but cannot find a match in other records, try looking for one born two months after (or even before) the presumed month, as transcriptions may contain this common error. This is something genealogists should be aware of. Knowing about Old Style dates is important when researching colonial ancestors. For example, recently I was adding a child of John Leonard to Wikitree. He was born Sept, 1679. When I saved it, Wikitree gave me an error, saying two brothers couldn't have been born within less than 9 months of each other. On his profile, I saw his parents had a son named Joseph, born in January, 1680. Impossible! How can two children be born within four months of each other? I checked the town archives for the original copy to confirm the dates and parents of these boys and I felt the anxiety rush over me, thinking of what a nightmare it would be to identify and sort this family if there was another couple with the same names in the same town at the same time. Then I remembered Old Style dates and it all made sense. This illustration should explain it better than I can! #myblog #history #calendar #dates

While searching for information about my ancestor, John Burrill , I got side-tracked, once again, and dragged myself into a long, two-week project. It started when I found reference to a man named John Burrill, among the names of militia and minutemen who fought at the battles of Lexington and Concord and Menotomy (now Arlington). It was a book called " The battle of April 19, 1775 ", by Frank Coburn. It contains many names of the men who rose to the call of duty and defended the colony at a pivotal moment in American history. April 19, 1775, essentially the first day of the American Revolution, is considered a holiday, "Patriot's Day", but only in six States - Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and North Dakota. Battle reenactments are performed and the Boston Marathon is held each year in remembrance of Patriot's Day. ( Source : Wikipedia ) "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it". - Winston Churchill Reflecting back on learning about the American Revolution in school, I remember not being very interested, frankly. Just like most things, freedom is easy to take fore-granted when you have it and I had never really stopped to think what our ancestors endured to obtain the freedom we enjoy so freely. This is a critical error among our children and population, in general, today. Most Americans can't conceive the idea of losing freedoms, and therefore don't fear losing it, but it is very possible, even more so today with technological advances. Every American should be prepared to guard and defend it at all costs, just as our ancestors did. “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Benjamin Franklin In my school days, history lessons seemed to be "someone else's history", because I didn't know anything about my family beyond my great-grandparents. If I had even realized that there were a lot more names in my family tree besides my parents' last names, I probably would have felt more of a personal connection and interest in the lessons. I believe if students knew there was a good chance their grandfathers were involved, they might be more interested in history. Let's understand that each of us had at least 256 great-grandfathers living in the late 1700s . Depending on when you were born, you could literally have had hundreds of grandfathers who fought in the American Revolution. Men who were living in the mid-late 1700s were my 6th or 7th and 8th great-grandfathers, so I could have had anywhere between 128 and 512 great-grandfathers who participated. Anyone with colonial roots in this country probably had dozens of grandfathers who were members of militias and/or fought in the Revolution, because nearly all able-bodied men in New England did. Before I became interested in family history, I didn't know that any of my grandfathers fought in America's wars, but over the years of research, one by one, I've discovered that at least 14 of my grandfathers fought in the Revolutionary War, whereas I had known of none. ( See my family's Wall of Honor here ). I share this not to brag, but to encourage others to do the same and to honor their service and memory. I am glad to have been able to track down and restore so much of the family's history for future generations. I believe it is important to remember the past and recognize all the effort that has gone into getting us all to the places we are now. "People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors." - Edmund Burke As I learn about the Battles of April 19, 1775, I am in awe of the patriots - men who were so brave and bold as to hold secret conventions, raise militias, and physically fight to the death for America's independence. Their gumption and courage on that day inspired thousands of others to join the cause, resulting in a major victory the following year. These men were heroes and are worthy of recognition, especially as we approach the 250th anniversary ( United States Semicinquentennial ) of the independence they won for us. If you had ancestors who lived in Middlesex County, Essex County, Norfolk County, or Sussex County, Massachusetts during the late 1700s, there's a very good chance your family was involved in the conflict and battles of Patriot's Day. Over 4,000 men from Beverly, Danvers, Lynn, Acton, Arlington, Bedford, Billerica, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Framingham, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Newton, Reading, Stow, Sudbury, Watertown, Westford, Woburn, Brookline, Dedham, Medford, Needham, and Roxbury (Boston), responded to the alarm alerting colonists to the impending attack by the British. For my Leonard cousins and Reese cousins, we had ancestors in Framingham, Concord, Reading, Cambridge, and Newton. You can see them at the bottom of the Middlesex County, Massachusetts, page . There were also relatives in Norfolk, Sussex, and Essex Counties. Try a free search of my new Massachusetts Militia database to see if your family names are included! Don't miss this opportunity to encourage your children and grandchildren to love learning about American history, because it's not "somebody else's history". It is the history of US! Our grandfather's literally fought for the freedom we have enjoyed for the past 250 years. Some individuals were left with lifelong disabilities or lost their lives in combat. Their wives and mothers were left to handle households and children on their own. Widows and mothers who lost their sons emerged from these hardships. These resilient individuals were our ancestors, and their DNA is ingrained within us. Let us not forget them. We honor these heroes today and always! Get your commemorative certificate to display! Proud Descendant of Massachusetts Militia ~ In Memory of The Massachusetts Militia & Minutemen For more information, see my Massachusetts Genealogy Resources . From there you can find county and town resources as well. For military records, try my Military Resources page .

