Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Tree

SHORT HISTORY Philip Leonard was born in 1816. We know he and his brother Henry came to Thornapple, Barry,Michigan from Cicero, Monroe, New York, and probably they were born at Cicero. Philip moved in 1836 to Yankee Springs, bought a house converted into a hotel and was noted on census records as a “hotel keeper” the rest of his life. In 1837  he was issued an 80 acre land patent in Barry County.  He was elected Sheriff in 1850. Philip Leonard became acquainted with Phineas W. Cook and asked him to build a roof on his house. In the process the two men became acquainted, and Philip discovered Phineas had a sister Mary Ann who was 26 years old and as yet unmarried. On 25 August 1841 Phillip Leonard married her.  Mary Ann died on May 3, 1854, leaving Philip with five children, from an infant to age 10. Philip was unprepared for the tragedy, and Mary Ann was buried next to her father in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Richland. It isn’t surprising that Philip found another wife, and was married December 25, 1858 at Yankee Springs to Mary Clark, age 38. In 1865 they moved to Middleville in the same county. Philip purchased another hotel there. Philip was active in civic affairs. In 1840 he was a juror; in 1848 a Town Clerk, and in 1856 Town Supervisor. When Middleville was incorporated in 1867 Philip was Trustee for two years. He was appointed Overseer of Highways and was again Trustee in 1869 and 1871.  Phineas W. Cook recorded his death February 8, 1885. He was about 70 years old.

BIRTH KV23-D2F 1880 Census records that he was born in 1816 in New York State, parents born in Vermont. Philip Leonard, born 1816 (no place) died 8 Feb. 1885. Submitted by Phineas Wolcott Cook, brother-in-law, From records of Phineas Wolcott Cook, Logan Temple Endowments for the Dead, Vol. B, p. 254, #8980, Family History Library film 177,956) The History of Barry County notes that he and his brother Henry were from Cicero, Monroe, New York.

MONROE, NEW YORK      Philip Leonard’s brother Henry was recorded as moving to Barry County, Michigan from Monroe County, New York: “The congregation of Disciples as associated at Thornapple first had its existence in the families of Calvin G. Hill and Henry Leonard, who, in the fall of the year 1835, emigrated to this place from the county of Monroe, N.Y., and who were the first families settled in the surveyed township for agricultural purposes, who agreed immediately after their settlement to meet together on Lord’s day at each other’s houses to keep the ordinances, and for social worship and edification.” (<i>History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Men and Pioneers,</i> Crisfield Johnson, D. W. Ensign& Co.,Philadelphia, p.492-3.https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/251116-history-of-allegan-and-barry-counties-michigan?viewer=1&offset=0#page=599&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=)      Further research proves Henry was married and appears on the 1830 Census at Chili, Monroe, New York, where his brother Philip Leonard also lived.   BARRY CO. MICHIGAN      Philip’s brother Henry moved to Barry County in 1835. The History of Barry County says Henry urged his brother Philip to come the next year. Philip came in 1836, worked at Hill's sawmill and other places, then settled in Yankee Springs. He bought a house converted into a hotel at the side of a busy road from C. P. Dow. In 1843 he bought 80 acres in Section 2, later Yankee Springs. In 1848 he was town clerk and in 1856 town supervisor. His hotel was always busy with travelers from Battle Creek to Grand Rapids. (<i>Portraits and Biographies of Barry County, Michigan</i>, Family History Library film 1000079, item 3, pp. 487-491)

On 2 November 1837 Philip Leonard "of Barry County, Michigan" was issued a land patent of 80 acres, part of the Michigan-Toledo Strip in Barry County, Michigan, Township 4-N; Range 10-W, Section 23 at Ionia Land Office. Accession #M12570-241, Doc #1292. (Ancestry.com, U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA. US Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records. Automated Records Project; Federal Land Patents, State Volumes. http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/. Springfield, Virginia: Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States, 2007.)

