Sixth Generation

687. Benjamin LEONARD was born in 1792 in Washington Co., PA. In the 1850 Census, he was living near Bridgeport, Fayette Co., PA with his wife and children Eli, Amanda, and Harriet. He was a miller.

According to his daughter, Harriet Leonard Fishburn, he was a devout churchman. After he married Mary Berrie, he moved into Beallsville. He built and was the proprietor of a hostelry in Beallsville, called "Fountain Inn" on the new and very important National Road that was near the Leonard farms. He managed it for many years in the days when the covered wagon carried all the merchandise across the mountains and came along in the Conestoga Wagons like caravans crosing the desert. Sometimes as many as seven or eight six-horse teams would put up for a night's lodging. Once my mother sent across the mountains with one of their traveling agents for a "flat" of leghorn (a plaited fabric made of Italian wheat used in making straw hats). She paid $10.00 for it and it made into a bonnet which she wore for many years. She also had a number of Paisley shawls for herself and daughters from the same source.

The National Pike was a great thoroughfare before the days of railroads and steamboats. Once (1826), General LaFayette came and stopped in Beallsville. Mother shook hands with him, and the children strewed flowers in his path, according to her daughter, Harriet.

Mary Polly BERRIE, daughter of William BERRIE, was born about 1800 in Monangahela City, PA.

Benjamin LEONARD and Mary Polly BERRIE had the following children: