Bio of Hugh Leonard (b.1865)Wabasha Co., MN USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Martha J. Berryman Note: This Biography is taken from the book "History of Wabasha County" copyrighted 1920. Leonard - Hugh Leonard, a former superintendent of schools of Wabasha County, for the last six years a member of the state legislature, and who also has business and agricultural interests in the county, was born in Gillford Township, Wabasha County, March 4, 1865. His parents, Hugh and Catherine Boland Leonard, were natives of County Fermanaugh, Ireland, where they were married, and where also they continued to reside until 1855, when they came to the United States. For about four years they remained in New York state, where three children were born to them, and then in 1859 they came to Wabasha County, Minn., disembarking from a steamboat at Read's Landing almost destitute of funds. From that place to a location in Hyde Park Township, a distance of 20 miles, they proceeded on foot, Mrs. Catherine Leonard carrying her youngest child in her arms. The five or six years they spent in Hyde Park Township were years of struggle and privation, but they made some progress, and at the end of that period bought 320 acres of wild land in Gillford Township, on their tract building a log cabin. Mr. Leonard then bought a team of oxen and began the development of the new farm, a task which occupied him for many years. There he died on April 9, 1909. For the last nine years of his life he had been a widower, his wife having passed away on the home farm February 2, 1900. The children born to them are as follows: James, now a farmer near Hettinger, N.D.; Mary Ann, who married James McCaffrey, and died at St. Thomas, Minn., where her husband was engaged in farming; Michael, now deceased; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Hugh McCaffrey, of Wabasha; Theresa, wife of Hugh McGuigan, of South St. Paul; William, a farmer in Gillford Township; Hugh, the subject of this sketch; and Thomas, who is a farmer in Gillford Township, and owner of part of the old home farm. Hugh Leonard acquired his elementary education in the common schools, after which he was a pupil for two years in the Lake City high school, and for two years in the Winona Normal Schools. He then took up the profession of a teacher, and was thus occupied for three years in District 3, Pepin Township, Wabasha County, having 100 pupils enrolled. His next school was at Mazeppa, this county, Minn., which he taught three years and subsequently he spent several years in teaching other schools in the county. Having shown more than ordinary ability as an educator, Mr. Leonard was elected to the office of county superintendent, in which he served two terms, from January 1, 1899, to December 31, 1902, making as good a record as a superintendent as he had as a teacher. Since 1907 he has owned and operated 160 acres of the old home farm in Gillford Township, and now has it all under cultivation except 10 acres. He breeds Shorthorn and Durham cattle, having full blooded sires for his herds. Aside from his direct farming interests, he is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Shipping and Elevator Association of Millville, which he is serving as vice president, and is president of the Plainview Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In 1914 he was elected to the state legislature, in which body, through successive re-elections, he has since continued to serve. Politically he is a Democrat. On May 9, 1889, Mr. Leonard was united in marriage with Margaret McCullogh, who was born in Oakwood Township, Wabasha County, Minn., May 31, 1871, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James McCullogh. Eight children have been born to this union, as follows: Thomas Howard, January 20, 1891; William Grover, March 30, 1893; Joseph Homer, July 4, 1896; Ambrose, March 11, 1899; John, in March 1903; Marguerite, March 30, 1905; and Helen Angela, May 30, 1908. The eldest son, Thomas H., who is unmarried, is now living on the home farm. William G. is married and is a farmer in West Albany Township. Joseph H. is inspector in the U.S. immigration office at Winnipeg, Canada. Ambrose and John are both deceased, Ambrose having died in infancy, and John when two and a half years old. Marguerite is a student in Lake City High School. Helen Angela is residing at home with her parents. Mr. Leonard and his family are Catholics in religious faith, being members of St. Patrick's parish at West Albany, which he is serving as trustee and secretary. Note: This biography was taken from the book "History of Wabasha County" copyrighted 1920.