Denver-Pueblo County CO Archives Biographies.....Leonard, William R. 1852 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 14, 2008, 6:10 am

Author: Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918)

WILLIAM R. LEONARD.

    If one could turn back the hourglass of time to the year 1866 and review the
boy workers of Carbon county, Pennsylvania, he would find among the number
William R. Leonard, who at that date was picking slate or driving mules in
connection with the mines; while at the time of his death, which occurred
October 25, 1918, he was prominent in the mining world, and president of the
Hibernia Bank & Trust Company of Denver. It is a far step between points, nor
had he reached his prominent position by-leaps and bounds, but by that steady
progress which is the direct result of indefatigable effort and energy. He was
born at Beaver Meadow, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1852, a son of Bernard Leonard, who
was a native of Ireland and came to the new world during the '30s. In
Pennsylvania he wedded Margaret Ryan, who was born in Northampton county. Both
have now passed away. They reared a family of five children.

    William R. Leonard, who was the third in order of birth, pursued his
education in the public schools of his native county to the age of fourteen
years and then started out to earn his living, securing his first wage as a
slate picker in the mines of Pennsylvania. In June, 1876, he determined to try
his fortune in the west and went first to Leads City, South Dakota, where he was
employed in various ways, including mining, and in 1884 he removed to Idaho,
settling in the Coeur d'Alene district. There he be came actively identified
with mining interests, both as mine superintendent and operator, and was very
successful in the conduct of his business at that point. It was Mr. Leonard who
discovered the Mammoth and Custer mines, both of which were among the largest
and heaviest producers of the Coeur d'Alene district. His brother having arrived
two years later from the east, Mr. Leonard admitted him to partnership and
together they became identified with mining interests in northern Idaho. After
taking out a clear profit of over one hundred thousand dollars in 1903, they
sold the Mammoth mine to the Federal Mining and Smelting Company for the
comfortable sum of two and one-half million dollars. Mr. Leonard retained a very
large interest in the mines of the Coeur d'Alenes, having a large block of stock
in the Tamarack Custer mine and in the Federal Mining and Smelting Company.
Again good fortune smiled and the Green Hill-Cleveland, located by the brother
in the early part of 1900, also became a "fairy godmother" to the two brothers,
and in the vernacular of the camp they again "struck it" in the year 1912.

    On removing to Colorado, Mr. Leonard located in Pueblo, having a contract to
deliver ore from their mines to the smelters of that city. Later he took up his
abode in Denver and with business associates established the Hibernia Bank &
Trust Company, and from 1914 served as its president. This bank is capitalized
for one hundred thousand dollars and has deposits of over one million, five
hundred thousand dollars. The business of the bank is splendidly organized in
every department. A general banking business is conducted and four per cent paid
on savings accounts. It has a well established bond, real estate and insurance
department. Mr. Leonard was also interested in the First National Bank of Denver
and was a realty holder of that city.

    It was in Denver that Mr. Leonard met and married Miss Frances Coll, who was
born in St. Louis, Missouri, and is a descendant of one of the old families of
that state. Fraternally Mr. Leonard was a member of the Knights of Columbus and
the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Wallace, Idaho. His religious faith
was indicated by his membership in the Roman Catholic church. He was a most
generous contributor to all charitable activities. His friends were the friends
of adversity as well as prosperity, for he judged men not by their possessions
but by their personal worth, thereby holding the respect and esteem of his
fellowmen.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF COLORADO

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME III

CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1918



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