Philip Leonard in <i>The History of Allegan and Barry counties, Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Men and Pioneers</i>, Crisfield Johnson, D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/251116-history-of-allegan-and-barry-counties-michigan?viewer=1&offset=0#page=599&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q= p. 66 - Philip Leonard (Thornapple) elected Sheriff Nov. 5, 1850. Term commenced Jan. 1, 1851 for 2 years. p. 73 – 1873 Meeting to celebrate the Barry County Pioneer Society: Philip Leonard, 1836; Aaron Leonard, Oct. 1851 p. 487 –  “Philip Leonard, now living in Middleville, was a brother of Henry, and at the solicitation of the latter came out to Thornapple in the fall of 1836. He worked in Mr. Hill’s saw-mill a year or so,then went north, and, after a few months’ absence, settled in Yankee Springs township, whence he removed to Middleville in 1865. Mr. Leonard tells the story of his going to mill for his brother in the early days and how he drove thirty-six miles to Kalamazoo, only to be told, when he got there, that he couldn’t have his grist ground under two days, at least, by reason of the numerous applications ahead of him. Determined not to wait so long, young Philip went on to Comstock’s, four miles east, found the miller abed, aroused him, persuaded him to grind the grist that night, and by daybreak turned his team towards home. Mr. Leonard recalls, likewise, how he used to go to Kent (now Grand Rapids) after provisions, and how he was once obliged to pay $40 in gold for a barrel of pork.” 491 – “The house on the west side of the river, known as Leonard’s hotel, was built by Calvin G. Hill, about 1840, for a store, but was never devoted to that purpose. It held a school at first, was then used as a residence, and finally being purchased by C.V. Patrick, was by him converted into a hotel. He kept it a while, and sold it to C.P. Dow, from whom it passed into the possession of Philip Leonard.      “The first school-house built in the township stood in what is now Middleville, upon the west side of the river, and just north of where Leonard’s Hotel stands. The structure was of logs, and Charles Paull, the carpenter, finished it off in as high a style of art as circumstances permitted. Sarah Paull was the first teacher…” p. 492 – “The village of Middleville was incorporated under an act of the legislature approved March 27, 1867” and embraced ‘all that tract of Thornapple township’ lying in parts of (section 22, 23, 26 and 27.) The first election was held May 6, 1867. Philip Leonard was elected Trustee for two years. He was also elected overseer of highways. Orrin Leonard (son of Philip's brother Henry) was elected Trustee in 1868 and Philip Leonard elected Trustee in 1869 and 1871.      At the meeting May 25, 1867 P. Leonard was appointed overseer of highways. p. 515-6 - On the Battle Creek and Grand Rapids stage-road were three taverns in Yankee Springs. One was kept by Philip Leonard. In the beginning this tavern, known as the Silver Creek House, was five miles north of another inn, Yankee Bill’s Tavern along the same Grand Rapids road. “In 1840 Dibble sold the stand to Philip Leonard, who removed the old sign and announced to the traveling public by a new one that the house was the “Middleville Cottage, by P. Leonard.’ It was known too, as the Half-Way House, for it was at first thought to stand just mid-way between Battle Creek and Grand Rapids, whereas subsequent surveys disclosed the ‘half-way’ point to be about two miles south of the tavern. p. 518 - In 1843 there were five road districts in the town of Middleville. Philip Leonard had 80 acres in section, District No. 1. p. 520 - “A legislative act approved March 22, 1839, detached townships 3 north in ranges 9 and 10 west from Thornapple, and called them Yankee Springs.” Philip Leonard was not in the meetings or elections in the early organization of the town of Yankee Springs. However, in 1840 he was a petit juror. In 1848 he was elected a clerk and in 1856 Town Supervisor.

1850 CENSUS: Yankee Springs, Barry County, Michigan, p. 93. Philip Leonard, 37, inn keeper with assets worth $1,500 and Mary Ann Leonard, 34, his wife. Their children are Mary, 6; Melina, 5; George, 3; and Harriet, 1. Also living with them are Candia or Candice Porton or Pordon, 17, born New York and David Wilson, 58, a laborer also born in New York.

1860 CENSUS: Yankee Springs, Barry County, Michigan. There were 12 in this household: Philip Leonard is age 40, born about 1820 in New York. His wife Mary is age 39, born in New York. Also in the household are Mary Jane Leonard age 16 born in Michigan, Melissa Leonard age 14 born Michigan, George Leonard age 14 born Michigan, <u>Franklin Clark</u> age 14 (Mary's son?) born New York, Harriet Leonard age 11 born in Michigan, Olive Leonard age 9 born Michigan, David Leonard age 20 born New York, Jane Leonard age 18 born New York, Henry Bradley age 25 and Phebe A Bradley, age 26. Since relationships were not noted in this census. it is not known how everyone was related. (Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Yankee Springs, Barry, Michigan; Roll: M653_536; Page: 577; Image: 75; Family History Library Film: 803536, Ancestry.com. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.)

1870 CENSUS: Middleville, Barry, Michigan. Philip Leonard is age 54, born about 1816 in New York. His wife Mary is age 48. Also in the household are Harriet Leonard age 21, Olive Leonard age 19, Josie Witherell age 27, Asa Wilson (Mary's father?) age 76, Frank Clark age 22, (Mary's son?) Harry Witherell age 19, and Jane Gregory age 35. (Year: 1870; Census Place: Middleville, Barry, Michigan; Roll: M593_661; Page: 289B; Image: 662; Family History Library film 552160. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

1880 CENSUS: Middleville, Barry, Michigan. Philip Leonard is age 63, born about 1817 in New York. He is a hotel keeper whose parents were both born in Vermont. His wife Mary Leonard is age 50, born in New York and parents born in New York. Also in the household are a son George Leonard, a farmer age 34, born in Michigan. His father was born in New York and his mother in Connecticut. A grandson William Leonard, a scholar age 7, born in Michigan. His father was born in Michigan and his mother in New York. And Asa Wilson age 82, a boarder and farmer, born in New York. (Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Middleville, Barry, Michigan; Roll: 570; Family History Film: 1254570; Page: 67C; Enumeration District: 036; Image: 0515, Ancestry.com)

1862-1866, Tax lists for Michigan, Philip Leonard District 4; Annual, Monthly and Special Lists, Jan 1865-Dec 1866, (Ancestry.com. U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: National Archives (NARA) microfilm series: M773)

Interestingly there was a Philip A. Leonard in Grand Rapids, Michigan who shows up in Census information. He is in the City Directory for 1910 and appears for at least 25 years, long after our Philip Leonard was dead. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.) Obviously there were two of them, but ours stayed in Barry County his entire life.

DEATH Phineas Wolcott Cook stated Phillip died 8 February 1885 (From records of Phineas Wolcott Cook, Logan Temple Endowments for the Dead, Vol. B, p. 254, #8980, Family History Library film 177,956)

RESEARCH On the 1860 census the following were named as living in the household of Philip Leonard: David Leonard age 20 born New York, Jane Leonard age 18 born New York, Henry Bradley age 25 and Phebe A Bradley, age 26. It is not known who these people were On the 1870 census the following is named in Philip's household: Asa Wilson age 76. Asa is still there in 1880, listed as 82 years old. Could be his second wife Mary's father? On the 1880 census the following were in the household: Josie Witherell age 27, Asa Wilson age 76, Frank Clark age 22 (Mary's son?) Harry Witherell age 19, and Jane Gregory age 35.

