Seventh Generation

1981. Rev. Joseph Helmer LEONARD was born on 22 Mar 1809 in Prescott, Edwardsburgh twp, Grenville Co., Ontario, Canada.⁹³⁶ He died on 18 Jun 1877 in Rochelle, IL.⁹³⁷ Joseph Helmer Leonard may have received the name, Helmer, from a friendof his father's, Joseph Helmer of Williamsburgh, who was killed in theattack on Ogdensburg, NY, in 1813, part of the War of 1812.

Joseph was eldest son of Nathaniel Leonard. According to his obituary inthe Canada Christian Advocate dtd. 4 July 1877, "his father was a citizenof Massachusetts and went to Canada to erect large mills, being a veryskilful builder of such machinery. Joseph pursued the occupation up tothe age of 18, when his father died and left him and his widowed motherin charge of the seven younger children." At the age of 19 he waslicensed as an Episcopal Methodist local preacher in 1828. He spent thenext 5 or 6 years in pursuit of studies that would aid him in the work ofthe ministry. On 22 March 1832 he married Susannah Lockwood, who was 15at the time. They spent the next several years in various towns whereJoseph served as a circuit-riding Methodist preacher. He served inAugusta 1838-39, Matilda 1839, and Victoria district, Hastings Co.1840-41, in Picton, Belleville, Sidney, and Brighton. He was ordainedSept 6, 1840 by Bishop John Reynolds. In 1843 at the annual MethodistConference, he was appointed to organize and oversee the publicity andeducational arm of the Methodist Church in Ontario. By 1844 he wasediting, pulishing, and printing the Canadian Christian Advocate, and headded the Newcastle Courier, the Christian Messenger, Greenlief's Char,the Canadian Gem, and the Christian Almanac to the papers andpublications that he printed or controlled. He was appointed PresidingElder of the Toronto District by Bishop Philander Smither in 1847. About1846 he established the Canadian Christian Advocate. Thus he became oneof the most important forces in the Methodist Church of the time. Duringthese years of power, Joseph Leonard lived and worked in Coburg,Ontario.

In the late 1840's there was a reorganization of the Canadian MethodistChurch. Joseph lost control over Methodist views; his influence andcredibility in the Church. This, along with some unknown personal crisisforced him to move to Toronto, where by 1850 he was living in poverty "bythe toll-gate in northern Toronto" (now Bloor and Yonge Streets).

By 1852 his circumstances were so reduced that he accepted an offer fromhis younger brother Raymond, a Presbyterian minister, to become achaplain of the Western Seamans Friend Society, a church group inCleveland, OH, ministering to indigent mariners of the Great Lakes. Hewas transferred to the Niagara Conference by Bishop Philander Smith July3, 1852.

Rev. Joseph Leonard went to Cleveland in 1852 and then was sent toChicago in 1854 by the Western Seamen's Friend Society. He was aMethodist minister whose assignment was to minister to the sailors inChicago. He was chaplain to the United States Marine Hospital. He tookover as pastor of the Bethel Church, but raised funds to build a largerchurch called the Mariner's Church on the N.E. corner of Market andMichigan. It was first used for serviced April 11, 1869, and was formallydedicated June 25, 1871. Rev. Leonard preached at the dedication;however, soon after, the Mariner's Church was destroyed in the ChicagoFire of 9 October 1871. Many letters written by Rev. Leonard survive inthe journals of the Western Seamen's Friend Society ofCleveland. Theseletter/reports were written to Rev. Raymond H. Leonard, the recordingsecretary, and Joseph's brother. Immediately after the fire Joseph beganraising money to rebuild, and laid the cornerstone of the new building inJuly 1873--this one called the Mariners' Temple, of brick, 5 storieshigh, at the original site.