From The History of Lewis County, New York; with biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, by Franklin B. Hough, 1883, we can learn a fair deal about the Leonards of Lowville, Lewis County, New York . The first that is known of this family name is John Leonard, who lived in Springfield, Mass., and who is supposed to have emigrated from Bilstan, county of Stanford, England, about 1639. The first adventurers from England to this country who were skilled in the forged iron manufacture were two brothers, James and Henry Leonard, who came to the town of Raynham, Massachusetts, in the year 1652, which was about two years after the first settlers had established themselves upon this spot. In that same year these brothers built here the first forge in America. Henry not long after moved from this place to the Jerseys, where he settled. James, who was the progenitor from whom sprang the whole race of the Leonards here , lived and died in this town [Raynham]. He came from Pontipool, in Monmouthshire, England, and brought with him his son Thomas , then a mere lad, who afterward worked at the bloomery art with his father in the forge. Within a mile and a quarter of this forge was a pond known as Fawling Pond, on the north side of which once stood King Philip's house, where he used to spend the hunting season. Philip and these Leonards were on friendly terms and often traded with each other. Such was Philip's friendship that when his war broke out in 1675, he gave strict orders to his warriors never to molest the Leonards. During that war, two houses near the forge were constantly garrisoned, and one of these was built by James Leonard long before King Philip's war. The generations of the family were John Leonard, 1 ; Josiah, 2; Reuben, 3; Elias, 4; James Harvey, 5. James Harvey Leonard was the father of James L. , the subject of this sketch. He was born in West Springfield, Mass., September 22, 1780, and died in Syracuse, N. Y., March 14, 1845. He came to Lowville with his cousin, Stephen Leonard, in 1804, on horseback from Skaneateles, N. Y., where they had been employed as clerks in stores . The rude aspect of the country at first discouraged them, but they were made of sturdy material and determined to stay. James H. began business in Lowville in 1804, and in January, 1805, was joined by Stephen Leonard. This firm became widely known through Northern New York. They supplied rations to troops passing through the country, and in embargo times were largely engaged in business transactions with Canada. James H. Leonard continued in the firm just a quarter of a century. He was a prominent and public spirited man, and among the foremost in every measure of public utility. He was an original trustee of the Lowville Academy, and an elder in the Presbyterian church. He was also postmaster at Lowville many years. His remains were interred at Lowville . His wife was Mary Parish, daughter of Captain John Parish, (lost at sea,) of Branford, Conn. They were married in May, 1805. She was born July 10, 1785, and died in Lowville, May 19, 1871, aged 86 years . From an humble beginning as a merchant's clerk, and with no advantages or opportunities derived from patronage or influence of others, but gifted with foresight and financial tact which proved adequate for his station, he gradually acquired, by a course of honorable dealing and prudent management, what is regarded with us as a large estate. Naturally liberal, enterprising and public spirited, he every year found new occasions for the promotion of some new measure of public utility, and he appeared to take an honest pride in witnessing and promoting the prosperity of every interest which tended to advance the moral, intellectual and social condition of those around him. His influence was felt throughout the growing spheres of his business relations, and our people had learned to place confidence in his opinions and to seek his aid and counsel in whatever tended to the public good. James Loren Leonard was the fifth and youngest son of James Harvey Leonard, and was born in Lowville on the 5th of June, 1821. Of the five brothers and three sisters, but one, Mr. Francis K. Leonard, now remains of this family. The subject of this sketch received his education at the Lowville Academy, and is remembered as an industrious student, especially fond of mathematics, obedient and attentive to all his duties. The limited means of his father, arising from a pecuniary loss, prevented him from attempting a more extended course of study, and at the age of seventeen he entered the store of J. P. Ellis, at Carthage, N. Y., as a merchant clerk. A few months after, he entered the store of the late William L. Easton of the village of Lowville, as a clerk, and after serving about seven years in this capacity became a partner with a one-third interest in the establishment. With a natural aptitude for financial management that expanded to meet the growing spheres of his opportunities, Mr. Leonard at an early stage of his business career, began to lay those foundations of confidence and esteem in the public mind which time only served to strengthen and confirm. While with Mr. Easton, Mr. Leonard entered the Bank of Lowville and on the 11th day of April, 1840, he appeared as book-keeper. He was appointed teller on the 19th of June, 1841, and on the 1st of April, 1846, he was elected cashier. He was chosen Vice-President, April 19, 1855, and on the 19th of September, 1857, became President of the bank. This office he held at the time of his death. For several years Mr. Leonard had a pecuniary interest in the clothing store at Lowville, conducted by D. A. Smith. This interest had previously been represented by his brother-in-law, Mr. Loren M. Brown, at whose death he assumed it. At an early period of his connection with the bank, he began to buy up stock as opportunities offered and his means allowed, until nearly the whole was owned by himself and Mr. Easton, and finally, in 1856, Mr. Leonard purchased the larger interest of his associate and became almost sole proprietor of the institution. At an early period in the history of the bank, a part of its capital had been invested in the State bonds of Arkansas, and subsequently fell to a merely nominal value, and in consequence of this decline, the bank stock was for several years much depressed, and although its credit was maintained, the stockholders received no returns from their investments. By prudent management this error was gradually retrieved, and the capital, placed on a sound basis, began to yield its due returns to its owners. The financial crisis of 1857, was felt by the Bank of Lowville, in common with all others, and led Mr. Leonard to apply for the appointment of a receiver to close up its business; but the general suspension of banks throughout the country, which occurred simultaneously stayed the proceedings, and as the assets were much above its liabilities, no serious apprehensions of ultimate loss were entertained. The injunction was granted by Judge Hubbard on the 1oth of October of that year, and dissolved by Judge Denio on the 27th. The Hon. De Witt C. West was, during this brief period, the Receiver. As a proof of the confidence of his fellow citizens in the integrity of Mr. Leonard and in the stability of his bank, it should in this connection be recorded that at a public meeting held in Lowville on the 13th of October, it was agreed to receive the bills at par as usual, and no serious embarrassment occurred in consequence of this momentary shock. The bank did not commence a single suit against its customers during the crisis and lost no debts from discounts during that period. Of Mr. Leonard's business habits, financial tact in the management of the bank of Lowville, and public and domestic life, the writer of a notice in the Lewis County Democrat of January 30, 1867, who is understood to have been the Hon. D. C. West, says: "Since his connection with the chief financial institution of the country, his reputation and acquaintances have been co-extensive with the country, and indeed in some of his financial operations he discharged practically some of the duties which but for the enlarged confidence reposed in him by the county officials would more properly have devolved upon the county officers themselves. His management as a banker was commendable. With a sharp eye to the interests of its owners, it is believed that no undue advantage of necessitous creditors was ever taken by him. We remember no "Dummy" or other devices (which occasionally degrades the true banker, into the shaver and usurer) on the part of Mr. Leonard as a condition for loans, and his honorable management in that respect gave a high character to his business operations." Of the bank of Lowville, in operation as the chief financial institution in Lewis county, since July 1, 1839, Mr. Leonard was teller from June 19, 1844, to April 1, 1846, and cashier from last named date to September 19, 1857. In 1852, he became the purchaser and was interested in stock of the late I. W. Bostwick to the extent of six hundred and twenty-nine shares : and in 1853, to one hundred and eighty-five shares, or about $37,000, and after that period became the owner of the entire capital stock of the bank, except in so far as requisite to maintain its organization. The Valley bank was organized in 1851, with a circulation of $60,287 and the Bank of the People in 1852, with a circulation of $40,480, by Mr. Leonard as individual banks at Lowville. The former was disposed of and the latter wound up voluntarily. These banks were all organized under the general State banking laws of New York. Successful in the rapid accumulation of wealth, he was a leading contributor to almost every subscription paper here circulated. To the religious and educational institutions, like the men of our town preceding him, he was the firm friend, undaunted by opposition, undismayed by disaster. Usually placid, he gradually controlled those associated with him without difficulty. Associated and active in almost every enterprise of a public character, his loss even at this time cannot be over-estimated to this county in a business or social point of view. He left no issue. For a brief period only glided the smooth current of domestic joy. A wedded life of a few months closed by the untimely death of his youthful bride. To his aged mother (now deceased) and more immediate relatives and friends, his constant solicitude and charities were given ending only with existence. Fond of travel, and partaking largely of the National spirit which carried our country through the crisis of the Rebellion, he was one of the few from this country at the restoration of the flag exercises at Fort Sumter, the review of our armies at Washington at the close of the war, visiting also Richmond in its desolation and the unleveled and abandoned defenses about Petersburg. The dangerous financial condition of the country in the winter of 1859 and '60 alone prevented his journeying through the South and to the Isthmus, and he was looking forward to the relief from active business in a brief period, when he might have perhaps indulged his declared wish to travel on the Continent. James L. Leonard was no common man. This will be more apparent when we consider that he died young. Had he been permitted to go on accumulating his strength for twenty years to come as he had for the last ten, he would have become a power in the land. His will met few obstacles it did not conquer. He could enjoy the convivialities of social life without becoming degraded by its dissipations. He could devote himself to the duties of religion without being a bigot. He could rapidly accumulate wealth and still keep his heart and hand open as day for meeting charity. In a word, he could live for himself much and still live for others more. No such life as his is ever lost to the world. When a man dies, some sort of subtle influence seems to follow it which vivifies he coming years with the spirit of progress. Already the citizens of Lowville have taken fresh interest in the improvements which he projected, and had near his heart, and seem to accept them as trusts which they must execute in accordance with his wishes. Through many discouragements and trials, he pursued his even course along the rugged way which leads from poverty to affluence-unsullied by passion, untarnished by guile-and was stricken down in life's meridian with his labors seemingly half accomplished; yet in his two score and seven he accomplished much more than most men do who are blessed with their three score and ten. Mr. Leonard conducted his business to the common advancement of his own interests and those of the public generally, and as his means increased his native generosity and public spirit expanded to meet the growing impulses of a noble soul. The erection of a session room in 1853, and the latter costly renovation of the Presbyterian church of Lowville are largely due to his beneficent aid and early counsels. In 1860, Mr. Leonard took an active part in the enlargement of the building of the Lowville Academy, setting a noble example by a heavy subscription, lending funds from his ample means sufficient for the occasion, and devoting much time to business details. The publication of the history of Lewis county by F. B. Hough, in 1860, was almost entirely due to Mr. Leonard, who, with persevering industry, and entirely without expectation of pecuniary reward, secured a subscription sufficient to justify the expense of the undertaking. His mind was admirably fitted to enjoy historical inquiries, and he took especial pleasure in the collection and preservation of memorials of the early settlement of the county. His files of county newspapers were almost complete, and his knowledge of the local and personal history of the town and county was extensive. The formation of a County Historical Society was a subject he had much at heart. Plans were often discussed with those of a kindred spirit, and there is no occasion to doubt but that a suitable hall for a public library and cabinet, and for the preservation of memorials of the pioneers of our valley, would have been erected within a few years, and mainly at his own expense, had his life been spared. His lamented death before the execution of any part of the plan should impose upon surviving friends a kind remembrance of this intention and lead to its realization at the earliest practicable period. Upon the outbreak of the late war few persons felt a deeper interest in the final triumph of the National arms. He was an ardent patriot in spirit, and confident in the final issues of the right. His private aid to those enlisting in the services was frequently bestowed entirely without ostentation, and often known to none but those receiving it. He was one of a committee appointed at an early period in the town of Lowville to raise funds for the support of the families of soldiers and he subsequently served on other committees formed to promote the success of the cause. At an early stage in the conflict he expressed his confidence in the stability of our government by advancing money for its stock when pecuniary means were most needed, and the final issue of events most doubtful. The stocks eventually proved to be a highly remunerative investment, but they were taken in the darkest hour of the Republic, when to the common obs erver lowering clouds and thick darkness overhung the future and cast a dismal gloom over the present. Although thus incidentally enriched by the war, he will never be mentioned with those who watched the tide of events and waited till success was manifest and doubts were dissipated. He reasoned correctly that bonds and obligations upon property or against individuals were only good so far as government gave origin and effect to laws for their enforcement, and that whatever tended to weaken or destroy this, aimed at the vital elements of the social compact and hastened to aid the speedy and certain overthrow of every institution and of every interest. Mr. Leonard was from the first, an earnest advocate of measures tending to secure the construction of a railroad through the valley, urging its importance upon every occasion, hiring engineers to run partial lines in search of feasible routes, and liberally subscribing for all expenses of preliminary measures. A few months before his death he was appointed in conjunction with Senator O'Donnell and Hon. De Witt C. West as a committee to ascertain the final terms of the Utica and Black River Railroad Company for extending their line to this village, and had his life been spared he would have labored with untiring zeal for the promotion of this measure. His death cast a heavy load of responsibility upon his associates and the public. He constantly regarded this road as destined to become a good investment, and had he lived he would probably have proved the sincerity of these opinions by a liberal subscription to its stock. In 1865, after fruitless efforts to procure a telegraphic connection with this village, Mr. Leonard, upon his own account, made a contract for the erection of poles between Lowville and Port Leyden, and was about procuring the wires when the Montreal Telegraph Company, judging from this proof of confidence that the line would be remunerative, assumed the contract and completed the communication. He had previously made unsuccessful appeals to the proprietors of connecting lines, and had it not been for his enterprise Lowville might not yet have realized this great public benefit. For many years he had cherished the project of a Rural Cemetery adjacent to our village, and about 1861, he purchased the then only available grounds for this purpose. A few days before his death the measure was again brought forward under his encouraging advice. Preliminary meetings were held and the day but one before his death he conversed long and cheerfully with a friend on this subject. An Association was finally formed on the evening of the day he died, and it became the sad duty of loving friends, as the first business transaction to pass resolutions of sorrow at the sad bereavement occasioned by his death. On opening his will he is found to have bequeathed lands for cemetery purposes, and to have provided that the income arising from the sale of lots should be entirely expended in improving and beautifying the grounds. Mr. Leonard was for many years a member of the Presbyterian church and society, and at the time of his death was a trustee in common with his generous and earnest friend, Giles C. Easton, who died on the evening of the same day with Mr. Leonard, and who had been closely associated through life in various social and business relations. United in life and in death, the names of James L. Leonard and Giles C. Easton will long claim the grateful remembrance of our citizens. Upon the death of Isaac W. Bostwick, in 1857, Mr. Leonard was chosen a trustee of Lowville Academy, and he was one of the most active and laborious members of the Board. Having repeatedly given for the benefit of the academy, he provided in his will for a further bequest of $10,000, and a residuary interest of one-fifth in his estate to aid its endowment. During the last few weeks of his life, Mr. Leonard was excessively burdened with business cares. The completion of a noble block of buildings at a central point in the village of Lowville, intended in part for his bank, an unexpected complication of business from an endowment for others which he was called upon to meet, and above all, a constant and exhausting solicitude for the health of his aged and feeble mother, with whom he watched with the tenderest devotion, proved altogether too much for a constitution not naturally rugged, and for several days before he gave up business he was a fit subject for a physician's care. On Sunday, the 20th of January, 1867, he was obliged to acknowledge himself too sick to leave his room, and his symptoms assumed the form of typhoid fever with congestion. He was still unwilling to take active medicine, and he said he could not afford to be sick least his mother should need his care. His condition was not considered dangerous until Friday, when he became delirious. Diphtheritic symptoms appeared and he rapidly sank until death closed the scene at four o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday, the 26th of January, 1867. Mr. Leonard was married on the 25th of January, 1858, to Miss Mary M. Willard, only daughter of General Joseph A. Willard, of Lowville, who died on the 11th of August, following their marriage. Mr. Leonard never again married, and to the last, evinced toward the parents of his loving bride, that tender regard which proved the earnestness of his affection and the permanent impression which this loss had occasioned. In the spring of 1865, Mr. Leonard made an excursion to Charleston, South Carolina, as one of a party on board the steamship Oceanus, to witness the raising of the American flag upon Fort Sumter. Before leaving home upon this journey, he drew up a will which was found among his papers after his death, and which was to govern the distribution of his estate. Had this instrument been reviewed a month before his death, his increasing means and more recent events might have led to a somewhat different disposition of his estate. As it was, the citizens of his native county, town and village, had lasting and substantial reasons for cherishing a lively gratitude for his munificence and a tender regard for his memory. Source: History of Lewis County, New York; with...biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, by Hough, Franklin Benjamin, 1883 [ Link ] Are you related to James Harvey Leonard? Learn more about the family on Wikitree and add your branches ! Click here to learn about my branch of the Leonard family .

