Lucas-Polk-Scott County IA Archives Biographies.....Leonard, F. J. 1865 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 24, 2007, 11:33 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896)

REV. FATHER F. J. LEONARD, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Chariton,
Iowa, was born in Madison, Wisconsin, June 5, 1865, and is a son of John and
Margaret (Cooney) Leonard, natives of county Connaught, Ireland. The father came
to America in 1842, the mother in 1845, and their marriage was celebrated in
Massachusetts in 1850. They had a family of eight children, six of whom are
living. Two brothers of our subject, John and James, are residents of Colorado.
Margaret is the wife of M. V. Kennedy, a contractor and builder of Des Moines,
Iowa. Mary is the wife of George Crowder, who is engaged in mining at Aspen,
Colorado. Catherine is still with her parents. The family removed from Madison,
Wisconsin, to Des Moines, Iowa, where the parents still reside. Mr. Leonard was
engaged in railroading in various capacities for some time and is now living a
retired life.

   The early educational advantages of Rev. Father Leonard, who is the youngest
of the family, were obtained in St. Ambrose's parochial school in Des Moines.
Later he entered St. Joseph's College, of Dubuque, Iowa, and was transferred
from there to Niagara University, completing the prescribed course in 1888. He
next entered Mount St. Mary's Seminary, of Cincinnati, where he studied theology
and was ordained to the priesthood in 1891, by Archbishop Elder, of that city.
His first pastoral duty was at the cathedral in Davenport, Iowa, where he
remained until August, 1893, when he became pastor of the church in Chariton.

   St. Mary's Catholic Church was organized in 1869, and is now in a very
prosperous condition, growing steadily under the able leadership of Father
Leonard. He holds services there twice each month, and also once each month at
Woodburn and at Osceola, Iowa. He is a young man of liberal education and genial
manner, with a reserved vital force, well calculated to aid him in the
upbuilding of his church. The societies connected with the church are the Rosary
 Society, an organization for ladies, and the Holy Name Society, for gentlemen,
both being of a religious character.

   Father Leonard is a gentleman universally honored and respected by the people
of Chariton without regard to church boundaries. He is a zealous advocate of
temperance, discountenancing any infringement of the laws in this respect. He is
himself a total abstainer, and therefore by example as well as precept he
teaches his people. He is devoted to his work, counting no sacrifice too great
that will advance the cause, and his consistent life commands the respect of all
who know him.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA

ILLUSTRATED

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."'—MACAULAY.

"Biography is by nature the must universally profitable, universally pleasant,
of all things."—CARLYLE

"History is only biography on a large scale"—LAMARTINE.

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1896


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