Russel Leonard, a Shingle Maker in Burtchville, St. Clair, Michigan in 1850, was born in 1808 in Massachusetts. His birth date in the family Bible is "March 19th, 1818" but his birth on Findagrave is "May 18, 1808", in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Perhaps the later date was his date of baptism, which is commonly confused with a person's birth date.

It appears Russell went by his middle name, but his name was Elisha Russel Leonard. (Confirmation needed). He was married to Lydia Almira (or Almina) FORBES, who was born in New York abt. 1811 and they had four children born in Canada between 1836 and 1846 and one born in Michigan abt. 1848. The family was found in Burtchville in 1860. He died in Grant, St. Clair County, 22 Oct 1874. He was 66 years, 5 months, and 3 days old, making his birth date 19 May 1808. The family Bible (shared on Ancestry) states he was born March 19, 1808, however.

His death record states his parents were Elisha and Elizabeth (Brown) LEONARD. [1]

There was an “E. Leonard” found in Petitioner, St. Clair, Michigan on the 1834 Michigan State Census.

See my blog post here to learn about Russell Leonard's famous horse.

See also "The Search for Russell Leonard"