LEONHARDY, Emil & John M.

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 163

Biography of Emil LEONHARDY (brother of John M.)

Emil LEONHARDY, proprietor of the Massasoit House, Alma [Buffalo County, 
Wisconsin], was born 16 August 1847 in Switzerland. In 1859 he removed with 
his parents [John and Anna LEONHARDY?] to America, and for a few months lived 
in Canada. They removed from there to Sauk County [Wisconsin]. Soon after 
they located in the town of Alma [Buffalo County], and his parents are still 
residents of that town. In 1870 he engaged in business for himself in the 
village of Alma, dealing in agricultural implements and insurance. He was 
appointed special agent for C. Aultman & Company, which position he held for 
three years, when he purchased the Massasoit House. He has held the office 
of Deputy Sheriff and Register of Deeds, under his brother. [The biography 
of this brother, John M. LEONHARDY, follows below.]

In 1872 [08 November 1872?] he [Emil LEONHARDY] married [Miss] Mary BRUEGGER, 
born in this State [Wisconsin] in 1849. [Mary BRUEGGER may have been born 01 
February 1850 in Watertown, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, and may have died 25 
April 1927. Submitter did not seek vital record or obit.] They have [1881] 
five children: Annie, Alma, Paul E., Clara, Lydia, and Belle.

 

Biography of John M. LEONHARDY (brother of Emil)

J. M. [John M.] LEONHARDY, Register of Deeds, Alma [Buffalo County, 
Wisconsin], was born 03 February 1843 in Switzerland. When he was sixteen 
years old his parents emigrated to America, and for a period of one year 
resided in Canada, when they removed to Sauk County [Wisconsin], and only 
remained there a short time. In 1861 they located permanently in the town of 
Alma. Mr. LEONHARDY had only the advantages of a common school education, 
but his early life was spent in teaching during the winter, and farming in 
summer. In 1869 he settled in the village of Alma, and has been in various 
businesses since. Although not an office seeker, he has been chosen by the 
people to act as Sheriff one term, and in 1879 was elected to his present 
position.

In 1873 he [John M. LEONHARDY] married Veronika FUOTER, who was born in 1851 
in the same place [Switzerland]. They have one child, Alma. [FUOTER may 
also appear in census records as FOUTER or FONTER. See also the Buffalo 
County, Wisconsin, biography of Samuel FUOTER, who may have been related to 
Veronika. The John M. LEONHARDY family is enumerated in the 1880 census of 
Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin: John M., age thirty-seven, register of 
deeds, born in Switzerland, about 1843 by his census age, which supports the 
year of birth given for him in the biography, to parents also born in 
Switzerland; his wife, Veronika LEONHARDY, age twenty-eight, born in 
Switzerland, by her age about 1852, to parents born in Switzerland; and a 
daughter Joanna LEONHARDY, age seven months, born in Wisconsin to parents 
both of whom were born in Switzerland. The Alma LEONHARDY of the biography 
could be the same person as the Joanna LEONHARDY of the biography. The 
enumeration of the 1880 census preceded the publishing of the text by 
approximately a year, thus it is unlikely that "Alma" died in the interim. 
It is possible no error was made by either the biography or the census in 
naming the daughter, that Alma and Joanna are actually one in the same, her 
name actually being "Joanna Alma" or "Alma Joanna."]

[Also listed in the 1880 census of Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, is the 
household of another John LEONHARDY, age thirty-four, farmer, born in 
Switzerland (about 1842 by his census age) to parents also born in 
Switzerland; his wife, Mary LEONHARDY, age twenty-seven, born (about 1853) in 
Wisconsin to parents also born in Wisconsin; his two children, ages four and 
two; John LEONHARDY, father of John, a retired farmer, age seventy-five, born 
in Switzerland (about 1805) to parents also born there; and John M. 
LEONHARDY, cousin of John, age eighteen, farm worker, born in Switzerland 
(about 1862) to parents also born there. Is this family related to John M. 
of the biography, the register of deeds? Bracketed material added by 
submitter (who is not researching these surnames) to support and clarify 
information given in the biography and to raise questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly