If you’re lucky, there’s at least one person in your family who is drawn to family history. One person who feels compelled to put flesh on the skeletons in the closet. One person who just loves a good puzzle. And if you’re really, really lucky… that person is you.

An anonymous scribe once called people like us “The Story Tellers of the tribe.” We accept the nomination and do our utmost to serve with distinction. And with that, here are a few of the people exploring the Solomon Leonard line, from the Mayflower all the way up to the present day. Give us a call, drop us a line, shoot us an e-mail or leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to spin you a true story.

Rick… descended from Solomon(1) through Isaac(2), Benjamin(3), Caleb(4), Caleb, Jr.(5), Daniel(6), William(7), Daniel(8), Guy(9), and my grandparents. I live in a Seattle suburb but focus most of my research on Iowa and southwest Pennsylvania. I focus mostly on my great-great grandfather Daniel(8), but I’ve learned a LOT about him by researching his eight siblings Edmund(8), Isaac(8), Lydia Ann(8), William(8), Joseph(8), Mary Jane(8), James Herron (8) and Thomas(8). One of my goals is to collect pictures of each of them, which isn’t easy, given that they scattered to six states in the 1800s. That’s not to say I’m not interested in the rest of the family, I am… there are some real characters back there! Feel free to contact me at Rick (at) rickleonard.net.”

Allan… descended from Solomon(1) through Isaac(2), Benjamin(3), Caleb Sr.(4), Silas(5), Abner(6) George(7), James(8), and Ruby(9). Allan isn’t online, but communicates and shares most generously by telephone and snail mail. He is by far the most knowledgeable Leonard researcher I know and went so far as to move to Washington County, PA. to be closer to his passion.

Jennifer… descended through the line with Lucretia Jennings, who was the wife of Daniel(6). My great great great grandfather, Degress (Degrass, De Grasse, etc spellings)was Lucretia’s brother. I do research on ALL branches of the family as each new branch may sprout new clues to mine. I live in the Beallsville/Bentleyville/Vanceville area of PA, about 8 miles from where the Jennings’ and Leonard’s had settled. With lots of history books at my disposal (here at my house), I can do some lookups if I have the info. My email (that wont change) is jenster11174@yahoo.com. Rick has the one I pay for if for some reason I would not answer you.
Happy hunting!

Shannon… descended from Solomon(1); Isaac(2); Benjamin(3); Caleb(4); Caleb Jr.(5); Daniel(6); William(7); Isaac(8); Andrew Jackson(9); John Braden(10); James Richard Sr.(11); my Dad, and of course me. My Isaac(8) and Rick’s Daniel(8) were brothers. Isaac claims the same birth date as Daniel, but to date, no documentation of them being twins has surfaced. Wouldn’t that be a find! I live in northeastern Pennsylvania. My Dad grew up in Washington County, PA, near the areas where so many of our LEONARD descendants lived and raised their families. I have been heavily researching my family for the past three years. My great grandmother, Queene Sharp Leonard, married to John Braden(10) told my Dad many stories about her SHARP family as he grew up. A trip to Gettysburg, PA, and finding the names of my ggg grandfather Sharp and ggg uncle for myself on the Pennsylvania Memorial three years ago peaked my curiosity and got me going, and I haven’t been able to stop! I have been making regular pilgrimages to Gettysburg ever since as I unravel their stories. My primary research to-date has been on my SHARP family, who also resided in the Washington County area. What stories they have! I was so excited to come across Rick and this wonderful website. I have learned so much about our wonderful LEONARD family thanks to him and all of you. As time goes on, I hope to contribute even more regarding my LEONARD line so future generations of our family can love and appreciate our LEONARD family as we all do.

Pam… descended from Solomon (1)through (2) John, (3) Moses, (4) Andrew, (5) Amos, (6) Dorothy Stevens, (7) Samuel Brooks, (8) Charles Wesley Brooks, (9) Adelie Estelle Brooks, (10) George Alton Beers, (11) Anna Mae Beers, (12) my dad James Bush and (13) me. I am researching the Leonard-Brooks-Beers-Bush lineage.
I am not only researching my family tree but also my mom’s family who we like to say meet the our Mayflower cousins on the border of the United States. My mom’s main family hails from Johnstown, PA.
I am also a Civil War Reenactor and I am researching family members who fought in the War of Northern Aggression.
Through all my research I hope to contribute to the Leonard line all that I have found and share it with everyone.

