William Leonard was born in Iowa, U.S.A. in 1905. In 1927 Bill made his first trip to Canada when he joined his brother Carroll, for a year of trapping in the Hay River area. In October 1930 he returned, coming to the Hines Creek district where his parents had filed on a homestead.
Bill’s wife Grace, journeyed by train to the town of Peace River, Ab. to be married in 1933. Their first home was in Hines Creek, Ab. where Bill had helped his brother Carroll and wife, Agnes, in their general store and Post Office. They were transferred to Webster in 1934, where their first child, Donna Jean was born. They then moved to Whitelaw in 1936, where Ann Loree was born.
Bill enlisted in the Armed Forces in 1941. He spent most of his army life on the East coast of Canada as a Small Arms Instructor and Transport Sergeant. He received his discharge in April, 1946. Their son, David William was born in February, 1945 so Bill had a new member of the family to become acquainted with when he came home.
On his return to civilian life Bill came to Sexsmith to file on a homestead in the Teepee Creek area. The first winter Bill worked for his brother in the store. During the following winter months, while proving up on his homestead, Bill worked at various jobs, including a year in the oilfields near Edmonton. Bill sold the farm in 1957 and settled in to working fulltime for Wm. Shannon & Sons Implement Company. During the winter months of 1958-59 he obtained his Mechanic Certificate from SAIT, becoming a grandfather twice in that time period! He drove a County School bus for many years as well.
Sources: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 620 & 1006