Biography of

Leonidas K. Kennard, Co B

Leonidas Kennard was born January 29, 1842, close to Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. His father ws James R. Kennard and his mother was Elizabeth Martin Kennard. He spent his early years working with his father who was a blacksmith and farmer. He carried water to the workers building a railroad near his home and later worked as a clerk in a dry goods store.

When the Civil War broke out, he along with his brother, John, Sam Barcroft and Peter Schlatterback joined Company B under the command of Capt. Ashbel Fenton. At Elizabethtown, Kentucky he developed measles and was put in an old house where each one took care of themselves. There were no beds and each slept on the floor with whatever blankets could be located. Fortunately, he was well enough to travel with the rest of the regiment in the advance on Bowling Green and into Nashville.

At Athens, Alabama, he was on picket duty guarding railroad bridges when they were attacked by the rebels. Wisely, Capt. Fenton decided to rejoin the rest of the regiment and Leonidas was there when the regiment retreated. Leonidas and Sgt. Oliver Tripp were assigned to guard the house of some pro-Union residents. At Murfreesboro, during the battle of Stones River, he was wounded in the ankle. Unable to move very well, he stopped in a low place under the protection of some cedars where a group of wounded men sought relief from the battle. During the retreat of the army, he was captured and sent back to Murfreesboro under guard. Because he was given no medical treatment while in the hands of the rebels, Leonidas' ankle became infected and developed blood poisoning. He gives credit to the regimental surgeon in saving his foot. His wound was called a fatal wound but he survived to spend seven months at Camp Dennison while he recuperated. He returned to his company with only about 6 months service to finish. Spending his time building some warehouses and shoeing mules, Leonidas was well prepared for his mustering out in November, 1864.

Moving west, he taught school, worked a mining claim, and drove a mule team for a Mormon company out of Salt Lake City, Utah. Reaching Farmington with his wagon of goods, he decided to stay for a while and became acquainted with John Gleason who had a daughter, Louisa, to whom he became enamored. They were married January 29, 1869 and lived together for 33 years. At least one child was born, L. H. Kennard, Junior. Additional children, if any, are not reported.

(Information obtained from Our Pioneer Heritage, Salt Lake City: International Society, Daughters of Utah Pioneers)