Polly… descended from Solomon(1), Isaac(2), Benjamin(3), Caleb(4), Caleb Jr.(5), Daniel(6), William(7), Isaac(8), Andrew Jackson(9), John Braden(10), John Braden Jr.(10), Cheryl(11), and me. I live in Northern Virginia (Loudoun County), a suburb of Washington, DC. I never followed or researched genealogy until I stumbled across Rick’s website while “googling” my grandfather’s name. I was hooked immediately (it helped that Rick’s website is so engaging and well organized). I began digging into my branch – as outlined above – and discovered a very close cousin – Shannon. Her dad and my mom grew up together and have reconnected since Shannon and I “met”. I am very interested in all of the generations but have a special feeling for Caleb Jr. who as near as I can tell was quite a character. In the future I plan to write a “profile” piece on him. Since finding Rick’s website nine months ago, I have made two trips back to Washington County, found the ancestors gravesites, many of their towns/villages, and even dug up some dirt on a few of them (figuratively speaking). The image I have conjured of these ancestors from reading their wills, observing who and when they married, how they earned a living, their involvement in their communities, and how long they lived – is a smart, lively, healthy, and spirited bunch. Feel free to contact me anytime – Rick has my info.

Sean…whose Leonard ancestors are Solomon(1), Isaac(2), Benjamin(3), Caleb(4), Caleb, Jr.(5), Daniel(6), William(7), Edumund(8), William Jackson(9), Eleanor(10), and my mother. (So I’m a (12).) I’ve been fortunate to find that at least two of the four grandparents’ (Emery and Leonard) lines have been well researched, as well as one of the great-grandparent’s lines. I was pleased to find that each have been here almost as long as the Leonards. (And two old books on them had already been scanned by Google.) Even so, there are still enough holes to fill in and additional information to find. Through coincidence, I currently live in the Pittsburgh area, which makes it easier to go look for myself. Having recently started, I’m still catching up on my direct Leonard line, but I’ve also recently found that there were Emerys, (though not in my direct line), that lived in southwestern PA. I’m interested to see if any of them crossed paths with Leonards. The other lineages are proving a bit more challenging to investigate. I stumbled over Rick’s website while researching some photos I found a couple of years back, but to which I hadn’t paid much attention.

Annie… descended from (1)Solomon 1610-1671 (2)Isaac 1649-1717 (3)Benjamin 1686-bef. 1749 (4) William B. 1724-1808 This William was the first person whose will was probated in Knox Co. OH. (5)Rev. Lot 1754-1847 (6) William 1784-1814 This William is to believed to have died under mysterious circumstances. (7) Rev. William 1812-1875 This William was a conductor on the Underground Railroad before moving to Michigan in 1865 (8)Archibald 1838-1910 (9) Hiram Ezekiel 1971-1956 (10) Orlin Merl 1905-1990 (11) Dorothy Louisa 1927-still living. and me (12) Anna Marie Harless 1952-still living. Now wasn’t this fun with all the William’s? I’ve been conversing with Rick and our cousin Allan for about a year now. Thanks. I have been doing our tree for about 20 years. I welcome anyone to contact me and also add additions and comments.

Sharon & Bill Leonard… descended from Solomon(1), Isaac(2), Benjamin(3), Caleb Sr.(4) Abner(5), Abner Jr.(6), Matthew(7), Robert(8), and Willard(9). Proving Abner Leonard as the son of Caleb Leonard of Morris County NJ and Washington County, PA has been my brick wall. The obituary of Abner Leonard found in “The Western Christian Advocate” really gives much needed specifics of Abner’s travels during his lifetime. Abner’s approx. death and birth dates would seem to fit into the range for Caleb’s children. Abner was prob born in Morris County NJ, traveled with his father Caleb and siblings to Washington County PA. Abner died in Johnson County IN abt. 1851 but not before migrating to SC, OH, then IN. My Leonard Research has spanned about 10 years now, and Rick’s site is really exciting to see.

Dixie… descended from Solomon(1) through Isaac(2), Benjamin(3), Caleb(4), Silas(5), Abner(6), Joseph(7), Abraham(8), Hilda(9). I live in the Kansas City area and am a (10). I focus most of my research on my great-grandfather, Joseph(7) Bowen Leonard and his 6 children: Sarah(8), Abraham(8), Norman(8), Mabel(8), Florence(8), Addison(8) and their descendants and also on Leonard wives. However, I am interested in all my Leonard ancestors and Allan has been a great help to me.

Reeve…descends from Solomon(1), Isaac(2), Benjamin(3), Caleb Sr.(4), Isaac(5), Abner(6), Hiram(7), Nathan Ransom(8), Charles Ransom(9), Nathan Frank(10), and my mother Jane Leonard(11) (all deceased). I live in Montana. Each person listed above since Hiram ended up in Montana. Nathan R. broke the family farming tradition to become an educator. He was professor, department head, vice president and twice acting president of the University of Iowa, Iowa City (1860-1887). After owning and publishing the Fort Wayne Gazette (Indiana) newspaper for 10 years, he moved to Montana. At the age of 67, he became the first President of the Montana School of Mines (now Montana Tech) (1900-1906). I use Family Tree Maker and updates it as he come across new facts. My goal is to scan in all the photos I have to preserve them for future generations.