Biographies Leonhard, Louis June 23, 1841 - November 15, 1901 Submitted by Marjorie Ethridge Source Daily Picayune Nov. 16, 1901 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Louis Leonhard Dies of Paralysis Not only a Leader in the Third District Progress But One of the City’s Most Enterprising Merchants As Well as a Patriotic and Progressive Citizen His Life Story a Fine Example of the Possibilities of Individual Effort Social and business circles in the third district were sorrowfully shocked yesterday when the death was announced of an old and esteemed resident and merchant, Mr. Louis Leonhard, who for a great many years was Proprietor of a dry goods store at the corner of Louisa and Dauphine streets. Persons now of middle years remember that when they were wee toddlers they were wont to run on errands to one of the landmarks of the old third district and Mr. Leonhard, so long identified with the business interests of the locally of the people by his constant courtesy and his invariable cheerfulness and affability. He could justly have laid claim to full citizenship of New Orleans, for he came to this city from his native province of Rheinpfalz, Bavaria with his parents at the tender age of 3 years and he has spent here fifty-seven of his life of 60 years as a valued and honored resident. Mr. Leonhard has always enjoyed robust health, and his mature tenure of existence gave promise of a long and useful career yet to be filled. But the hand of death, that sooner or later must be felt, was laid on him with sudden unexpectedness, while he seemed to be in the full enjoyment of all his facilities. Last Monday he suffered a stroke of paralysis, and the shock proved fatal, in spite of the most enlightened medical attention and the tenderest care of his devoted family. He died at noon yesterday, and the sad news of his demise caused a wave of sorrow to spread over the neighborhood in which he had lived and labored and prospered from his early youth. Mr. Leonhard was ever industrious and energetic, and it was to those qualities that he owned his rise in the world. Until his 13th year he was educated in the private school kept by Prof. John Ueber, and then entered active life as an apprentice the composition room of the German Gazette. He worked at night and devoted his leisure hours in the day to continuing his studies in the public schools. In 1862 he had risen to the responsible position of foreman, but at that time the country was in the throes of the intervening war, and he felt the call of duty and enlisted as soldier in the defense of southern rights. He was appointed first lieutenant in the First Louisiana Guards, who were enrolled to city service, and he acquitted himself of his military duties with merit and distinction. When peace was restored, Mr. Leonhard directed his attention to commercial pursuits, and bidding adieu to journalism, established himself in business as dry goods merchant at the corner of Louisa and Dauphine streets, and since that time he has remained at that corner enlarging the building as trade grew and expanded and keeping pace with the march of progress and improvement. Mr. Leonhard was married in love to Miss Josephine Schuler, who with five children survives him. His sons Charles T. Leonhard, Louis F. Leonhard, Ernest J. Leonhard and Albert T. Leonhard are well known in business circles, the former being a commercial traveler for the firm of S. & J. Katz, and the other three being interested in the dry goods business with their father. His daughter, Mrs. Charles Breath, is a resident of Bay St. Louis, Miss. For several years Mr. Leonhard managed alone his business, but as his sons became of age he successively took them into partnership, and with their help and cooperation he continued his prosperous affairs. He took an active and earnest interest in all measures touching the welfare of his city and of the section in which he resided. His moral and financial support was promptly at the service of his fellow citizens, while his private and unselfish act of benevolence and charity were numerous as they were modestly bestowed. Mr. Leonhard was a stanch member of the German Lutheran Church, and his bearing towards his family was strict, in accord to his sterling line of conduct before the eyes of his fellow man. He was identified with several chartered corporations and public institutions. For thirty years he was a director of the Metropolitan Bank and for fourteen years- from the foundation of the Third District Building and Homestead Association, he was president of that corporation. He also was a director in the Protestant Home-the Altenhiem- at the corner of Camp and State streets, and was an honorary member of the Tallyho Club. When the great Sangerfest was given in this city, in 1891, Mr. Leonhard was it’s financial secretary and he was thrice president of the state homestead league. During the reconstruction period in this state, in the year 1877, when the Nicholls administration had been installed in the statehouse, Mr. Leonhard was a member of the legislature for the ninth ward and served most faithfully and intelligently. He was chairman on the committee for printing, a very responsible position. Throughout his long life Mr. Leonhard was an exemplar of good citizenship and was held in high esteem for his strict integrity in all his business dealings, besides being cited a model head of family. His funeral will take place today at 3 o’clock form the residence of his son, Mr. Louis F. Leonhard, no. 3030 Royal Street, and services will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, at the corner of Port and Burgundy streets. The Interment will be made in the St. Vincent de Paul’s Cemetery.