Payette Independent
Thursday, March 21, 1935
Funeral services for John William Leonard were held at 3:30 Friday afternoon from Landon's Undertaking Parlor, conducted by Rev. Silas Hagler, Ontario.
Mr. Leonard was born in Mexico, Missouri, February 17, 1864. As he grew older he became interested in railroading and at about the age of 20, came west in the employ of the Union Pacific railroad. He was among the first of the brakemen who came to this section with the early train service on the Shortline, in 1884 or '85.
In August 1888 he was married to Miss Minnie Baisley at Unity, Oregon. Three children were born to them, a son, and two daughters. The son died in infancy and the baby daughter when about eight years of age.
John Leonard enlisted for the Spanish-American War in Boise, May 13, 1898, having boarded the mobilization train at Lime, Oregon, which was his home town. He became a member of Company B, First Idaho Volunteers, and served with this Regiment in the Philippines until the regiment was sent home to muster out in 1899, at San Francisco, on September 5 of that year.
For several years he has lived at Payette and was a member of Nelson A. Miles Camp No. 8, United Spanish War Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 2738, Payette, Idaho.
He died at the Veterans hospital in Boise, March 12, 1935, age 71 years 25 days.
He is survived by one daughter Mrs. H. K. Lauer, Hailey, Idaho, four grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Also one brother, Ed Leonard, Tacoma, Washington, and two sisters, Mrs. E. A. VanSiclin, Portland, Oregon, and Mrs. Sidney Storie of Lime, Oregon.
He was given a military funeral by the Comrades at Payette, Idaho, among whom he had lived and labored. He was a loyal comrade and a worker in the Veterans organization and will be missed by them.
