Fourth Generation

127. Valentine LEONARD was born on 10 November 1824 in Rowan Co., NC. He died on 23 July 1894 at the age of 69 in Davidson Co., NC. Taken from, "Davidson County Heritage-1982":
Valentine Leonard b 10 Nov 1824 on the parental homestead in the Pilgrim community, son of Jacob and Susan Byerly Leonard, as a boy became familiar with all branches of agriculture.
He m Caroline Rebeckah Cox, the granddaughter of James Cox, who was born in Liverpool, England and kidnapped by men at the docks of Liverpool and secretly carried on board an America-bound ship. The last view he had of his father showed him standing at the brink of the water tearing his hair in agony. James Cox soon after landing in America, was apprenticed to a hatmaker near Salisbury. Having learned the hatter's trade, he spent the remainder of his life in Rowan Co. John Cox, the father of Caroline Rebeckah, married Barbara Turner. He was a school teacher, and also served as superintendent of the Davidson County home for several terms.
Valentine Leonard was a strong character, always standing for religion and morality. A devoted churchman like his ancestors, he was an office bearer (holder) for years in "Leonhardt's Church" (Pilgrim Reformed UCC). In his early life he gave considerable attention to vocal music and became an old-fashioned "singing master". He was 37 at the outbreak of the Civil War, The volunteer system as in vogue until the winter of 1862.
He was a member of what was called the "Upper Regiment" which met for muster and regular drill at a point on the old Salem-Salisbury Road, 8 miles above Lexington. The names of all members of the regiment were recorded in a book, called the muster roll. In a hat wre placed slips of paper with the words "go" and "blank". Under the draft law the men marched two-abreast where the officers stood with the register. When a name was called, a slip was drawn from the hat. If the slip read "blank" the man was not drafted. If it read "go" he was drafted.
Since Mt Leonard's name read "blank", he missed the first draft. The conscription act came in 1863, first calling out all men from 18-35. In the winter of the same year the second conscription called out all men 35-40. This included Mr Leonard. He took with him to Raleigh, Jesse Shaw, when he went to appear before the board of examiners. He offered Mr Shaw as a substitute, and the latter was accepted because he was a more robust man than the principal, though past 50 yrs old. The substitute, supplemented by a wood contract for the government, kept Mr Leonard out of the service a year.
In 1864 even those who had substitutes has to enter the service, the officers saying that they were "rich men" and could afford to help out the government by employing substitutes and also by going themselves. Mr Leonard first went to Charleston, though many feared to go there because of yellow fever. His preference was to join the cavalry, but he was assigned to service in connection with the Navy. His first work was the building of an iron-clad boat. The iron was so hot from the sun that the workmen had to sit on boards. When the boat was finished, they ran her out for a trial. They fired a shot at a tree at a great distance and cut it off; but the boat was not strong enough, and it broke apart.
While at Charleston his headquarters were on the boat, "The Indian Chief". From Charleston his boat went to Georgetown and then to Cheraw. The water was so low that often they had to draw the boat with ropes and tackle. From Cheraw he and the others had to march to Charlotte, and they were taken by train to Drury's Bluff. After the fall of Richmond, they had to get out of the latter place and join Johnston's army. They were captured above Petersburg and were taken in May to Point Lookout. Here he remained until the last of June 1865 when he was released to return home.
To Valentine Leonard and his wife, Caroline Rebeckah, were born 5 sons: Pleasant James, George Edward, William Valentine, John Thomas and Jacob Calvin (who became a Reverend). There were also Allison Bennett who died as infant and Frances C, a daughter who died at abt age 3. Caroline died in 1870 of consumption (TB) and he remarried later that year to Eve/Eva Lohr.
Copied from the journal of Dr J C Leonard.

Valentine LEONARD and Caroline Rebecka COX were married. Caroline Rebecka COX, daughter of John COX, died of consumption (TB) in 1870 in Davidson Co., NC.

Valentine LEONARD and Caroline Rebecka COX had the following children:

Valentine LEONARD and Eva LOHR were married after 1870 in Davidson Co., NC. Eva LOHR was born (date unknown).