My Genealogy Hound

Charles Taylor Leonard, who through successive promotions in recognition of his ability, has risen to the position of superintendent of the Creston division for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, has devoted his entire life to railroad service in one capacity or another. His birth occurred in Hagerstown, Indiana, in 1854, his parents being Sylvester and Maria Teresa (Taylor) Leonard, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Both were of English lineage. The father was a farmer and brick manufacturer who, by the careful conduct of his business interests, became well-to-do. His political allegiance was given to the whig party, which he supported up to the time of his death in 1858, when he was forty-nine years of age. His wife long survived him and died in 1907, at the very advanced age of eighty-four years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and by her marriage became the mother of three sons and four daughters, of whom four are yet living: Frank B., now engaged in the lumber business; Laura, the widow of Henry Schaff; Bell, the wife of Edwin B. Ayres, a banker of Huntington, Indiana; and Charles Taylor.

The last named was a pupil in the schools of Dublin, Indiana, where he mastered the common branches of learning. He was reared to farm life and assisted in the cultivation and development of the fields until eighteen years of age, when, thinking to find other pursuits more congenial, he took up the study of telegraphy at Dublin and began in active railroad service as an operator for the Pittsburg, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, at Louisville, Indiana. He was afterward transferred to Centerville on the same line, there remaining until 1872, when he came to the west in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, at Pacific Junction, Iowa. He continued at that point for two and a half years, and in 1874 went to St. Joseph, Missouri, as train dispatcher for the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad. On the expiration of that year he came to Creston in February, 1875, as train dispatcher and remained in that responsible position for eight years. During the succeeding eighteen years he acted as chief train dispatcher for the line and for three years following as train master, while in January, 1905, another merited promotion came to him in his appointment as superintendent of the Creston division of the Burlington road, and he is now acting in that capacity. This gives him a continuous railroad service of thirty-seven years, a period marked by consecutive progress in recognition of his ability, fidelity and trustworthiness.

In 1875 Mr. Leonard was married in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Miss Pauline Smithers, who was born in Oberlin, Missouri, in 1854. They had four children: Alma, who died in infancy; Frank B., who is train dispatcher at Ottumwa, Iowa, and is married and has one son; Beatrice, a student at Monticello, Illinois, and a graduate of Drake University; and Edwin A., a student in Ames College.

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard occupy an attractive modern residence in Creston and are well known socially in society, where their various commendable traits of character have gained them warm regard. Mr. Leonard belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, while his wife holds membership in the Episcopal church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served as a member of the school board but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business duties, and his fidelity and ability are indicated in the fact that he has made constant advancement in railroad service.