Joseph often visited towns in Illinois to raise funds for his work.During one of these visits, on Sunday monring June 17, 1877, he preachedin the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rochelle. The next morning, aMonday, before returning home he collaped and died while visiting thestore of a contributor to the Church. He turned toward the door, butsuddently fell to the floor, apparently dying instantly. Dr. R.L.Leonardcontinued the mission for nearly a year, but for lack of funds the workwas suspended Oct. 1 1878, and was never resumed.In one of Joseph'sletters he tells of sailing down the Des Plaines river in acanoe in orderto find a good location for a campground at which to build summerhomesand hold revivals. He was founder of the Methodist Campground whichstillstands along the River at Algonquin St. in Des Plaines. Joseph'sdaughter Mary who married Rev. Nate wrote a book which details some ofthe family historycalled "Silver Leaves." In it she relates some memoriesof summers spent at the campground, and also is the source for thebirthdates of Joseph's children.

Rev. Leonard was appointed Chaplain in the army by Pres. Lincoln anddischarged at the end of the war. Dr. Raymond Leonard had a Bible thatwas presented to Susannah by Pres. Lincoln which he donated to theChicago Historical Society (and we have a copy of the receipt for it);however, they no longer have it. They said they got rid of a lot of theirold Bibles because they simply had too
many. He also donated portraits of Rev. Joseph and Susannah--fortunatelyRev. Joseph's survives, but hers does not.

Joseph first appear in a city directory in the 1855-56 Hall's directory.The 1856-7 Jager & Co. directory says he came to Chicago from NY 3 yearsago (54-55?) From 1857 to 1866 he lived at 267 Illinois and in 1866moved to 179 Huron St. and is still there in the 1870 census.

Joseph H. Jr. came to Chicago late in 1870 or 1871, as he is in the1870-7 city directory but not the 1870 census. By 1873 the family(Raymond, Rev. Joseph and J. H. Jr) all lived at Market corner Michiganin the Mariner's residence. In 1877 Joseph died, and his widow Susannais listed, but in 1879 Raynond moved to 94 N. Wells and Susanna is neverlisted again. In the 1860 census, Joseph is listed
with wife Susanna age 44, son Raymond age 10, a Susan Lockwood age 20 andAnnie Johnson age 11. All were born in Canada. A Barbara Leonard of 451W. Taylor St. died April 5, 1901--could be JHL's 3rd wife?

Rev. Joseph Helmer LEONARD and Susannah LOCKWOOD were married on 27 Mar 1832 in Kingston, Ontario.⁹³⁶ Susannah LOCKWOOD (daughter of Samuel LOCKWOOD and Sarah ADSIT) was born on 10 Mar 1816 in Kingston, Canada.⁹³⁶ She died on 14 Nov 1881 in Chicago, IL.⁹³⁶ She may have lived in the village of Collins Bay. She was of thePresbyterian faith when, at 15, she married Joseph, who was the localMethodist pastor. She converted to the Methodist Episcopalian Church ina revival conducted by her husband after about one year of marriage.

For 26 years she was identified with her husband in the work of theSeaman's Friend Society in Cleveland, OH, and Chicago, IL. For manyyears she was an active and efficient manager of the Woman's HomeMissionary Society of Chicago. She was also one of the managers of theChicago Home for the Friendless.

For the last ten years of her life, she suffered from shaking palsey, orparalysis. She died at the residence of her son, Dr. R. L. Leonard, ofpneumonia after six days' illness at the age of sixty-five. Rev. Joseph Helmer LEONARD and Susannah LOCKWOOD had the following children:

+3125	i.	Joseph Homer LEONARD.
+3126	ii.	Mary J. E. LEONARD.
3127	iii.	Dr. Raymond L. LEONARD was born about 1850. He died after 1910 in Chicago, IL. He was an early graduate of Rush Medical College and practiced for over40 years on the north side of Chicago. He was a musician of note andcomposed much of his own music. The 1910 Census shows a Raymond L. Leonard, 59, a physician in generalpractice, living in Chicago with two servants and two lodgers. Heapparently did not marry and had no children.
3128	iv.	Coke LEONARD.