Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 530 & 533; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Leonard D. Slocum. Fulton County is the home of a goodly
number of men who have put forth such industrious and well-directed
efforts that they have been enabled to retire from the toils and cares
of life and are now spending their time in ease and enjoyment.
Among this number is the gentleman above named, who occupies an
attractive home on section 28, Canton Township. His property here
consists of one hundred and eleven acres of fertile land on which he
has erected every building necessary in carrying on the work of the
estate, all being substantial and well arranged.
The gentlemen of whom we write is a son of Wanton and Sally
(Austin) Slocum, both of whom entered into rest in Erie County,
Pa. The father was born in Chenango County and the mother in
Genesee County, N. Y. Our subject was born in the latter county,
in the town of Leicester, January¸1824, and was an infant of six
months when his parents removed to Chautaugua County. There he
passed his boyhood days until twelve years old, when a removal to Erie
County, Pa., took place. After he became of age young Slocum
returned to his birthplace and in its vicinity he was engaged in
farming for several years. For some ten years he was employed in
a distillery there.
In 1858 Mr. Slocum came to Peoria with his family, his first
employment being as a foreman in Morse & Bradley’s
distillery. After capably discharging the duties of that position
for two years he bought the old Still & Maple distillery, which he
operated in company with J. H. McCall for five years. The two
gentleman then engaged in farming, a pursuit which Mr. Slocum continued
until recently. While carrying on his personal affairs with zeal
and enterprise, Mr. Slocum has found time to participate actively in
the political movements of the locality, giving his hearty support to
the Democratic party. He is a law-abiding citizen, held in the
esteem due to his personal qualities and honorable life.
Mr. Slocum was fortunate in winning for his companion a lady
possessed of energy, intelligence, notable skill as a housewife and
excellent character. This lady was Miss Eliza Leary, who was born
in Ireland in 1834, and became Mrs. Slocum May 1, 1854, the wedding
being solemnized in Rochester, N. Y. Her parents, John and
Margaret (Buckley) Leary, emigrated from the Emerald Isle o America in
1842, settling in Westchester County, N. Y., where both subsequently
died. Mr. and Mrs. Slocum area the parents of two children;
Charles S., who married Mary Barnard, and Ida, who is the wife of
William A. Howatt.
