McDonough ILGenWeb

LEARD, James, formerly a successful farmer in Prairie City Township. McDonough County, Ill., and now living in comfortable retirement, was born in Armstrong County, Pa., in 1848, a son of W. H. and Mary (Boreland) Leard, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1877, the subject of this sketch came west to McDonough County and purchased a quarter-section of land in Section 11, Prairie City Township, where he was engaged in general farming and stock-raising until his retirement from active labors. Mr. Leard built a fine house and barn, and the place is in excellent condition. Subsequently, he bought eighty acres of land in Section 10, of the same township, and eighty acres of land in Warren County, Ill. He now rents these farms out, having retired from active farming in 1897. As a farmer, he has been quite successful, and has borne a prominent part in the public Improvements of the county.

In 1867, Mr. Leard was married to Mary Blinnie, who was born in Pennsylvania, and three children were born of this union, namely: Elmer E., who is engaged in farming; Mattie A., and Laura L. Mr. Leard is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 933-934, extracted 15 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass.