My Genealogy Hound

E. B. LEONARD, of E. B. Leonard & Son, dry goods and clothing, Joplin, was born near Jacksonville, Ill., March 20, 1826. His parents, Joseph T. and Catharine C. (Bergen) Leonard, were natives of New Jersey. Father was born Aug. 8, 1786, and died at Rushville, Ill., Nov. 1, 1841. Mother born July 8, 1792, died Feb. 2, 1883, at Beardstown, Ill. His father left Maryland in 1818; went to Kentucky, remained about two years; thence to Indiana, remained about two years; and in 1822 moved to Illinois, settling near the present city of Jacksonville, where our subject was born, in 1826. In 1828 his father sold his land near Jacksonville and moved to Rock Spring Seminary, the principal then being an intimate friend. He remained there and at Belleville about two years, movingnto Pekin, Ill., thence to Rushville, Ill., in April, 1833. There young Leonard attended school, receiving a liberal education. When about fifteen years of age he engaged with Wilson & Greer, in Rushville, Ill., as clerk in a general store. After the death of his father, and dissatisfied with the monotony of a salesman’s life he determined to learn a trade, to have something to fall back upon, and on the 5th of July, 1842, went into the cooper shop of Sam McCreary, in Rushville, to learn the trade, remaining there until November, 1843, when he left the shop and went to Beardstown, Ill., and commenced clerking for B. W. Schneider & Co. In December, 1845, he went to Bath, Mason county, and embarked in the mercantile business for himself. Continued about eighteen months, then disposed of interest and returning to Beardstown re-engaged in the capacity of salesman with Horace Billings, in the spring of 1846, remaining there until in the fall of 1852, when he went into the employ of D. Kreigh & Co. In the summer of 1854, in company with Mr. Kreigh and others, engaged in steam-boating for a short time, subject having charge of office. In December, 1854, he sold his interest in the boat and again embarked in the mercantile business, this time at Chandlersville, Cass county. Two years thereafter he returned to Beardstown and in February, 1856, opened up a general store and engaged in the buying and shipment of grain. Was thus employed until the spring of 1868. Then disposed of store and continued for a time at shipping grain. In the spring of 1869 he accepted the position of general agent for R., R. I. & St. L., now C., B. & Q. Railroad, to work up subsidies and secure the right of way. Continued thus employed three years, then went into the land department of what is now the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. Came to Joplin in the spring of 1876 and embarked in present business. Mr. Leonard was married at Beardstown, Cass county, Ill., May 23, 1848, to Miss Mary R., daughter of Arthur S. and Elizabeth (Stipp) Miller, natives respectively of Connecticut and the Old Dominion. Mrs. Leonard was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 41, 1827. She was educated in the Covington, Ky., and the Cincinnati schools. From this union there have been seven children: Anna, born Jan. 27, 1850; she is now the wife of H. P. Grurd, of Girard, Kan.; James M., born Feb. 22, 1852, now of the above firm; Joseph T., born Jan. 12, 1854, now cashier Citizens’ Bank, Girard; Maria, born Feb. 9, 1857, now the wife of Charles M. Spring, of Beardstown, Ill.; Lizzie, born Feb. 11, 1859, now the wife of E. D. Porter, of this city; Arthur E., born Dec. 4, 1860, now with E. B. Leonard & Son; and Susie C., born Jan. 31, 1863, at home in this city. All were born in Beardstown, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard are members of the M. E. Church. They have a beautiful residence on the corner of Wall and Fifth streets. Business on Main Street, between Third and Fourth. Store room, lower floor, 25x110, is well stocked with all kinds of dry goods, ladies’ and gents’ furnishing goods, shoes, etc. The upper, 25x90, is devoted exclusively to clothing, trunks, etc.