Leonard Travis

Leonard Travis was born on December 14, 1837, in Niagara County, New York, the son of John (b. 1798) and Charity (b. 1803).

New York natives John and Charity were married in New York and resided there for some years. sometime after 1845 the family left New York and eventually settled in Michigan. By 1860 leonard was working as a “common school teacher” and living with his family on afarm near St. Johns, Bengal Township, Clinton County.

In any case, Leonard stood 5’6” with hazel eyes, dark hair and a ruddy complexion and was a 23-year-old farmer probably still living in Clinton County when he enlisted in Company D on May 13, 1861. By September of 1861 was sick in the hospital in Georgetown, DC. Leonard eventually returned to duty and was a company cook in February and March of 1862. Although he was initially reported as having been killed in action on August 29, 1862, at Second Bull Run, he fact he had been shot in the right arm and only missing in action. He soon returned to the Regiment on September 7 at Washington, DC, and was absent sick until he was discharged on February 4, 1863, at Lincoln hospital in Washington, DC, for “partial anchylosis of right elbow with loss of use and atrophy of forearm.”

Leonard listed St. Johns, Clinton County as his mailing address on his discharge paper, and indeed he reportedly lived in Bengal, Clinton County for some years.

He married New York native Harriet (1841-1909).

By 1870 Leonard was working as a farmer (he owned $2800 worth of real estate) and was living with his wife in Bengal, Clinton County; Harriet’s father (?) lived with them. John’s parents lived next door and his brother Charles lived near by. However, Leonard eventually returned to New York state and by 1880 he was working as a farmer and living with Harriet in Stafford, Genesee County, New York. He probably lived in New York until he became ill around 1903. He then moved back to Michigan, settling in the home of his brother Charles in St. Johns, Clinton County.

He applied for and received a pension (no. 61295).

After a long illness, Leonard died at his brother’s home on February 11, 1904. The funeral was held on Sunday following, with the Rev. R. S. McGregor officiating, and he was buried in Mt. Rest cemetery in St. Johns.

His widow was apparently living in New York in late February of 1904 when she applied for and received a pension (no. 594130). In any case she was buried alongside him in 1909.