MARRIAGE (1) On 25 August 1841 Phillip Leonard married Mary Ann Cook, daughter of Phineas and Irene Cook of Richland, Kalamazoo, Michigan. She died 3 May 1854 at Hastings, Barry, Michigan, leaving five children ages 2-10. Phineas W. Cook from Richland, Kalamazoo came up to Thornapple and built barns for two of the Thornapple farmers. Philip Leonard became acquainted with Phineas and asked him to build a roof on his house. In the process the two men became acquainted, and Philip discovered Phineas had a sister Mary Ann who was 26 years old and as yet unmarried. Phineas wrote: “I told him I had a sister that wanted a husband and if he was a good man he might have her and if he would come to Gull Prairie I would make him acquainted with her. Accordingly, the next Sunday he made his appearance at Father’s on Gull Prairie. They were introduced and a bargain was made. They were married in 2 ½ weeks, and she moved with him to Thornapple in the month of August.” (Journal of Phineas Wolcott Cook, August 1841.)   

MARRIAGE DOCUMENTATION (1) Philip Leonard and Mary A. Cook were married 24 September 1841 in Connecticut. ("Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997," database, <i>FamilySearch</i> (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7PW-BX5 : 11 February 2018), Philip Leonard and Mary A. Cook, 24 Sep 1841; citing Connecticut, United States, reference ; Family History Library microfilm 3,297.) JSP note: Neither of them was in Connecticut in 1841. Connecticut often recorded information for its former citizens, but the marriage took place in Michigan. Michigan Marriages: "Philip Leonard, age 26, born 1815 and Mary A. Cook were married 24 September 1841 in Michigan." ("Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995." Database. <i>FamilySearch</i>. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City.) Family information of Phineas W. Cook, brother of Mary Ann recorded this marriage and the date. (From records of Phineas Wolcott Cook, Logan Temple, Vol. B, p. 254, #8980, Family History Library film 177,956) An article appeared in the Niles Republican, written by Mary Ann's brother Darius Cook upon the subject of her death: "Died: At Middleville, Barry Co., Mich., On the 3rd instant, Mary Ann, the wife of Philip Leonard, and sister to the editor of this paper, and daughter of the late Phineas Cook, formerly of Goshen, Conn. The deceased leaves five small children." (<i>The Niles Republican</i>, Saturday May 13, 1854, p. 2. Page Heading Phineas Cook, May 3, 1854, Family History Library film 2,404,498.)

MARRIAGE (2) Phillip Leonard, age 40, married Mary Clark, age 38 25 December 1858 at Yankee Springs, Barry, Michigan.

MARRIAGE DOCUMENTATION (2) P. Lennord, age 40, born 1818, was married to Mary Clark, age 38, born 1820. Marriage was 25 December 1858 at Yankee Springs, Barry, Michigan. ("Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995." Database. <i>FamilySearch</i>. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City.) P. Leonard and Mary Clark were married 25 December 1858, Barry County, Michigan. ("Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995," database, <i>FamilySearch</i> (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCVS-8M2 : 10 February 2018), P. Leonard and Mary Clark, 25 Dec 1858; citing reference ; Family History Library microfilm 1,008,320.) Mary was in the 1860 census Yankee Springs, Barry County, Michigan six years after Leonard's first wife Mary Ann (Cook) had died. There were 12 in this household: Philip Leonard is age 40, born about 1820 in New York. His wife Mary is age 39, born in New York. In the 1870 Census at Middleville, Barry, Michigan. Philip Leonard is age 54, born about 1816 in New York. His wife Mary is age 48. In the 1880 Census, also at Middleville, Philip Leonard is age 63, born about 1817 in New York. He is a hotel keeper whose parents were both born in Vermont. His wife Mary Leonard is age given the age of 50.

Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette, Sept 3, 1841, page 2, column 7: "Married: In Richland, August 25th ult, by the Rev. Leonard Slator, Mr. Philip Leonard of Barry County, to Miss Mary A. Cook, daughter of Phinehas Cook, of the former place."

They were married on the 1860 Census: Mary Leonard, age 39. The first wife, Mary Ann Cook, died in May, 1851, about the time Olive was born. With a new baby to care for, it isn't likely Philip waited a long time to marry again.