The Springdale news., 1912-12-27
DID NOT LEARN HIS REAL NAME UNTIL AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF AGE.

For the first time within his memory David '. Leonard, aged about 5l years. on, Wednesday or last week, saw one of his own flesh and blood.
 A few years before the breaking out of the Civil War James C. Leonard and wife. Louisa Leonard together with their children, moved from Knox County, Tenn, and Io- cated in settlement known local ly as Coop Ridge about thirty miles southeast of Fort Smith. Dur ing the first year of the war Mir Leonard died, and for the protee- tion of herself and children Mrs Leonard moved to Fort Smith Lat CT on Mrs. Leonard died of meas les. The children, five in number, Thomas. Sarah Elizabeth, Rosa Lee, David Y, and Johnney, being Left alone without any one to care for them, were placed on board boat at Fort Smith and started on q 1 journey to relatives back at their old home in Tenne ssee Al a point between Fort Smith and Ozark the boat was fired upon by Federal sold iers and sank All the passengers Were rescued. and the Leonard children, with the exception Of Dav- i'd T., were placed on another boat and continued on their journey. David Was then only two or three years of age. and he was saved by some person. now unk noWn. and the child's identity being unknown, in stead of being placed aboard the boat with the other children he was talk en to the home of party living near by, whose name is also un= known The children thought theia. brother had been lost, but in order to console them sympathetic ones on the boat assured them he was all right and would be with them in good time.
 David had not been long in his new home until James Johnson and wife came through the country, mak ing their way from Texas to Ten nessee They took q fancy to the little waif. and learning something of his history, prevailed on the peo- pie with whom he had been left to let them take him. which they did. Johnson was in i'll health and they would stop six and eight months al a time at different points on the road, and the first that David remembers of his early history vas in being in Kansas City with this couple. h the fall Of 1866 they reached Marion County. Tenn. locating near the town Of Jasper
 The Joansons were blessed Uith very little Of this world $ goods, barely having the neeessaries of life Mrs Johnson died in April, 1867. and for six years David Leon ard and Johnson lived alone John son was unable to work, and at the age Of about ten years David worked for $6 % per month for the supoet of himself and Johnson Later on Johnson was taken to the home of brother in Alabama, who cared for him until bis death
 At the age of about IT years David was united in marriage, June 30, 1878, in Marion County, Tenn, to Miss Angeline Leadford, 6 years of age In August, 1879. the coup le left Marion County and went to Dade County, Ga. where they lived for six months, going from there to Walker County, the same state. Al ter living there for twelve months they went to Chattanooga. Tenn. where David worked for six months in the railroad shops of the Ala bama Great Southern road. They then went to Jackson County, Ala locating on a farm near Stephen son, where they lived on farm for Iif6 years lOLh lASlS Luey itlui IT ed to Marion County, Tenn, which was their home until 1898. They then went to Grundy County. Tenn. and remained one year, and November 21. 1900, wont to Madisor County. Ala After a residence of eight years In Madison County they re- moved to Greer ounty, Ok, which was their home for ten months, go Ing from there to Madison County again, thence to Limestone County. Ala, which has since been their home
 The couple are the parents of eleven children, eignt of whom are living, three sons and five daught- CTS. All the children are married but one son. 16 year" of age and