Eli
Leonard
(1831-1899)
Eli Leonard was born on July 1, 1831 in Fayette County, PA, the eldest son of Benjamin and Sarah (Harbaugh) Leonard.
Eli
married Catherine Dean (1838-1914). They had 11 children
-- Charles Leonard, Cyrus W. Leonard, Thomas Newton Leonard, Sarah Smith,
Margaret Clutter, Mattie Woosley, Walter Leonard, John Leonard and George
Leonard.
He is mentioned in Franklin Ellis’ 1882 book, History of Fayette County. He lived in Wharton Twp., and his home was along the famed “Old Braddock Road” in the “Burnt Cabin … about one mile [east] of the … old Inks tavern….”
Later, Eli resided in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, near Pittsburgh.
Eli passed away in Wilkinsburg on July 17, 1899, at the age of 68. The Uniontown Daily News Standard reported that his "corpse" was brought to “Taylor’s church for interment.”
Bird's eye view of crowded Wilkinsburg
Catherine lived in West Brownsville, and died
at age 76 on
June 25, 1914. Her obituary in the Uniontown newspaper said “She was a
lifelong resident of this town and was among its best known citizens.” Her
funeral was held at the home of her son Cyrus, and she was
buried at Taylor Cemetery in Washington County, PA.
Their grown children resided in the following
places circa 1914: Charles “near the toll gate above West Brownsville,” PA; Cyrus in
West Brownsville; Thomas near Farmington, PA; Sarah Smith in Smithfield, PA; Margaret Clutter in Wilkinsburg; Mattie Woosley in
Homestead Park, PA; Walter in Pittsburgh; John in Chicago; and George in Erie,
PA.
Son Thomas (1858-1922) married Mary B. (?) (1858-1938). They resided along the National Turnpike, now US Route 40, three miles east of Farmington. They had two children -- Orpha Harford of Uniontown and Bessie Sullivan. At the death of Thomas in 1922, his newspaper obituary said he was "a highly respected citizen of the community having been the local blacksmith for the past 30 years." He was buried in Belle Grove Cemetery (now Irwin Memorial Cemetery) near Ohiopyle. Mary outlived him by 16 years. She passed away in 1938, and rests beside Thomas.
Copyright © 2001, 2006 Mark A. Miner