Recently, I've been researching the soldiers, officers, minutemen, and militia who responded to the alarm Paul Revere delivered, letting the colonists know the British were coming and not for a tea party. It was April 19, 1775. Imagine the fear and adrenaline pumping through the colonists' veins in these small towns as men left their wives and children to defend the colony. They had no idea they would go down in history as the first men to enter the American Revolution. Where do we find such bravery and courage? Reading through the names of the brave men, I wondered if the people who originally wrote them were writing by candlelight using a quill for a pen. Some were so unfamiliar, I assumed they were misspellings or transcription errors - Azariah, Eben, Eliale, Eliaphaz, Gershom, Ithamar, Issachar, Jesiah, Jeshua, Joatham, Jotham, Ziba, Shubael, and Solenas, for example. There were even three men named Shadrack, Meschec, and Abednego. As it turns out, these are all Biblical names - mostly spelled correctly. Other names found in the rolls were old fashioned names like Amasa, Archelaus, Asa, Cornelius, Barnabas, Rufus, Jeremiah, Moses, Ebenezer, Eleazer, Eliphalet, Elisha, Ephraim, Nathaniel, Nehemiah, Phinehas, Reuben, Rufus, Samson, Simeon, Thaddaeus, Solomon, and Uriah - all names of Biblical origin. There were also many men with more common Biblical names among the rolls, John being the most common. Many were named Thomas, Andrew, Peter, Samuel, David, Joshua, Caleb, Benjamin, Isaac, Jacob, James, Daniel, Joseph, Aaron, Abel, Abraham, Joshua, Philip, Jesse, and Stephen, for example. Many of these names are still very popular today and although giving a child a Biblical name doesn't guarantee the family is Christian, I don't believe non-Christians have ever generally made a practice of giving their children Biblical names. Perhaps today they might, not realizing or caring whether or not a name is found in the Bible, but in most cases, those who are opposed to the Bible probably wouldn't give their child a Biblical name. Of the 4,006 men listed in Massachusetts Muster Rolls of men who participated in the events of April 19, 1775, the distribution of names is as follows: 418  (10%) of the soldiers' names named after royalty: Charles (15), Edward (32), George (21), Henry (23), Richard (27), Robert (35), Edmund (13), Francis (30), and William (217). 181 (5%) of the soldiers' names were neither Biblical nor royal names. Of these, Oliver (34), was the most common, although it is said that the name Oliver derives from Olivier - French meaning Olive Branch - (Biblical). About half of these names include surnames given as first names - Leonard, Allen, etc. Others included Ambrose, Christopher, Theodore, Norman, and Willard. Also included in this number are names such as Hopestill, Increase, Justice, Purchase, and Unite. These were verb names were traditionally given by Puritans. 3,409 (85%) of the soldiers' names were from the Bible. There are 147 different names. Each Biblical name found in the rolls, along with the number of occurrences are shown here: To me, this is a very interesting revelation. This demonstrates that from the arrival of the Mayflower and the years following, the Puritan Migration, to the time of the Revolution - for 155 years, their descendants continued strong in the faith. Perhaps this is where those brave men found their hope and their help to win the war. In fact, I'm sure of it. How else could a few patriots who were in the minority stand a chance against a Kingdom like Great Britain who was planting colonies around the globe? King George III had all his judges and magistrates in place and his "regulars" fully occupied Boston. He even had the loyalty of many of the colonists who didn't mind conforming to Parliament's new laws, paying their new taxes, and not having a say in any of it. Against all their wealth, weapons, and might, the patriots won. Some people argue that America wasn't founded as a Christian nation, but there is so much documented evidence to show that it was and this analysis of the names of those who physically fought to make our independence possible is just another piece of evidence. The Pilgrims and Puritans emigrated to America in search of a home where they could practice their Christian walk without persecution, which was often very severe, even deadly. Their goal was to demonstrate to the world what a nation with God on it's side could become - "a city upon a hill", and that goal was achieved for the past 400 years. Even today, 250 years later, 63% of Americans are Christian - 42% Protestant and 21% Catholic, although the numbers are dwindling as people stray further from God. [1][2] Just as we were an example of what a blessed nation can become, we can also be an example of what happens when a blessed people forget all that God has done for us, reject his laws, and lose his blessing. Finally, as a sidenote, I found it interesting that April 19, 1775, fell squarely in the middle of Passover. In 1775, Passover began on Friday, April 14th and ended on Saturday, April 22nd [3]. While most Christians don't celebrate Passover today, it is one of the few holidays God commanded the Israelites to keep. It is a profound parallel, for those who know the story of Passover in the Bible and what it symbolizes, and even more so for those who know about the diaspora and the Lost Tribes of Israel. I'm sure I could write for days about it, but I'll leave it at that. Click here to search the Patriot's Day Database to see if any of your ancestors or relatives were among the bravest on that day. Let us never forget them or their bravery and sacrifice and may we keep the same faith. God bless America! Sources: [1] How U.S. religious composition has changed in recent decades ( PewResearch ) [2] America's Christian majority is shrinking, and could dip below 50% by 2070 ( NPR ) [3] Hebrew Calendar ( HebCal )

While sifting through records of men named Charles Leonard in Central New York in the mid-1800s, I learned about a man named Charles Leonard of Byron Center. Not to be confused with Port Byron , which is in Cayuga County, Byron is situated about 89 miles west of it, in Genesee County. Charles was born Oct. 8, 1816, in Sangerfield, Oneida County, New York. He was a son of Stephen Leonard (1780-1848) and Ann (Bush) Leonard, and a descendant of Solomon Leonard of Duxbury, Massachusetts. Charles was a 4th great-grandson of Solomon Leonard, and although neither Stephen nor Charles were my ancestors, they were relatives, since my Leonard line also descends from Solomon Leonard. Charles' father, Stephen Leonard, was counted on the census in Sangerfield, Oneida, New York, in 1820, 1830 and 1840, and he died there on Apr. 23, 1848, at the age of 67. Charles Leonard married Betsey Williams, Oct. 16, 1837, and together they had four known children: Nathan E. Leonard , born Aug. 25, 1839, in Sangerfield, Oneida, New York, married Francis Hulett in 1861 and had at least two children - Effie (married Stevens), and Wyman Leonard. He enlisted in the 25th New York Light Artillery on February 11th 1863. Discharged on August 1st 1865 in Rochester, NY. Died Dec. 14, 1911, in Barre, Orleans, New York. George Leonard , born Aug. 11, 1841, in Sangerfield, Oneida, New York. He married Linnie Dibble on Jan. 27, 1876, at Byron, and they had a daughter named Stella (1883-1951), who married Fred Willard in 1903 and had at least two children: Glenn D. Willard Sr (1904-1985) and Gertrude Mae Willard (1907-1970). Gertrude married Louis J. Gaeta in 1925 and had at least two children. He is buried in Byron Cemetery, Section NE H21 4. ( Findagrave ). Alice Deborah Leonard , born Sept. 12, 1844, in Sangerfield, Oneida, New York. She never married or had children, but cared for her parents in their old age. She is buried in Byron Cemetery, Section NE H20 2. ( Findagrave ). Mary Leonard , born abt. 1848, died young on Feb. 8, 1868. She is buried in Byron Cemetery Section NE H21 5. ( Findagrave ). She was 19 years, 5 months old. Two years after his father died, Charles was counted on the census of 1850, still in Sangerfield. His family was living with the Miller family. Charles was 34, Betsey was 36, and their children in the home were: Nathan E. (11), George (8), Alice (5), and Mary LEONARD (2). ​ In 1860 the family was in Byron, Genesee County, NY, as follows: Charles (45, Hotel Keeper), Betsey (49), Nathan (19), George (17), Alice (15), Mary LEONARD (13), and James TUCKER and family of five. Note: There was also a Charles Leonard, age 19, in LeRoy in 1860. He was “Barn Keeper” at Powell Carpenter’s Motel. ​ In 1865 Charles's family was still in Byron as follows: Charles (52, Hotel Keeper), Betsey (57), George (26), Alice (24) LEONARD and two others.   In 1880 they were still in Byron as follows: Charles (64), Betsy (67), Alice (32) with J. BELLOWS (53) and Effie LEONARD (17), their granddaughter. Betsey died March 13, 1893, in Byron, and is buried in Byron Cemetery, Section NE H21 2 ( Findagrave ). In 1900, Charles was still in Byron. He was 83, and indicated he was born Oct 1816, widowed, born in NY, father born in Mass., mother born in NY. His daughter, Alice, born Sep 1845, was still living in the home. She was single and reported as being born in New York. Her mother was born in Mass. Two boarders also lived in the home. Charles died at the age of 84, on May 7, 1901, at Byron, and is buried in Byron Cemetery, Section NE H21 1. ( Findagrave ). Other information about Charles and his family, found in various newspapers and publications: Found in the Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1790, p. 399 [ Link ] as follows: “Charles Leonard was born in Sangerfield, Oneida County, where he lived until 1852, when he came to South Byron, and kept a livery stable and saloon for three years. He was a farmer for three years in Le Roy. In April, 1865, he came to Byron Center, and has kept the hotel there since that time, and has also carried the mail from South Byron to Byron Center.” He sold the "Byron Center Hotel" in 1890. See also, p. 150 of the Gazetteer for 1869-1870 [ Link ]. From the Syracuse Daily Courier July 9, 1859: "Change of Proprietors. - Many will regret to learn that Barney Becker, the popular landlord of the Voorhees House, has disposed of his interest in that splendid Hotel and retires from its management. The new landlords are B. Filkins and Chas. Leonard, both of who know how to keep a first class Hotel. We wish them prosperity."   From the Batavia Spirit of The Times 1833-1865 "Fire at South Byron - Between one and two o'clock last Wednesday morning, the Rail Road Hotel at South Byron, owned and occupied by Stephen Leonard, was entirely destroyed by fire."   From the Batavia Spirit of The Times 1833-1865 "To those of our Genesee County people who may desire to stop at Battle Creek, Michigan, it will be welcome intelligence to know that STEPHEN LEONARD, formerly of South Byron, is now the proprietor of the American Hotel, at the first named place. Our old friend Leonard kept at Byron, for some years, one of the finest and most popular Hotels in this region. We doubt not his establishment at Battle Creek will prove alike acceptable to all who may favor him with their patronage. We wish the American and its worthy landlord abundant and permanent good fortune."   From the Buffalo Evening Courier May 1, 1876: "Trouble in a Beer Saloon - A lively Melee - A Revolver Used, Etc. About seven o'clock in Lenhard's saloon, No. 12 Batavia street, and before it terminated firearms were brought into requisition. It seem that about five o'clock Willis Wright, William Flinn, and two other young men entered this place and had some beer to drink. They remained til nearly seven o'clock. One of the party broke a beer glass but refused to pay more than half the amount asked for it, whereupon high words ensued. The bartender, Chas. Lenhard, was set upon by the party, and received some bruises about the face, after which the assailants were ejected from the premises. Once outside the quartette, or some of them, as it is alleged, hurled stones at the building, one of the missiles crashing through a window, and another passing through a light of glass in the door, striking Chas. Lenhard in the forehead and inflicting a painful wound. Louis Lenhard, a brother of the injured man, catching up a revolver, rushed outside and fired a couple of shots at the assaulting party as they retreated up the street. The shootist as taken into custody by Patrolman Hazel, of the Third Precinct, on charge of assault with intent to kill, preferred by Wright. Flinn was locked upon charge of assault and battery; and to make the matter still more complicated, the Sunday law will probably be applied."   From The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Sat., Mar. 15, 1890: "GENESEE. Charles Leonard has just sold his brick hotel at Byron Center to Miss Alice Clark of the town of Alabama. She has recently sold her Alabama hotel to a Mr. Reed, of Shelby. Mr. Leonard has owned and kept the Byron Hotel for more than twenty five years, and this deal is quite noteworthy even in that flourishing village."   From the Batavia Progressive Batavian "Byron, March 4th, 1884. Charles Leonard and his daughter Alice are to start for Massachusetts Thursday, to be absent several weeks."   From the Batavia Progressive Batavian Friday, June 5, 1885: "The accident reported in your last week's paper, to young Chapel and his lady companions, by which they were slightly injured and his horse killed, was caused by the driver, Frank Jones, of Charles Leonard's horse and buggy, undertaking to drive past Chapel on a narrow place in the road which crowded him off the side into the ditch, upsetting his carriage and throwing the horse over and instantly killing him. Chapel is seeking damages for his loss from Leonard, and negotiations for settlement are pending. If they fail of course the matter will probably go to the courts. One of the young lady's arms is quite badly injured - may disable her for some time."   From the Rochester Democrat Chronicle, Sat., Mar. 15, 1890: "Charles Leonard has just sold his brick hotel at Byron Center to Miss Alice Clark, of the town of Alabama. She has recently sold her hotel at Alabama to a Mr. Reed of Shelby. Mr. Leonard has owned and kept the Byron Hotel for more than twenty-five years, and this deal is quite a noteworthy event in that flourishing village."   From the Batavia Daily News 1890: "Tuesday April 20 (or 29) - Charles Leonard having disposed of his hotel property at Byron Center, will sell on the premises two horses, some swine, a variety of agricultural implements and a large lot of household goods, including ten bed-room sets, tables, chairs, crockery, glassware, etc. sale begins at 19 o'clock. C. H. Reynolds, auctioneer; C. H. Coward, clerk."   From the Batavia Progressive Batavian 1892-1895: "BYRON. Mrs. Charles Stevens, of Albion, has been visiting her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Leonard."   From the Batavia Progressive Batavian Feb 19, 1892: "BYRON. Chas Leonard is to receive an insurance of $500. A disability claim."   From Batavia Daily News, Feb 1893: "Mrs. Charles Leonard, who has been an invalid for a number of years, is in a critical condition". From the Batavia Progressive Batavian, Fri., Mar. 27, 1893: "Mrs. Charles Leonard died at her home in Byron Monday night March 13th, in the 77th year of her age. She was born in Williamstown, Mass., in the year 1818[or 1816?]. Her maiden name was Betsy Williams. She was married to Mr. Leonard more than half a century ago. Besides the bereaved husband she leaves three children, two sons, George and Nathan, and a daughter, Alice, who has always lived with her parents, caring for her mother until she was called from her mortal home. Mrs. Leonard was an affectionate wife, a kind and gentle neighbor, and leaves a large circle of friends. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the whole community. The funeral will take place at her late residence Friday afternoon."   From Batavia Daily News, April 14, 1896: "The Late George Leonard. Byron, April 14. - George Leonard, whose death was announced in the News yesterday, was a son of Charles Leonard, who for many years was proprietor of the Byron Center hotel. He had been sick nearly a year. He leaves a widow, one daughter, an aged father, one brother, Nathan Leonard of Middleport, and a sister, Miss Alice Leonard of Byron. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock." From The Leroy Gazette, Wed., May 15, 1901: "LEROY AND VICINITY. Charles Leonard, for 35 years a resident of Byron Center, died last week at age 84 years. For a number of years he conducted the Byron Center hotel."   From The Batavia Daily News, Sat., Aug. 6, 1927: "THE PAST AND PRESENT...Charles Leonard was the proprietor of the hotel at Byron and operated the stage route from South Byron to Byron Center." This 1876 map shows exactly where the hotel was located: You can tour Byron and see Charles Leonard's old "brick hotel" on Google Maps . It appears the hotel, his home, and the church (to the left) are all still standing 148 years later. Use the arrows to navigate toward the church (to the left) to see the Leonard's home, which has been beautifully preserved. If you're a descendant of Stephen Leonard, check out the family on Wikitree and add your branches! Stephen Leonard on Wikitree Click here for free genealogy resources . Click here to learn about my Leonard branch .

