The Leonard Home

Born in Vermont in 1823, Azro B. Leonard learned the lumber trade spending over 15 years in Wisconsin. Through his Milwaukee contacts, Leonard purchased property in Manistee and commenced operations locally. Azro was sent to Manistee as a local manager for the firm. A decade after his arrival here, he invested in a hardware store which became known as A.B. Leonard & Son. In addition to his interest in the lumber company and the hardware store, Leonard was active in a number of other businesses organized within the community including the Manistee Water Co., the First National Bank, and the Manistee Manufacturing Company. This home was purchased by Azro Leonard in 1878. Following the death of Mrs. Leonard in 1893, the family home was sold and Azro settled into retirement in another area.