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Leonardsville, Madison County, New York

Updated: Jul 19

Leonardsville is a hamlet in the Town of Brookfield, Madison County, New York.


"The first merchant in Leonardsville and in this town was Reuben Leonard, from which family the village took its name; be began trading in 1801 and long conducted a large business for the time. He also kept a tavern in early years, managed a distillery, a tannery, and a large ashery; he was also the first postmaster. He failed about 1820."


Update 6/29/2024:


In an attempt to learn more about the Leonards of Leonardville, I searched Findagrave and found that there are no Leonards indexed in Leonardsville Cemetery. Only 94% of the burials are indexed on Findagrave, so an actual cemetery index might reveal some Leonard burials, though.


In Madison County's Military Rolls 1806-1853 (found here), the following Leonards are listed:

  • J.D. Leonard, Lieutenant, 1816

  • Joshua Leonard, Chaplain, 1809

  • Reuben Leonard, Major, 1809

  • Reuben Leonard, Colonel, 1811 (143rd infantry)


L. H. Denison of Rochester shared some memories of Leonardsville in a letter printed in The Brookfield Courier in April, 1902, provides us with some information about the location of the Leonard store. "The old Leonard store built by Reuben Leonard, who gave the place its name was moved from the original site to the south-east corner, opposite the Hardin store. On the south-west corner were the remains of the old pot ashery. The Leonard store was used as a dwelling, general store, cabinet shop and tailoring establishment, the latter being on the third floor."


"It has just been learned that the old store building and the shop adjoining, also the tenant house on South street, all owned by Mrs. L. D. Brand, are to be extensively repaired next spring. The Brand store is the oldest structure in the village. Its builder and first owner was Reuben Leonard, after whom the place is named, and it originally stood near the present location of H. D. Babcock's house, but was moved across the street the the place where it now stands nearly a century ago." (Brookfield Courier, Nov. 10, 1909)


"Newton Leonard, who died at his home in Washington Mills, Nov. 18th, was known to many people here and in his younger days was frequently a resident of this vicinity and had been pleasantly associated with many of our citizens. He was, we believe, a relative of Reuben Leonard, from whom this village takes its name. Mr. Leonard had an enviable record in the Civil war a a member of Company B, of the 14 New York Regiment, raised in Oneida Co. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Fredericksburg and was paroled. At the expiration of his parole he was transferred to the 67th Regiment and served with it until the regiment was mustered out in Albany. ... He leaves behind him the record of a brave soldier and a good citizen. Mr. Leonard was a brother of Mrs. Mills D. Clark, wife if a former townsman, who visited him not long ago, and his brother, Franklin Leonard, formerly resided here." (Brookfield Courier, Nov. 23, 1910)


E. P. Clarke also recollects Leonardsville as follows: "The old yellow stone building stood just north and a little east of the house in which we lived. It was built by my maternal uncle, Reuben Leonard, and occupied by him until his failure and removal to Rochester." (Brookfield Courier, October 14, 1971)


The church meeting house in Leonardsville was completed on October 7, 1802, but burned exactly 47 years later, on October 7, 1849, undoubtedly destroying important records. (Brookfield Courier, Nov. 2, 1972)



In searching the U.S. Federal Census for Reuben Leonard, it is noted that there was one in Dutchess County on the census in 1800 and 1810. Reuben Leonard of Leonardsville was counted on the census in Brookfield in 1820. In 1830, there was only one Reuben Leonard in New York according to the census. He was in Rochester. In 1840, again, there was only one Reuben Leonard in New York and he was living in New York City with a large household of ten.

Year

Place

People in Household

1800

Beekman, Dutchess County, NY

7

1800

Brookfield, *Chenango County, NY

5

1810

Beekman, Dutchess County, NY

9

1820

Brookfield, Madison County, NY

15

1830

Rochester, Monroe County, NY

12

1840

New York Ward 1, New York, NY

10

*Brookfield was considered part of Chenango County in 1800. Madison County was formed from part of Chenango County in 1806.



Sources:

  • Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York, by John E. Smith, 1899, p. 42, 357, 362-363. [Link]

  • Madison County Archival Records [Link]

  • Madison County Participants in the War of 1812 [Link]


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