My 4th great-grandmother, Sophronia, married Russel Leonard in or before 1830 and had at least two children, Charles Russell Leonard and Jenette (Leonard) Reynolds. Russel left to buy land in Michigan territory in 1833 and was never heard from again by his family. Sophronia soon remarried to Thomas Knapp and raised a large family with him. This is the brick wall in my Leonard line. Family tradition says Charles Russell Leonard's mother was "Sophronia Burrill", alternatively written Burlet, Burrell, or Burlew in various documents. One family record gives her father's name as Joshua Burrill (of Pembroke, Genesee, New York), but she is not named in Joshua's will, unlike his other known children, leaving us with no evidence to prove this claim, and even casting doubt on it. My DNA matches descendants of both Sophronia Knapp and of Joshua Burrill, so I do believe we are on the right track, but I don't understand why no connection has been found to link Sophronia to her father. My DNA matches with descendants of Joshua Burrill's daughter, Martha (Burrill) Redman: Refer to my previous post here for more on my DNA connections with Joshua Burrill . Many researchers confuse Sophronia with Sophronia, the wife of Nelson Burrill, which is understandable, given the many similarities between them. Both of these Sophronias were born about 1815 and both died in 1883, and they lived within about 30 miles of each other. The most common mistake I see is Sophronia (Burrill) Leonard Knapp's birth date given as December 13, 1815, in Cortland, New York. This information is incorrect. People are confusing her with Sophronia (Campbell) Burrill, wife of Nelson Burrill. There is no documentation proving when or where Sophronia (Burrill) Leonard Knapp was born as far as I know. Here's what has been found about Nelson & Sophronia (Campbell) Burrill of Elbridge, with sources: Sophronia Maria Campbell [1] was born on 13 Dec 1815 in Onondaga, Onondaga, New York[1, 2, 3]. Sophronia Maria Campbell married Nelson Burrill and lived in Elbridge, Onondaga, New York. Elbridge is only about ten miles from Port Byron, where Sophronia (Burrill) Leonard requested information about her husband be sent. In 1840, the only boy in the "Nelson Burrel" household was under five, and would have been their son Nelson A. Burrill who had just been born in April of 1840. We don't see Sophronia's name on the census with him until 1850 and on that census the boy Nelson was 10. She was counted on the census in 1870 in Elbridge, Onondaga, New York. She lived in Elbridge in 1880[2]. She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church at Jordan.[10] She died on 20 Apr 1883[9]. She went by the name of Sophronia Burrill[2]. She was buried in Jordan Village Cemetery, Jordan, Onondaga, New York. Her parents were reportedly born in Massachusetts. Nelson Burrill [1, 2, 5] was born on 25 Nov 1811 in New York[1, 2, 5, 6]. He lived in Camillus, Onondaga, New York, in 1840[7]. His father was Jacob Burrill, a brother of Joshua Burrill of Pembroke, Genesee County, New York . Therefore, Nelson was a cousin of Sophronia (Burrill) Leonard Knapp, assuming she actually was a daughter of Joshua. Nelson was counted in the census in Elbridge, Onondaga, New York, in 1850, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1875, and 1880[2]. He died on 07 Jul 1881 in Weedsport, Cayuga, New York[6]. He also went by the name of Nelson Burrel[7]. He was buried in Jordan Village Cemetery, Elbridge, Onondaga, New York. Nelson Burrill and Sophronia Maria Campbell had the following children: Nelson Alonzo Burrill was born on 5 Apr 1840. Horace L. Burrill was born on 3 Dec 1841. He lived in Weedsport, Cayuga, New York, USA in 1881 (as per father's obituary). He died on 1 Aug 1922. He was buried Weedsport Rural Cemetery. (See also, Burritt Family excerpt, below). Mary Alice Burrill was born on 23 Nov 1843. She died on 20 Oct 1844. Martha C. Burrill was born on 12 Sep 1845. She died on 20 Oct 1877. Francis M. Burrill was born about 1850. James A. Burrill was born about 14 May 1851. He died from typhoid pneumonia on 20 Nov 1873. ( See bio here ) There are many similarities between the two Sophronias but as you can see by comparing the records, they are clearly not the same person. See The Life of Sophronia Knapp for more details. ​ Sophronia (Campbell) Burrill Sophronia (Burrill) (Leonard) (Knapp) Birth ​Dec. 13, 1815 New York ​Abt. 1815 New York Marriage ​Bef. 1840 ​Bef. 1833 1840 ​Camillus, Onondaga, New York ​Scipio, Cayuga, New York 1850 Elbridge, Onondaga, New York ​Genoa, Cayuga, New York 1855 Elbridge, Onondaga, New York ​Locke, Cayuga, New York, 1860 Elbridge, Onondaga, New York Springport, Cayuga, New York 1865 Elbridge, Onondaga, New York Union Springs, Cayuga, New York 1870 Elbridge, Onondaga, New York ​ 1875 ​Elbridge, Onondaga, New York Age 59, married to Nelson Burrill. Springport, Cayuga, New York 1880 ​Elbridge, Onondaga, New York, age Age 65, married to Nelson Burrill. ​Summerhill, Cayuga, New York Death ​Apr. 20, 1883 ​Dec. 3, 1883 Moravia, Cayuga, New York Burial Jordan, Onondaga, New York Union Springs, Cayuga, New York Another coincidence and common factor between both Sophronias is that neither of them is found in the 1883 New York Death Index . Sources Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004), _, Database online. Source number: 317.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: RB1. Record for Nelson Burrill. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1880 Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010), Database online. Year: 1880; Census Place: Elbridge, Onondaga, New York; Roll: 905; Family History Film: 1254905; Page: 157D; Enumeration District: 169; Image: 0511. Record for Nelson Burrill. 1875 New York State Census. The Burritt family in America : descendants of William Burritt of Stratford, Connecticut, 1635-1940, by Lewis L. Burritt, p. 63 [ Link ] Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1880 Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010), Database online. Year: 1880; Census Place: Elbridge, Onondaga, New York; Roll: 905; Family History Film: 1254905; Page: 157D; Enumeration District: 169; Image: 0511. Record for Sophronia Burrill. JORDAN VILLAGE CEMETERY Index (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyononda/CEMETERY/JORDAN.HTM) BURRILL, Nelson. Born November 25th, 1811. Died July 7th, 1881. BURRILL, Sophronia, wife of Nelson BURRILL. Born December 13th, 1815. Died April 20th, 1883. BURRILL, James A., son of Nelson and Sophronia BURRILL. Died November 20th, 1873. Aged 22 years, 6 months and 6 days. BURRILL, Mary Alice, daughter of Nelson and Sophronia BURRILL. Died October 20th, 1844. Aged 10 months and 27 days. BURRILL, Martha C., daughter of Nelson and Sophronia BURRILL. Died October 20th, 1877. Aged 32 years, 1 month and 8 days. Ancestry.com, 1840 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), www.ancestry.com, Database online. Year: 1840; Census Place: Camillus, Onondaga, New York; Roll: ; Page:. Record for Nelson Burrel. Ancestry.com, Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), Database online. Record for Nelson Burrill. MyHeritage.com , Newspaper: Cayuga Chief, April 14, 1883, "At the residence of her son, H. L. Burrill, Esq., in Weedsport, April 20th, 1883, Mrs. S. M. Burrill, relict of the late Nelson Burrill, aged 66 years and 4 months." Our Church and Her Interests: Being a Souvenir of the Past History..., by J. Edward Close, p. 52, and 91-92. [ Link ] See Nelson Burrill's info on this page: See also my previous post about Nelson and Sophronia Campbell Burrill, here . My goal is to prove the parentage of Sophronia who married Russel Leonard who went missing in 1834. If you have any comments or suggestions, please share! Click here for more details about Sophronia's family . Click here for my genealogy links and tips ! #sophroniaburrill #sophroniacampbell #leonard #burrill

Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the Revolutionary War is an amazing collection of data in 17 volumes arranged alphabetically by last name. You can find these online at Archive.org (free). Use these links to make it easy. Simply select the book the surname you are researching falls between. VOL 1 - A to Ber VOL 2 - Bes to Byx VOL 3 - C to Cor VOL 4 - Cos to Dr VOL 5 - Du to Fo VOL 6 - Fr to Gy VOL 7 - Ha to Hi VOL 8 - Hm to Jy VOL 9 - Ka to Ls VOL 10 - Lu to Mop ( alternate link ) VOL 11 - Mor to Paz ( alternate link ) VOL 12 - Pe to Ra VOL 13 - Re to Se VOL 14 - Sh to Sth VOL 15 - Sti to Toz VOL 16 - Tra to Whe VOL 17 - Whi to Zyr ( alternate link ) Click here to see more resources for Military Records . Click here for more free genealogy resources . #americanrevolution #links #resources #military #veterans #Massachusetts #newengland #resources

When I look at the vital records of Woburn, all I can think is "Why OH WHY can't every town have records as good as these?!" Edward Johnson (1856-1922) and William Cutler (1847-1918) have done a great service to the descendants of Woburnians! Truly, it is a phenomenal work. Virtually every birth, marriage and death that occurred in Woburn between 1640 and 1900 is recorded in these ten volumes and you can access right now for free using the links provided, courtesy of archive.org.   Parts 1-3 Births, Marriages & Deaths from 1640-1873 in one [ Link ] Parts 4-6 Births, Marriages & Deaths from 1873-1890 in one [ Link ] Parts 7-9 Births, Marriages & Deaths from 1891-1900 in one [ Link ] Individual Volumes Part 1 - Births 1640-1873 [ Link ] Part 2 - Deaths 1640-1873 [ Link ] Part 3 - Marriages 1640-1873 [ Link ] Part 4 - Births 1873-1890 [ Link ] Part 5- Deaths 1873-1890 [ Link ] Part 6 - Marriages 1873-1890 [ Link ] Part 7 - Births 1891-1900 [ Link ] Part 8 - Deaths 1891-1900 [ Link ] Part 9 - Marriages 1891-1900 [ Link ] Part 10 - Marriage Intentions 1699-1890 [ Link ] Photo of Soldiers Monument from "Woburn: an historical and descriptive sketch of the town, with an outline of its industrial interests" by Woburn Board of Trade [ Link ] Click here for more free Woburn history and genealogy resources Click here for more free Middlesex County, Massachusetts history and genealogy resources Click here for more free Massachusetts history and genealogy resources Check out the Genealogy Dashboard for more free tools and resources #woburn #massachusetts #resources #vitalrecords #births #marriages #deaths

While searching, once again, in the FamilySearch catalog to see what new documents have been added for Union Springs, New York, I came across an old magazine called Yesteryears, Volume 26 #3 . On pages 81-90, this gem was hiding! No, it doesn't mention Charles Russell Leonard who was said to have been born in Union Springs in 1830, but it gives us a glimpse of what was happening in Union Springs at the time and does provide a few leads, which I've transcribed here to make it searchable. ( You can read the entire periodical on FamilySearch here ). A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNION SPRINGS By Temple R. Hollcroft (1889-1967) Former Historian of Cayuga County, N. Y. As the name implies, Cayuga County was originally the home of the Cayuga Indian Nation, one of the six nations in the League of the Iroquois. According to Indian tradition, this league had been organized about 1500 by Hiawatha, an Indian "superman" of the Onondaga Nation. It first contained the five nations, Oneida, Mohawk, Onondaga, and Seneca, and in 1713 a kindred nation, the Tuscarora, was added. The Iroquois were steadfast allies of the British against the French in the wars preceding the Revolution, and during the Revolution, with the exception of some of the Oneidas, they fought on the side of the British. In the autumn of 1779, to put an end to the raids on the white settlements by the Indians, General Washington sent General John Sullivan to crush the Cayuga and Seneca nations and lay waste their territory. The principal Cayuga village, Goioguen, called Cayuga Castle, was just north of Great Gully. Its site is now in the southern part of Springport. This village and all others were destroyed with all of the crops ready for harvesting or already stored for the winter. The soldiers even chopped down most of the fruit trees. The Indians of this area all fled to near Buffalo where the British supported them during the following winter. Very few of the Cayugas returned after the Revolution. In 1788 the State of New York purchased all of the Cayuga Nation's territory except an area called the Cayuga Reservation along the foot of Lake Cayuga and Seneca River, extending four miles back from the lake on both sides and from Aurora to Montezuma. The southern boundary of the Cayuga Reservation is the road from Aurora to Sherwood. The eastern boundary of this reservation is now the eastern boundary of the Town of Springport. In 1788, John Harris came to Cayuga and started a ferry across the foot of the lake. On the map of the Cayuga Reservation, the road which is now Route 90, went only to Cayuga where it connected with the Genesee Road on the east and Cayuga Ferry on the west. In 1800 the first Cayuga Bridge was completed. More than a mile long, it was at that time the longest bridge in the world. In 1788, Roswell Franklin and his party surveyed lands now in the northern part of Aurora and moved there with their families in March, 1789, to form the first settlement in Cayuga County. On March 5, 1794, Onondaga County was organized. It originally contained all of the Military Tract, an area of more than two million acres set aside by the State Legislature to be given the soldiers of the Revolution as a reward for their services. The original Onondaga County contained all of the four counties, Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga and Seneca, and parts of the four, Oswego, Schuyler, Tompkins and Wayne. The first county seat of Onondaga County was Aurora (or Scipio as the village was called until 1795). The courts were held alternately at Cayuga Bridge and Aurora until 1804 after which all were held at Aurora. On March 8, 1799, Cayuga County was formed from the western three fifths of Onondaga County, with Aurora its first county seat. The original Cayuga County contained almost exactly the ancestral lands of the Cayuga Indian Nation - all of the present Cayuga and Seneca counties and parts of Tompkins, Schuyler, and Wayne. In 1804, Seneca County was taken off and in 1817, Tompkins County. As you know, Cayuga County now contains 23 towns outside of Auburn. The boundary of the present Cayuga County contains only two of the eleven original towns of the Military Tract and part of another, that is Aurelius, Scipio and the north half of Milton. From Aurelius has been formed the towns: Sterling, Victory, Ira, Conquest, Cato, Montezuma, Mentz, Auburn, Brutus, Throop, Sennett, Aurelius, Owasco, Fleming, and the north two thirds of Springport. From Scipio: Scipio, Ledyard, Venice, Niles, Moravia, Sempronius, and the south one third of Springport. From Milton: Genoa, Locke, Summerhill. Springport is the only town of Cayuga County formed from portions of two of the original towns. The village of Union Springs also lies in both of these two original towns, and also about twice as much in Aurelius as in Scipio. The first settlements at Union Springs were on Lot 98 of the Cayuga Reservation, the lot of Aurelius farthest south that is on the lake. The village has since spread north into lots 97 and 92 of Aurelius and south into lot 103 of the Reservation end of Scipio. Springport is also the only town of Cayuga County formed entirely from lands of the Cayuga Reservation. Union Springs, as you well know, was named for the two large springs in the village. Attracted by these springs as a source of water power, there were attempts to settle this vicinity in 1789, but, on complaint of the Indians, the settlers were ejected by the state authorities. However, Edward Richardson came about 1790-91, dammed the north spring and built a small grist mill run by water power. Frederick Gearhart, a blacksmith, came about 1790 and settled on lot 109 east of Union Springs. Thomas Thompson also came in October, 1790, with four sons and five daughters and settled just south of the village. There is no adequate explanation of why the Indians allowed these settlers to remain on their reservation while they had the settlers dispossessed who had come only a year earlier. In 1795, the Indians sold all of the Cayuga Reservation to the State except the Cayuga Residence Reservation extended about two miles back from the lake and from lot 103 south to Great Gully. It included the site of Cayuga Castle. The lots in it contain only about 1/4 square mile while most lots in the other parts of the Cayuga Reservation as in the Military Tract average one square mile each. In 1791 there were about 600 Indians living on the Cayuga Reservation. When it was sold to the State in 1795, most of the Indians moved to reservations near Buffalo except those living on the Residence Reservation. The Residence Reservation contained the point of land then called "Long Point", now Farley's Point. The last Indians who lived near here had their homes on Farley's Point. This was a band of about 30 Tuscaroras whose chief had the Indian name, Kanistagia, which in English means, Steel Trap. After Steel Trap died about 1800, they moved to near Buffalo. In 1794, James Crane came from New Jersey on foot and began farming about two miles N.E. of Union Springs. For ten years, he tended his farm during the spring, summer and fall, walking back to New Jersey to spend the winter, and walking to his farm again the next spring. Finally, in 1804, he brought his family by oxteam, the trip requiring 17 days. Jesse Davis came in 1799 from Pennsylvania and built a log mill with one run of stone on Yawger's Creek. One of his mill wrights was George McFarland who married a daughter of Thomas Thompson. In 1800 James Carr came from Johnston, Pa., and settled about 1-1/2 miles south of the village where his descendants now live. His son, Hartman Carr, was one year old when he came here with his father. Also about 1800, Dr. John Mosher came from Washington Co., John Earl from Newport, R.I., James Barker from Rensselaer Co. and Gilbert Weed from Saratoga Co. John Earl was a brother-in-law of Wm. S. Burling, a Quaker minister who lived at the corner of Cayuga and Chapel Sts. Barker, Burling and Earl owned both springs for a time. Later Burling and Earl retained the north spring and mill and Barker used the south spring to run a fulling mill. In 1816 he sold the fulling mill to Philip Winegar who had come from Dutchess Co. the year before on foot. Winegar soon added a grist mill and a saw mill at the south spring. John Nutt came from Vermont about 1800 and settled about two miles east of the village. Philip Yawger came from New Jersey in 1801 with six sons and four daughters. One son, Peter Yawger, was a number of the Assembly in 1827 and 1831, and an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1840. He built the Yawger Tavern about three miles north of the village. In 1809 the first plaster bed was discovered on Philip Yawger's farm. This was gypsum or calcium sulphate from which Plaster of Paris is made. This had been imported heretofore from Nova Scotia, but when that supply was cut off during the War of 1812 the "Cayuga Plaster", as it was called, came into extensive use and provided a profitable industry for many years. Humphrey Hunt came from Orange Co. in 1805 and settled one mile south of Union Springs. He was in Sullivan's army in 1779 and was with the troops that destroyed the Cayuga Villages on the east side of Lake Cayuga. Ichabod Clark, Amos Howland, Thomas Collins, William Cozzens, William Taver and Elam Anthony all came before 1815. The first merchant in Union Springs was Laban Hoskins from Genoa who opened a store in 1810.  Dr. John Mosher, William Cozzens and Asa Burnham were partners in a store beginning in 1815. Philip Winegar and a son Eseck Winegar opened a store in 1822. Daniel Mersereau from Staten Island began a general merchandise store in 1830 which was continued for many years by his descendants. George H. Ham had a general store at Hamburg, a small hamlet named for him near the limestone quarries about three fourths mile south of Union Springs. He moved his store to Union Springs in 1836, but failed after a few years. It is not possible to give a complete account of the business houses and business men of Union Springs in a brief talk. A Post Office was established in Union Springs in 1811.  Dr. John Mosher was the first postmaster and continued in that office for 30 years. He was also the first physician in the village. He practiced from 1800 until his nephew, Dr. Stephen Mosher came in 1817. When the town of Springport was formed from Aurelius and Scipio in 1823 , the citizens held a town meeting at the Inn of John Yawger, April 1, 1823, and elected the first town officers. The first town supervisor was William Cozzens and the first town Clerk, Wm. G. Harkness. The village of Union Springs was incorporated Nov. 8, 1848, and originally contained 1086.85 acres. In 1877 the western boundary of the village was extended to the middle of Lake Cayuga. (It is not recorded how many under-water acres that added.) The first village officers elected January 16, 1849 were: Eseck M. Winegar, President; John C. Yawger, Treasurer and John Griffing, Clerk. Frontenac Island is well within the western boundary of Union Springs. It evidently was an Indian burial ground. The island was deeded to the Village of Union Springs in April, 1856, by the New York State Legislature, to be used as a park. It was cleared of underbrush and walks and seats added, but these have not been kept in repair. This island is of particular interest because it is the only one in any of the Finger Lakes. Apparently Union Springs was a peaceful place, legally, for quite a while after it was founded. No lawyer lived here until 1845. The first one was Caleb Winegar who practiced here from 1845 to 1870. Union Springs is noted for the large number of newspapers and periodicals published here. Beginning with "The Cayuga Tocsin" established December 25, 1811 , by Royall T. Chamberlain, there were thirteen published in Union Springs at various times up to June 14, 1866, when the 14th "The Union Springs Advertiser" , was started by James B. Hoff. This weekly continued until a few years ago. There were several steamboats on Lake Cayuga carrying both passengers and freight, from the Enterprise in 1818 to the Frontenac which burned near Dill's Cove in July, 1907. There were ferries across the lake at various points, but Union Springs had the only steam ferry boat, the small steamer, R.B. Howland. Canal boats also carried freight to and from New York City and points along the Erie Canal via the Cayuga and Seneca Canal connecting Lake Cayuga with the Erie Canal at Montezuma. The Cayuga Lake Railroad along the eastern shore of Lake Cayuga from Ithaca to Cayuga was completed in 1872.  One of its chief promoters and a director was J.J. Thomas. The railroad proved to be a losing proposition, however, and in the latter seventies it was sold to the Lehigh Valley Railroad . The passenger service was discontinued in 1947 and the present branch through Union Springs runs only form Auburn to Aurora. One of the most important early factories was the Cayuga Plaster Co. In 1875 this factory gave employment to more than fifty men in the quarries and mills, for about two thirds of each year. This factory produced from 30,000 to 40,000 tons of plaster annually. The Cayuga Plaster Co. was owned in 1875 by Clinton T. Backus, James Fitch, R.B. Howland, B. Robinson and R.B. Robinson. A branch of the First National Bank of Aurora is to be opened here at Union Springs in the near future. The First National Bank of Union Springs, however, was organized February 4, 1864 , exactly one month before the First National Bank of Aurora was organized. The bank opened for business in April of that year. The bank building was the business building farthest north on Cayuga Street. The first officers were: John C. Yawger, President; Albert Beardsley, Vice-President and Benjamin Howland, Cashier. The original capital was $50,000, increased to $100,000 on January 16, 1865. The old stone mill, 65 by 84 feet, with four stories and a basement, was built in 1840 by George Howland of New Bedford, Mass. , the father of R.B. Howland. Originally a grist mill, it had five runs of stone. The mill was run by water power for about eight months of the year and during the winter by a 50-horse power steam engine. To build and furnish the mill cost $40,000, a large sum in those days. Union Springs also had an Agricultural Works in 1875 owned by J.O. Spencer. In 1878 he built ten threshing machines and 25 steam engines. There was also the New York Central Planing Mill owned and operated by the Courtney Brothers. Union Springs has also been noted for its schools and the excellent consolidated school you have now is a worthy successor. The Friends' Academy was founded in 1858  and a brick building 135' long with three stories and a basement to accommodate 100 students was erected at a cost of $20,000 raised by subscription. It has incorporated by the State Regents in 1860. Several additions were made to the building. In 1875 the name was changed to Oakwood Seminary. The lecturer in natural sciences at that time was J.J. Thomas, a son of the well known pioneer scientist, David Thomas. The Howland School was first begun in 1863 as The Young Ladies' Institute  by R.B. Howland, who bought the Philip Winegar homestead for $6000 and built some additions. When George Howland, R.B. Howland's father died, he bequested the sum of $50,000 for the "thorough, moral, intellectual and religious training of young females." The trustees of this fund took over the Institute and re-established it as the Howland School. About 1872 a 4-story brick addition was built. The Howland School offered a full collegiate course in the classics, mathematics and the languages. It attained a high degree of excellence, but as a description of it at that time stated, "It languishes for want of support." In 1875 there were seven churches in Union Springs ; Presbyterian, Friends, Christian, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic and Episcopal. Since all of them cannot be included in this talk, only an account of the oldest one will be given. The First Presbyterian Church of Springport was formed Sept. 7, 1801, at the home of Ichabod Wilkinson in the present Town of Fleming. It was originally a Congregational Church. Its first pastor was Rev. Jacob Cram who was also an early pastor of the First Church of Milton. The First Congregational Society of Aurelius was organized May 21, 1802, about one mile south of Half Acre. This was one of the churches of the Middle Association of Congregational Churches of New York. It was later taken into the Presbytery of Cayuga as the First Presbyterian Church of Aurelius with other churches of the vicinity that had originated as Congregational Churches. When Springport was formed in 1823, this church became the First Presbyterian Church of Springport. This church is the third oldest church in Cayuga County.  The oldest is the First Presbyterian Church of Genoa organized in 1798 as the First Congregational Church of Milton. The second oldest is the Presbyterian Church of Aurora organized in 1800 as the First Congregational Church of Scipio. From the First Presbyterian Church of Aurelius (now Springport) were formed three churches: the Presbyterian Church of Sennett, the First Presbyterian Church of Auburn, and the First Presbyterian Church of Cayuga. The first church building was built in 1816 about two miles north of Union Springs. The present building in which this meeting is being held was erected in 1840. The first installed pastor of this church was Rev. David Higgins, a Congregational minister, whose installation was, according to the historian, Hotchkin, "the first instance of such an occurrence in the Military Tract." At this time, Cayuga County was in the Presbytery of Geneva. The Presbytery of Cayuga was formed in 1807 from the Presbytery of Geneva. On September 11, 1803, the Presbytery of Geneva was opened with a sermon by Rev. David Higgins, the Congregational pastor of the First Church of Aurelius. During this meeting, this question was discussed: "Can the Presbytery consistently receive as a constituent member a minister belonging to an Association without his discontinuing his connection with the Association?" The answer was unanimously, "Yes", and immediately thereafter, the Rev. David Higgins, Pastor of the First Church of Aurelius, and Rev. Hezekiah Woodruff, Pastor of the First Church of Scipio, both congregational ministers in Congregational churches, were received as full members of the Geneva Presbytery. This was an excellent example of Interdenominational tolerance and cooperation. These are only some of the main points in the history of your town and village. There is much more of interest and I trust that some one some time will incorporate it all in a complete history. The Historian of Union Springs and of the Town of Springport, Mrs. Ethel Flinn, has many more of the interesting details than I have. You have a beautiful setting here for a village. I did not realize until I went abroad that our scenery here is just as beautiful as theirs, the difference being that we do not need to play it up as an asset. The view across the Lake with Frontenac Island in the foreground cannot be matched even on any of the other lakes of the celebrated Finger Lakes region. Edward Richardson dammed the north spring and built his mill here more than a year before John Hardenberg came to Hardenberg's Corners to build his mill on Lake Owasco Outlet and to become the first settler of Auburn. Hence Union Springs is one of the oldest villages in Cayuga County . Your village is not only beautiful in its setting, but rich in its heritage.   **************************************** Click here for more free Cayuga County history and genealogy resources Click here for more free New York history and genealogy resources Use the Genealogy Dashboard for other states and more tools #unionsprings #springport #newyork #cayugacounty #history #pioneers

