California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


EDWIN JAMES LEONARD. The present county recorder of Madera county is a descend- 
ant from the very earliest settlers in America, for the Leonard family was represented among 
the pilgrims on the Mayflower and was of English extraction. Both in times of war and peace 
its members have proved themselves worthy citizens of our republic. They built the first iron 
foundry in the United States, thus inaugurating an enterprise that has since become of vast ex- 
tent and importance. During the Revolutionary war one of the family bore arms, in defense 
of independence and liberty. James Leonard, who was a son of this Revolutionary soldier, was 
himself of loyal and patriotic spirit, which he showed during his service in the war of 1812. 
During the next generation James Edwin, a son of James, became a soldier in the Black Hawk 
war and proved himself the possessor of true Revolutionary courage. 

James Edwin Leonard was a native of Norwich, Conn., and grew to manhood upon his 
father's farm. When Iowa was still an undeveloped region he identified himself with its 
pioneer farmers, settling on a rich tract of bottom-land five miles from Sabula, Jackson county, 
within close proximity to the Mississippi river. He witnessed the growth of that locality from 
its raw and crude primeval condition to one of the most fertile and valuable sections of the 
west. Residing there during by far the greater part of his life, he naturally had a circle of ac- 
quaintances that was limited only by the number of pioneers in the county. At the time of his 
death, which occurred at seventy-six years, in 1900, he was the oldest surviving settler of the 
entire county. His wife, who was born Maria Higgins, was a native of Jacksonville. Ill., and 
died in Iowa. Her father, James Higgins, who was a native of Nova Scotia, removed to Illinois 
and settled on a farm near Jacksonville, Morgan county, where he died. 

Four children comprised the family of James Edwin and Maria Leonard, namely : Henry, 
who still lives near Sabula, Iowa ; Bessie, wife of M. H. Cassell of Los Angeles; Edwin James 
of Madera; and Mrs. Mary Kuhnan of Davenport, Iowa. The third of these, Edwin James, 
was born near Sabula, Iowa, August 19, 1860, and during boyhood years worked on the home 
farm during summer months and studied in country schools in the winter. Further educa- 
tional advantages included attendance at the Davenport high school and two years in Cornell 
College, where he took the studies of the freshman and sophomore classes. Leaving college 
before entering upon his junior year, in 1879 he went to Leadville, Colo., to assist in the Grant 
smelter under ex-Governor J. B. Grant of Colorado, Mr. Leonard's uncle. Judge James Grant, 
being financially interested in the project. In 1881 he left Colorado for California and settled 
in Madera (then Fresno) county, where he became interested in the sawmill business. One 
of his earliest ventures was the building of the Miami sawmill in Mariposa county, where he 
engaged in the manufacture of lumber with William H. Crooks as a partner. In 1883 he 
built a new mill with a larger capacity and continued to manage the same with his partner until 
1891, when he sold his interest. He then purchased the Oak Park ranch of four hundred and 
eighty acres, which he improved by building an excellent system of ditching for irrigation. Mak- 
ing his home on the ranch, he engaged in the raising of Holstein cattle there until 1900, when 
he moved into Madera, and has since disposed of his ranch property. At one time he owned 
an interest in the Gambetta mine at Grubgulch, Madera county, but after working the claim for 
three years he sold out. 

The marriage of Mr. Leonard united him with Melvina Oxendine, who was born in Cala- 
veras county, her father, Meldred Oxendine. having been a pioneer of this state. Air. and Mrs. 
Leonard are the parents of two children, Mamie and Mart. For several years Mr. Leonard was 
a member of the state Democratic central committee, and he has also served on the county 
central committee. In 1902 he was the Democratic nominee for county recorder and won the 
election by a majority of one hundred and fifty-four, taking the oath of office in January, 1903. 
for a term of four years. In fraternal connections he is identified with the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, having been initiated into that fraternity in the Madera Lodge.