More on the Children of James and Temperance Collins

Sally Collins and Willis Leonard

SALLY/SARAH COLLINS daughter of James and Temperance Collins was born 28 Oct 1800.

Sarah married Willis S. Leonard, the son of Frederick and Elizabeth Leonard. They were married before 1830, I have found a record for a William Leonard and Rena Collins on 5 Feb 1823 that could be them. The record is a transcription and there is a possibility that it has errors. The date fits and the last names fit... Until an original record is viewed, we do not have a definite answer. 

In 1830 they appear to be living in Franklin County North Carolina and have one child under 5 years old. This is from a census entry.  

The story passed down is that in 1837 Sally and Willis set off for Georgia after a late harvest. Sally was pregnant at the time. After traveling 600 miles they arrived near present day Sparta, Georgia in January of 1838. Their fifth child, Doctor Bothwell Leonard, was born 16 Jan 1838. It was a difficult birth and fortunately a doctor was on hand to assist. The baby was named for the doctor. After a long recovery they resumed their trip and ended in the Gum Creek area of Georgia in early 1839. Later they bought a ticket from a neighbor for a land lottery and moved near Vienna, Georgia in Dooly County. 

Dooly County Georgia in Red on the state map. Vienna is red on the county map.

I can not find Sally and Willis in the 1840 Census, at least not yet. But they do appear in the 1850 Census.

What does this census tell us about Willis and Sarah? First thing I noticed was that all the children are listed as being born in Georgia. If that is the case, the 1830 census could still be accurate. Sarah and Willis were suppose to have five children. Could 2 older children, one a girl, have died or married before 1850. Something else to research.

Sadly both Willis and Sarah/Sally are reported to have passed away in 1853. 

Let's look at the children of Willis and Sarah. 

1860 Census

The 1860 census has James Frederick Leonard (AKA Jas F, Fed) and brother D.B. Leonard living together. AND Jas F. is listed as being born in North Carolina! 

James or Fed never married and passed away in 1880.

Mary Ann Leonard was born 31 May 1828. She married James Fleming on 15 Mar 1848.  In the 1870 Census she is listed as being born in North Carolina. So it is beginning to look like the 1850 census above is incorrect. James and Mary had three children; Mary, James, and  Emma.  Mary passed away 11 Nov 1877 and is buried in the Orange Hill Cemetery in Hawkinsville, Pulaski Georgia. 

Willis W Leonard was born about 1834. He passed away in 1853, the same year that Sarah and Willis passed away. 

I have read that another child was Patrick. But I have not found any information about him. He may have died young.

D.B. or Doctor Bothwell grew up to be a very successful man. In the 1870 census D.B. is single and listed as a merchant. In the 1880 census D.B. is a dry goods merchant. In 1900 census D.B. is listed as a money lender. 

Doctor B. enlisted in the confederate army 4 Mar 1862 and mustered out at Appomattox 9 Apr 1865.

D.B. returned to Georgia and married his business partner's daughter, Eva Lewis, on 19 Jan 1876, 

They had three daughters; Mary, Bertha, and Sallie.

Newspaper articles show D.B. was very involved in the business community of Vienna and Eva was active in the social scene. Here are a few that I found. 

Death of Eva's mother

D.B. passed away 17 Dec 1905 and is buried in Vienna Georgia.

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I hope you have enjoyed today's story. The story of D.B. Leonard is quite a story! There is much more to his story, maybe another day I will write about him again. 

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Pattie