Reflecting on my paternal ancestry feels akin to observing a faraway object without the help of binoculars or a telescope. Nearby objects are seen with sharp clarity, while distant objects appear indistinct and indistinguishable. In fact, regarding my Leonard lineage, I can see absolutely nothing beyond Charles Russell Leonard, my 3rd great-grandfather. What we do know, is that in May of 1834, his mother, Mrs. Sophronia Leonard placed a missing persons ad in The Cayuga Republican , asking for assistance in locating her husband, Russel Leonard, who left to buy land in Michigan Territory the previous November (1833). Anyone with information was to direct it to the post master at Port Byron, New York. This leads me to believe that Sophronia was living in Port Byron in 1834. Is this a fair supposition? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below. I have thoroughly researched the Leonards who lived in Port Byron and haven't found any other trace of Russel or Sophronia there. The 1830 census only listed the head of each household but that year, there were about 610 households counted on the census in Mentz. Three of them were Leonards - James, Henry, and Manassah Leonard, who had purchased land on Lot 4 in Throop in 1796. They were blacksmiths and, if I remember correctly, they were descendants of James or Henry Leonard, the Iron Masters. At any rate, those three Leonard households in Mentz contained a total of 35 people, many of whom were probably Leonards. One of them may have been my 4th great-grandfather, the elusive Russel Leonard, father of Charles Russell Leonard. Unfortunately, I've found nothing to identify him. For anyone researching people who lived in Port Byron in the late 1700s, you need to know a few things. First, regarding Cayuga County: Today, Port Byron is a village in the middle of the town of Mentz, in Cayuga County, New York. From 1784 to 1791, the locale was considered part of Montgomery County, formed from part of Tryon County. From 1791 to 1794, the locale was considered part of Herkimer County, formed from part of Montgomery County. From 1794-1799, the locale was considered part of Onondaga County, formed from part of Herkimer County. Since 1799, the locale has been considered part of Cayuga County, formed from part of Onondaga County. Regarding Port Byron: The town of Mentz was incorporated as Jefferson in 1802. It was much larger than it is today. The town's name was changed from Jefferson to Mentz in 1806 (or 1808). Ira was formed from part of Mentz in 1821, Montezuma was formed from part of Mentz in 1859 and Throop was formed from part of Mentz, Aurelius and Sennett the same year (1859). Port Byron is a village in the center of the town of Mentz. The village was called Bucksville until about 1825, when the name was changed to Port Byron. The name change was made soon after the Erie Canal was built through the village (1820), making it a "port". Today it is the Erie Canal Lock 52 Complex , a park listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Port Byron is located on an important route used by westward travelers from New England. The New York Central Railroad, constructed in 1853, went through Mentz, north of the village of Port Byron. The old Montezuma Turnpike (Route 31) passes through the center of Port Byron and the New York State Thruway also runs through Port Byron, virtually parallel to the former route of the Erie Canal, which was rerouted to the Seneca River about 1917. Port Byron has been home to several men who made a mark on the world. Isaac Singer, founder of the largest sewing machine company in the world, "was a mechanic who had a shop in a saw mill located near the present dam", and Henry Wells, of the world famous Wells Fargo, "had a shop at the corner of Rochester and Main Streets in the rear of the store which Samuel Thomas now occupies. He started the first express company of this great globe." (Source: History of Port Byron and Mentz : from Indian tribes to nineteen twenty-two, by E. H Kerns, p. 6) About 1823, Brigham Young arrived in Port Byron. (Remember, at the time, Port Byron was, called Bucksville). Young was born in Vermont in 1801, but had lived in Chenango County and in Tyrone, Genoa, and Auburn, before moving to Port Byron, where he sought employment opportunities brought by the newly built Erie Canal. It is said that it was in Port Byron that he converted to the newly established Mormon religion and where he also met a young woman named Miriam A. Works in Port Byron. They were married in Aurelius in Autumn of 1824. In Port Byron, Young worked odd jobs painting the canal boats, repairing furniture, construction, or whatever he could do., until he was hired full time by Charles Parks, producing furniture, pails, and buckets. He was there two years, until 1825, when he moved to Oswego. (Brigham Young : a concise biography of the Mormon Moses, by Ed Breslin, 2013). The above newspaper clippings I found while browsing through an old scrapbook shows a photo of Brigham Young's home, and states that it was on Utica Street in Port Byron. The 1939 article states: "In 1844, at the death of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion, Young was made president of the church, and in 1847, with hundreds of followers, Young moved westward from state to state until he and his clan reached Utah. Here they started the organization of a prosperous community. Young died on Aug. 28, 1877." Joseph Smith's death was an assassination, which occurred during his presidential campaign. While being held in jail in Illinois on the charge of treason, an armed mob stormed the jail and Smith was killed. Brigham Young's first wife, Miriam, died at the age of 26 on Sept. 8, 1832, in Mendon, Monroe County, New York, the same place where Brigham was baptized in the Mormon faith. He remarried in 1834 and in 1842 began taking additional wives, as is the practice in the Mormon religion. He was married a total of 56 times and had 57 children. Eight of his wives were Joseph Smith's widows. (Source: Wikipedia ) The Mormon Church, also referred to as LDS, is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the organization behind FamilySearch.org . Their website offers genealogists access to important records and resources, as well as a platform to build their family tree online, all at no cost. Just think! If Brigham Young hadn't kept the Mormon church alive after Smith's assassination, the site and library would have never existed! At the corner of Utica Street (Route 31) and Main Street in Port Byron is a historical marker that reads: "Brigham Young the Mormon prophet lived in the house 100 yards east of here in 1831. He was baptized a Mormon at Mendon, N.Y." Looking east from this marker, it appears the home he lived in can be seen here from Google Street view, behind this parking lot. Can you spot it from the backside of the house? (Zoom in!) Another historical marker located on Utica Street in Port Byron states the following: "Abraham Lincoln April 27, 1865. Train carrying Pres. Lincoln's casket stopped at Port Byron Station 1.3 mi. north of here. Station draped with mourning and flags." President Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865, in Washington, D.C., and his body arrived in Springfield, Illinois, on May 3, 1865. His coffin was moved 17 times between 1865 and 1901 "due to construction and fears for the safety of the president's remains. There was actually a plot in 1876 to steal the body and hold it for ransom." ( Source ) See a full list of historical markers in Port Byron at hmdb.com . It's been interesting learning about Port Byron's history, but to me, it's a place that holds a daunting mystery. If time travel is ever invented, I'd go back to Port Byron on November 1, 1833, to find my 4th great-grandfather, Russel Leonard. Then I'd follow him on his journey to buy land in Michigan to see what happened to him. I'd sit next to him on the canal boat if I could, and ask him all about his parents and grandparents. (I've seen "Back to the Future", so I know enough to not interfere, but I'd just really like some answers!) Afterwards, I'd time travel to May 2, 1834 and meet Sophronia at the Cayuga Republican newspaper's office on Genesee Street in Auburn and of course I'd take a lot of pictures and videos of her, Charles, and baby Jenette! I'd ask all about her parents, too. I'd definitely like to stay a while and bring back some answers! For more information, see: Sophronia (Burrill) Leonard Knapp Russel Leonard Charles Russell Leonard My Leonard branch Blogs about the Leonards Russel Leonard missing Port Byron history and genealogy resources Cayuga County history and genealogy resources New York history and genealogy resources All genealogy resources My ancestors #leonard #russelleonard #sophroniaburrill #portbyron #mentz #cayugacounty #newyork

