 |  | |
 |
|  |
 |  | |
| | |
|
| |
| | |
|
|
|
CLEMENT DE R. LEONARD
Originally published in 1900 |
|
CLEMENT DE R. LEONARD, of Hoboken, attorney and counselor at
law, is the son of Francis De P. Leonard, a grandson of John Leonard, and
a great-grandson of Joseph Leonard, who was High Sheriff of the Colony
of New Jersey in 1771, and who died in 1779. His paternal ancestors were
French Huguenots, and, coming to this country about the time of the
Huguenot War, figured prominently in the civil and military affairs of
New Jersey. Mr. Leonard's father is an old and well known citizen of Red
Bank. His grandfather, John Leonard, was a warm personal friend of
Thomas Jefferson, and was by him appointed United States Minister to the
Court of Spain, a position he held for thirty years, achieving distinction as
an able and talented diplomat and gaining the confidence and respect of his
countrymen as well as the esteem and friendship of the Spaniards. His
mother, the wife of Francis De P. Leonard. was a member of the distinguished Lippincott family of Monmouth County, N. J., whither her ancestors
came from Holland in the early settlement of the territory. Like the
Leonards, the Lippincotts have been conspicuous and prominent in nearly
every capacity in the State, and have contributed much to its professional,
civil, and military welfare.
Mr. Leonard was born in Red Bank, Monmouth County, N. J., February 18, 1846, and inherited the sturdy Holland Dutch and Huguenot characteristics of his race. He received his early education at St. Charles College near Ellicott City, Md. Subsequently he took a full classical course at Seton Hall College in Orange, N. J., and was graduated therefrom with honor in the class of 1869. During the next three years he read law in the office of Charles H. Trafford, of Red Bank, and then became assistant to Hon. Robert Allen, Jr., Prosecutor of the Pleas for Monmouth County. In these offices he gained a wide and valuable experience. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney in June, 1873, and as a counselor in June, 1876, and in 1877 removed from Red Bank to Hoboken, where he has ever since practiced his profession. He is one of the ablest lawyers in Hudson County, and the many important cases with which he has been connected as counsel attest his legal skill and attainments. He has built up a large general practice, and enjoys the confidence of the entire community. A Republican in politics, Mr. Leonard has long been active in the welfare of his party. He was a delegate to the Republican State conventions of 1888, 1892, and 1896, a delegate to all the Republican congressional and county conventions in his district from 1888 to 1896 inclusive, and Chairman of the City Republican Executive Committee of Hoboken in 1894, and did excellent work. In 1895 he was President of the Ninth Assembly District Committee, and at present (1900) he is Chairman of the First Ward Association of Hoboken. In 1896 he was elected to the New Jersey Assembly by the handsome plurality of 2,429 over his Democratic opponent. He is also President of the Governor Griggs Battalion, an active and aggressive Republican organization. In 1898 he was the choice of his party for District Judge, but declined the nomination. As citizen, lawyer, and party leader he is universally respected and esteemed, and in every capacity his ability and sound judgment have won for him an enviable record.
|
|
|
|
UrbanTimes.com |
