Temporary record

William Smith Leonard, the son of Rev. Levi Washburn and Elizabeth Morrison (Smith) Leonard was born in Dublin, N.H. on October 1832. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1860 with a degree in medicine. In November 1860 he moved to Hinsdale, N.H., where he went into private practice. On April 30, 1861 he married Martha (Mattie) E. Greenwood of Dublin, N. H.

Scope and contents:

The bulk of the letters in the Leonard Papers were written by Leonard's father, Rev. L. W. Leonard, and his fiancée, Mattie. These letters are intensely focused on family matters and the Reverend's declining health and poor financial state. Rev. Leonard seemed to be editing books and a newsletter at this time, and had become a strong supporter of the Republican party. In March 4, 1861, Rev. Leonard wrote to William that the Republicans had raised the campaign flag to celebrate Lincoln's inauguration, but astutely added that it was not a time to celebrate, but rather a critical time for the country.

Mattie's letters expressed her affection for William. She reported her daily activities and how much she missed him and longed for his letters or his visit. In a letter from March, 1861, Mattie discusses her ill health, "dyspepsia," which had periodically afflicted her. In a letter from the same month she described wedding plans in some detail.

A small number of letters were from "Bin," a friend and physician. These letters include discussions of his medical work, including an outbreak of diphtheria in December 1860.

M-3029.1

Subjects

Courtship
Diphtheria
Fathers and sons--New Hampshire
Leonard, Levi W.
Leonard, Martha Greenwood (Mattie)
Leonard, William S.
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Inauguration
New Hampshire--Social life and customs
Physicians--New Hampshire

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