Eighth Generation

3125. Joseph Homer LEONARD was born on 7 Jul 1833 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He died on 10 Aug 1881 in Chicago, IL. He was buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, IL. He was a merchant in Chicago and a soldier during the Civil War. Hemoved to Chebance, Iroquis Co., IL, then to Chicago about 1858. About1865 he left his wife for Lizzie Barney. The family was living togetherChicago at the time of the 1870 Census.

Molly Leonard's story of the Leonard family, as relayed by Eric Bowler:

"Now for his son, the 2nd Joseph H. Leonard. He was born sometime in1833 somwhere in Ontario. I think he was also well-educated, probably inToronto. In any event it appears he stayed behind in the Toronto areawhen the family left for Chicago. In 1856 he married Matilda Dexter.Sometime between then and 1858, they moved to the Chicago area. OakPark, Iroquois County? They had two children: Benjamin Franklin Leonard1858-1922 and Ralph Vine Leonard 1865-1887.

Joseph was a soldier in the Civil War (the older Joseph served as aChaplain to the Army in the Marine Hospital in Chicago...

Sometime during the War, Joseph met Elizabeth Allord Barney. She becamehis mistress, was divorced from her husband, Frank Barney, and they hadthree children... The family must have accepted this arrangement, atleast tacitly, since he dared to give the children family names, butbeing staid, well-off, high profile Methodists, they probably weremortified. What fun!

Rumor has it that Joseph invented baking powder, but the formula wasstolen by an assistant, so he couldn't patent it. I have read that inthose days, if a second person produced your product before you completedthe patent process, you lost your right to a patent...

Eliza died around 1874, and family members raised the children. Matildatook her sons to homestead in Nebraska and sued for divorce in 1876. Ihave the divorce papers, which indicated that they probably split up forgood about 1871, and Joseph and Eliza may have moved to St. Louis. Also,Joseph probably abandoned his first two children... Matilda remarried inNebraska and had a daughter named Hope.

Joseph remarried Barbara Laney (1843 to ?), maybe in St. Louis. They hadone son, Charles E., born 1880, who died in infancy. Joseph himself diedin 1881." (from Molly Leonard, via Eric Bowler 16 Jan 2007).

Joseph Homer LEONARD and Matilda DEXTER were married on 23 Dec 1856 in English Church, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Matilda DEXTER was born about 1838 in Canada. She sued for divorce in 1876. They apparently split up in 1871. Matildaremarried in Nebraska and had a daughter named Hope. Joseph Homer LEONARD and Matilda DEXTER had the following children:

+4205	i.	Benjamin Franklin LEONARD.
4206	ii.	Ralph Vine LEONARD was born on 1 Oct 1865 in Illinois. He died on 27 Aug 1887 in Nebraska. He died of diptheria. Molly Leonard said no one on either side of thefamily had the name Vine and wasn't sure who he was named after.

Joseph Homer LEONARD and Elizabeth Allord BARNEY were married about 1865. Elizabeth Allord BARNEY died about 1874. Joseph and Eliza may have moved to St. Louis. Joseph Homer LEONARD and Elizabeth Allord BARNEY had the following children:

+4207	i.	Joseph Homer LEONARD.
4208	ii.	Mary S. LEONARD was born in 1869 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. She died on 7 Apr 1883 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. She was buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, Cook Co., IL.
+4209	iii.	George Raymond LEONARD.

Joseph Homer LEONARD and Barbara Rigler LANEY? were married on 31 Oct 1879 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. Barbara Rigler LANEY? was born about 1843 in IL. Joseph Homer LEONARD and Barbara Rigler LANEY? had the following children:

4210

i.

Robert LEONARD was born in May 1880 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. He died before 1883 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL.