Charles Blanchard, History of Morgan, Monroe and Brown Counties, 1884, p. 661. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as noted by the ellipsis. William Leonard, farmer and stock dealer, was born February 13, 1817, in Paoli, Orange County, Indiana, and is the eldest son of Henry and Martha (Rains) Leonard, the former a native of North Carolina who came to Indiana in 1816. The grandfather of our subject was of Irish descent. Henry Leonard first located in Orange County where he remained two years, then went to Lawrence County for three years, whence he came to Monroe County and settled in what is now Clear Creek Township and built a log house; the place consisted of 80 acres of timber. After a period of about 12 years, he moved near Bloomington and remained. William Leonard was reared with his parents; his early education was sparse, having attended school only in the worst winter weather; but he studied by night and thus acquired considerable education unaided. He worked by day at clearing, plowing and the like, and also split rails for 37 cents a hundred and paid a debt of his father's for $100 at $7 per month. When 22 years old, he became a teacher, at which, in conjunction with farming, he employed his time during the year for two years, and also attended school at Harrodsburg; then returned to teaching and taught in the Woodard (sic) School House seven consecutive winter terms. January 5, 1843, he married Lucinda Grimes whose father was one of the first settlers and the first grand juryman of the township. After marriage, Mr. Leonard moved to Perry Township where he taught a six months' term in the free schools.After the school term, he moved to the farm on which he now lives, of 108 acres, making in all, as land owned by him, 252 acres.Mr. Leonard was once a Whig but is now a Republican, and was township trustee at a time when each township had such an officer, and was afterward township clerk for two terms. He is an upright man, an esteemed citizen, a member of the Christian Church of which he has been an elder 20 years, and is now Sabbath School superintendent. Mrs. Leonard died August 1, 1873, after which he married Mrs. Nancy Boruff, with one son-Samuel D.; she is also a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Leonard has been father of 13 children, of whom six sons and three daughters are living-John H., a physician of Elkinsville; James T., a farmer; Alfred M., served during the war and died after his return; William I., now in Texas; David M., died in infancy; Silas M., now in Portland, Oregon; Lewis O., a graduate of Bloomington University; Homer, now attending Bloomington University; Martha J., now Mrs. W. J. Taylor of New Albany, Ind.; Nannie E., now Mrs. J. C. Miller; Lida, a music teacher in Portland, Oregon.