H. W. Leonard, of the Port Byron foundry, has quite a contract for the manufacture of iron wheels for wheelbarrow use. - Evening Auburnian 1-8-1878 There was a Henry Leonard who lived in Mentz from 1810-1830. According to Storke's "History of Cayuga County", 1879, p. 310 , his partner was "George Anable". The location of the Leonard foundry in Port Byron is shown here on this 1875 map. A search of Cayuga County's 1870 and 1880 census provide only the following close match for Henry Leonard, which proves to not be the same Henry W. Leonard of the Port Byron Foundry: In 1870 when the census was taken, there was a Henry Leonard (age 21), employed as a "clerk in store" in Auburn, Cayuga, New York. He and one George* W. Leonard II (age 30), a machinist, both born in New York, were living in perhaps a boarding house, with 24 other people (no other Leonards). At the time of the 1880 census, Henry M. Leonard (age 30), was still living in Auburn and working as a "clerk in store" and was married to Alice J. Leonard. They had two daughters, Emily B. Leonard (age 6), and Leonara J. Leonard, age 4, and son named George W. Leonard, (age 1). They lived on Lewis Street and appear to have shared a home with Diana and Josephine Howard, hairdressers. *It seems likely that the photo at right (front and back shown) is the same George W. Leonard II, mentioned above. Meanwhile, we find Henry W. Leonard on the 1880 census in the First Ward of Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, living in the home of his "brother-in-law", and business partner, "George G. Annable", age 38. "Machinist" was given as both Henry and George's occupations. Henry's father, (Annable's "father-in-law"), also lived in the home. His name was Joseph N. Leonard, age 75, born in New York. Connecticut was given as the birthplace of both of Joseph's parents. Sadly, Henry was a widow, age 45, and it appears he had no children living in the home. A look further back, to the 1870 census of Onondaga, Onondaga County, New York, finds the following, which explains that George Annabel was married to Esther, presumably the daughter of Joseph N. & Wealthy Leonard, whose birthplace was given as Massachusetts, like her mother, Wealthy. Joseph was a farmer and like on the 1880 census, his birthplace was given as New York. In 1875, they were counted in Mentz, Cayuga County, as follows: (Notice, in 1875, Esther's birthplace was reported as Onondaga County instead of Massachusetts). "Emma Lou Leonard" married first to a Mr. Chapin, who died before 1920, and she married second at the age of 46, to Frederick James Nichols in Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side, in August of 1920. Frederick was a divorcee born in Bridgeport, New York, the son of John Wesley Nichols and Elizabeth Buller. On the marriage license application her birthplace is given as Port Byron, New York. Her parents names are given as George Annabel and Esther M. Leonard. Esther was born in 1846 and died in 1919, according to "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3MMM-93P), entry for George G /Annable/. A look back, yet further, to the 1860 census reveals J. M. Leonard (age 55) and wife, Wealthy (age 48) with two children in the home: Esther M. Leonard (age 14) and James D. Leonard (age 12), living in Onondaga. Henry would have been 25 and his place of residence in 1860 has yet to be found. This family may be related to Russel Leonard , father of Charles Russell Leonard (1830-1908), who went missing in 1834. #otherleonards #iron #portbyron #henryleonard #ironworker

About 24 years ago, I visited the Cayuga County Historical Society for the first time without much knowledge about my family beyond my great-grandparents. My main focus was to gather information about my Leonard family. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they had organized file folders for different families in the county. One particular find was a fascinating book titled "Descendants of Solomon Leonard," a connection I hadn't realized existed back then. My husband and I decided to photocopy the entire book, convinced that many of the local Leonards were linked to Solomon. Indeed, years later, my DNA results confirmed that I am a descendant of Solomon Leonard ! Today you can find the Leonard book and many others like it online. In fact, the Cayuga County Historical Society has published volumes of the county's history. You can access and read all 12 Volumes of "Collections of Cayuga County Historical Society" online. Scroll down to view the contents of each volume and use the "Link" to access the book at Archive.org. (Tip: Use the site's search feature to quickly search inside each book or just flip through the pages). Volume 1 [ Link ] Volume 2 [ Link ] Volume 3 [ Link ] Volume 4 [ Link ] Volume 5 [ Link ] Volume 6 [ Link ] Volume 7 [ Link ] Volume 8 [ Link ] Volume 9 [ Link ] Volume 10 [ Link ] Volume 11 [ Link ] Volume 12 [ Link ] Click here for more Cayuga County genealogy and history resources Click here for more New York genealogy and history resources Click here for everywhere else ! #cayugacounty #newyork #resources

Leonardsville is a hamlet in the Town of Brookfield, Madison County, New York. The book " Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York ", gives the following account: "The first merchant in Leonardsville and in this town was Reuben Leonard, from which family the village took its name; be began trading in 1801 and long conducted a large business for the time. He also kept a tavern in early years, managed a distillery, a tannery, and a large ashery; he was also the first postmaster. He failed about 1820." Update 6/29/2024: In an attempt to learn more about the Leonards of Leonardville, I searched Findagrave and found that there are no Leonards indexed in Leonardsville Cemetery. Only 94% of the burials are indexed on Findagrave, so an actual cemetery index might reveal some Leonard burials, though. In Madison County's Military Rolls 1806-1853 ( found here ), the following Leonards are listed: J.D. Leonard, Lieutenant, 1816 Joshua Leonard, Chaplain, 1809 Reuben Leonard, Major, 1809 Reuben Leonard, Colonel, 1811 (143rd infantry) L. H. Denison of Rochester shared some memories of Leonardsville in a letter printed in The Brookfield Courier in April, 1902, provides us with some information about the location of the Leonard store. "The old Leonard store built by Reuben Leonard, who gave the place its name was moved from the original site to the south-east corner, opposite the Hardin store. On the south-west corner were the remains of the old pot ashery. The Leonard store was used as a dwelling, general store, cabinet shop and tailoring establishment, the latter being on the third floor." "It has just been learned that the old store building and the shop adjoining, also the tenant house on South street, all owned by Mrs. L. D. Brand, are to be extensively repaired next spring. The Brand store is the oldest structure in the village. Its builder and first owner was Reuben Leonard, after whom the place is named, and it originally stood near the present location of H. D. Babcock's house, but was moved across the street the the place where it now stands nearly a century ago." (Brookfield Courier, Nov. 10, 1909) "Newton Leonard, who died at his home in Washington Mills, Nov. 18th, was known to many people here and in his younger days was frequently a resident of this vicinity and had been pleasantly associated with many of our citizens. He was, we believe, a relative of Reuben Leonard, from whom this village takes its name. Mr. Leonard had an enviable record in the Civil war a a member of Company B, of the 14 New York Regiment, raised in Oneida Co. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Fredericksburg and was paroled. At the expiration of his parole he was transferred to the 67th Regiment and served with it until the regiment was mustered out in Albany. ... He leaves behind him the record of a brave soldier and a good citizen. Mr. Leonard was a brother of Mrs. Mills D. Clark, wife if a former townsman, who visited him not long ago, and his brother, Franklin Leonard, formerly resided here." (Brookfield Courier, Nov. 23, 1910) E. P. Clarke also recollects Leonardsville as follows: "The old yellow stone building stood just north and a little east of the house in which we lived. It was built by my maternal uncle, Reuben Leonard, and occupied by him until his failure and removal to Rochester." (Brookfield Courier, October 14, 1971) The church meeting house in Leonardsville was completed on October 7, 1802, but burned exactly 47 years later, on October 7, 1849, undoubtedly destroying important records. (Brookfield Courier, Nov. 2, 1972) In searching the U.S. Federal Census for Reuben Leonard , it is noted that there was one in Dutchess County on the census in 1800 and 1810. Reuben Leonard of Leonardsville was counted on the census in Brookfield in 1820. In 1830, there was only one Reuben Leonard in New York according to the census. He was in Rochester. In 1840, again, there was only one Reuben Leonard in New York and he was living in New York City with a large household of ten. Year Place People in Household 1800 Beekman, Dutchess County, NY 7 1800 Brookfield, *Chenango County, NY 5 1810 Beekman, Dutchess County, NY 9 1820 Brookfield, Madison County, NY 15 1830 Rochester, Monroe County, NY 12 1840 New York Ward 1, New York, NY 10 *Brookfield was considered part of Chenango County in 1800. Madison County was formed from part of Chenango County in 1806. Click here for more Madison County Genealogy Resources . Sources: Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York, by John E. Smith, 1899, p. 42, 357, 362-363. [ Link ] Madison County Archival Records [ Link ] Madison County Participants in the War of 1812 [ Link ] #Leonard #NewYork #leonard #madisoncounty #resources #history

For the early settlers of modern day Harlem, guarding the settlement wasn't easy. Indian raids were devastating and newly arriving intruders were kept at a distance. According to " New Harlem past and present ", the authorities commanded that no strangers were permitted to cross the ferry at New Harlem. This photograph of the first ferry, which was very close to Daniel Tourneur's home, was taken around 1903. My paternal grandmother, Ethel Daniels, descended from Daniel Tourneur via the Dykeman family (Dyckman). They were among the early settlers of New York City. In order to secure the settlement, the Governor, Anthony Colve, successor of Nicholls, ordered the men of New Harlem to organize a militia in 1673. The roster, containing 24 courageous and honorable men, follows: Company 1 Jan Nagel, Corporal Joost van Oblinus, Private Jean Delamater, Private Jean le Roy, Private Robert Hollis, Private Company 2 Simeon Cornier, Corporal Lubbert Gerritsen, Private Samuel Pell, Private Jacque el Roe, Private Baren Waldron, Private Samuel Demarest, Private Company 3 Jan Dyckman, Corporal Arent Harmanse Bussing, Private David Demarest Jr, Private Jan Tinker, Private Conradus Hendrickson, Private Cornelis Theunissens, Private Company 4 Adolph Meyer, Corporal Laurens Matthyssen, Private David Demarest, Private Daniel Tourneur , Private Jochem Engelbert, Private Meyndert Journeed, Private If any of these brave men was your ancestor, get your commemorative certificate on Etsy OR Amazon OR Ebay Click here for more New York genealogy and history resources Click here to learn more about Daniel Tourneur . Click here to learn more about this branch of my family . Sources: New Harlem past and present; the story of an amazing civic wrong, now at last to be righted, by Carl H. Pierce, W.P. Toler, and H.D. Nutting, 1903. #DanielTourneur #Harlem #Dykeman #Dyckman #dutchsettlement #military #militia #minuteman #minutemen

Charles Russell Leonard was born November 25, 1830, in Union Springs, Cayuga County, New York. He was the son of Russel (or Russell) and Sophronia Leonard . Russel was last seen in 1833 when he went west to Michigan Territory to buy land and never returned , leaving Sophronia with two children that we know of - Charles and Jenette. She married Thomas J. Knapp on September 11, 1837, in Genoa, Cayuga County, with whom she had several more children. A list of the census records Charles has been identified in are shown below. This page will be updated if and when the missing records are found. 1840 Census - Not found Charles's mother, Sophronia, was remarried to Thomas Knapp and living in Scipio, Cayuga, New York. ( Details ) Charles may have lived in the household of Joshua Leonard, Jr., who also lived in Scipio. Joshua had a brother named Russel Leonard, who may have been Charles' father. See more about this theory in my previous article here . 1850 Census - Not found In 1850, his mother, Sophronia Knapp (age 35) was living in Genoa with her new husband, Thomas Knapp (39) and seven children: Joseph (13), Thomas (12), Mariah (9), Sophia (7), Lydia (4), Dewey (2), and William (0). They were family #217 counted on page 28 of 60. ( Details ) Note: The same year (1850), his soon-to-be wife, Polly Brown (age 12) was living with who I believe was her mother and stepfather, Peter and Lydia Shaver, also in Genoa. They were family #381 counted on page 49 of 60. The only other Leonard in Genoa in 1850 was George Leonard, who lived in the home of Otis Carson (age 48) and Polly Carson (age 45) and their children. George was age 50. No sign of Charles. 1855 Genoa, Cayuga County, New York ( See full census here ) Charles (23), Mary (17), Joseph (1) - They had been living there only two months *Notice the middle initial. It is transcribed as Charles B. Leonard. 1860 Census - Not found 1865 Groton, Tompkins County, New York Charles Leonard and Mary with children: Joseph, Susan, Charles, Sarah g., and Frances Leonard. 1870 Groton, Tompkins County, New York Charles Leonard and Mary with children: Joseph, Jane, Frankie, and Lewis Leonard . 1875 Locke, Cayuga County, New York Charles Leonard with wife, Sarah (Mary Polly Brown?) and children: Frances, Lewis & Lydia. 1880 Locke, Cayuga County, New York Chas. R. Leonard with wife Mary and children: Lewis, Lydia, Arthur and Irvin. 1892 Rose, Wayne, New York Charles Leonard with his second "wife" Luella and her children fathered by William Knapp. 1900 Lyons, Wayne, New York Charles Leonard with his second wife, Luella and her mother, Betsy Lumbert, and Malvina Leonard, a daughter, presumably a Knapp as shown above on the 1892 census. Charles's birthdate is given as December 1834 but his first wife's embroidered Family Record says he was born Nov. 23 (or 25?), 1830 (or 1831?). We know he was born before 1833 when his father left for Michigan to buy land, so his birth info here is incorrect. 1905 Groton, Tompkins, New York Charles Leonard and his wife, Luella. At the age of 72, he was still working as a "Day Laborer". Photo from Dryer Family Photos is labeled Charles Russell Leonard and Luella Schriver Knapp Wilson Leonard. Click here to learn more about Charles and this branch of my family . #leonard #charlesrussellleonard #charlesleonard #census #timeline

Cortland County is located smack dab in the center of New York State. It sits at an elevation of 1,100-2,100 feet above sea level, which results in cooler temperatures than it's southern neighbors. You can usually feel a dramatic drop in temperature the further north you travel. Precipitation from the Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes, combined with the colder temperatures from the high elevation, result in feet of snow being dumped on the many mountains and valleys of the region every winter. The snow plows are busy all winter moving the snow off the roads and by late winter, the piles of plowed snow along the sides of the roads are 8-feet tall or more and packed solid. When Spring finally arrives and all the snow and ice start to melt - the "Spring thaw", the soil is muddy for weeks, but the runoff fills the streams, lakes, and wells with fresh water, rejuvenates the trees, plants, grass, and flowers, and everything comes back to life. Cortland County was part of the Military Tract, land awarded to soldiers of the American Revolution, in the early 1800s, and prior to that it was home to various Native American tribes. For thousands of years, their trails and camps were the only sign of human life in what we now call "Upstate" New York. As you can see, from this terrain map, courtesy of Google Maps, Cortland County is southeast of the Finger Lakes. Some of the many hills are over 2,100 feet above sea level, while the valleys are level and as low as 1,000 feet above sea level. According to the intriguing account found in the old book "Stories of Cortland County," the geological history of the region is a tale of dramatic transformation. It describes a time when the hills stood tall and sharp, a stark contrast to the landscape we see today. This narrative delves into the concept of an ice age, a period of prolonged freezing that reshaped the terrain in profound ways. As the chilling temperatures gripped the land, massive sheets of ice and snow traveled from the distant northern regions, exerting immense pressure as they advanced southwards. Picture the relentless force of these icy behemoths as they gradually flattened the once imposing mountains, leaving in their wake a landscape altered beyond recognition. The journey of the ice sheets was not a gentle one; they carried along enormous boulders, shattering them into scattered remnants along their path. The valleys, once deep and rugged, bore the brunt of this glacial onslaught, being filled with layers of gravel that now lie buried beneath the surface, some reaching depths of over 200 feet. This geological upheaval shaped Cortland County, leaving fertile pastures, lush forests, and beautiful, rolling hills in every direction. Fossils found in Cortland County are from the Devonian period, while the oldest fossils in neighboring Chenango County date back to the Silurian period. The Silurian is a geologic period and system spanning 24.6 million years from the end of the Ordovician Period, at 443.8 million years ago (Mya), to the beginning of the Devonian Period, 419.2 Mya. The Silurian is the shortest period of the Paleozoic Era. As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the exact dates are uncertain by a few million years. The base of the Silurian is set at a series of major Ordovician–Silurian extinction events when up to 60% of marine genera were wiped out. [Source: Wikipedia ] The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic era during the Phanerozoic eon, spanning 60.3 million years from the end of the preceding Silurian period at 419.2 million years ago (Ma), to the beginning of the succeeding Carboniferous period at 358.9 Ma. It is named after Devon, South West England, where rocks from this period were first studied. [Source: Wikipedia ] Much of Cortland County and Chenango County rest on the Ithaca Formation, Upper and Lower Division, part of the Genesee Group, dating back to the Devonian period. For more information on the geology of Cortland and Chenango Counties and the central New York area, these sites are helpful: https://earthathome.org/finger-lakes-geology/geology-finger-lakes/ https://paleontological.s3.amazonaws.com/PDF/SpecialPublications-OutOfPrint/Linsley_1994.pdf Click here to learn more about Cortland County . #cortlandcounty #cortland #centralnewyork #geology #newyork

A great resource for learning about ancestors from Central New York is this 3-volume set called " History of Central New York: embracing Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Tompkins, Cortland, Schuyler, Yates, Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga Counties ", by Harry R. Melone, 1932. Links to all three volumes are provided below. Volume 1 is dedicated to the places and early settlers of Central New York, including many old photographs. Sit back and enjoy this slideshow of the images! If your ancestors lived in Central New York, in the 19th-20th centuries, you're being given a peek into their world! The Table of Contents for Volume 1 is shown here. Volumes 2 and 3 contain biographies of prominent citizens of central New York, including many portraits. All three volumes are available free online! Use the links below to jump to the resource at archive.org's site. VOLUME 1 [ Link ] VOLUME 2 [ Link ] VOLUME 3 [ Link ] Volumes 2 and 3 contain hundreds of biographies and some portraits of the prominent citizens of central New York. There is no Table of Contents or Index in these, so you'll have to use the search feature. Use the magnifying glass on the left side of the window to search within each book, as shown here: Click here to see more New York genealogy resources ! #genealogy #historical #records #resources #photos #historicphotos