Hon. Harry A. Leonard, president and treasurer of J. N. Leonard & Company, well known contractors and builders of New Haven, is one of the city's progressive, wide-awake business men whose activities in both civic and public life have been valuable factors in New Haven's growth and development. Mr. Leonard was born August 30, 1870, in Westville, a son of John N. and Martha F. (Pardee) Leonard, the former also a native of Westville, while the latter was born in Oxford, Connecticut. John N. Leonard became widely and favorably known through his activity in contracting and building lines in New Haven, where lie erected many of the prominent structures which now beautify the city's business district and which stand as monuments to his ability as a craftsman. He learned his trade with the well known firm of Smith & Sperry and afterward established himself in the building and contracting business. He was with the Smith & Sperry Company at the time of the out-break of the Civil war and, severing his apprenticeship relations with that firm, he joined the army, becoming a member of the Fiftenth Connecticut Regiment, with which he remained for four years, being promoted to the rank of sergeant. He long continued an active and honored business man of New Haven, where he passed away in 1914 at the age of seventy-two years. His widow is still living in this city and their three children, Harry A., Susie M., and Grace A., the wife of Harry M. Bowman, survive, the last two being residents of Westville.

Harry A. Leonard pursued his education in public and private schools of his native town and when about fifteen years began to learn the mason's trade, serving a regular apprenticeship. He afterward worked for his father and subsequently took over his father's business, which was incorporated in 1914 as J. N. Leonard & Company, with H. A. Leonard as president and treasurer. He has contributed much to the improvement and upbuilding of New Haven, erecting a number of its most substantial and attractive buildings in recent years, including the Bijou Theatre, the Chestnut Street and other school buildings and a number of the fine business blocks and beautiful homes of New Haven. He is also connected with other important business projects, being secretary and treasurer of the Griest-Leonard Realty Company. Mr. Leonard deals extensively in real estate and has handled some very high class property.

On the 30th of January, 1899, Harry A. Leonard was married to Miss Bertha Gorham, of New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick R. Gorham. Janice W., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard, is now a student at Dana Hall.

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard attend the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Elks. He is a well known member of the Quinnipiac, the New Haven Country, the Rock Brook and the Edgewood Clubs. In public affairs he has taken an active part and is one of the prominent republicans of the city. He served for six years as alderman from the thirteenth ward and did valuable service as chairman of the committee on railroads and bridges and a member of the board of finance. He also served for three years as a member of the Westville Board of Education. In the session of 1917 he was a member of the state senate, representing the ninth district in that body, and served as chairman of the committee on railroads and a member of the committee on banks. He gives careful and earnest consideration to all vital questions which come up for settlement and his support of a measure is the expression of his belief in its efficacy as a factor in good government or the protection of the interests of the commonwealth. In his business career Mr. Leonard has been successful, not because he has worked solely for that result, but because of his good judgment, business ability and, too, because of the course he has fol-lowed, which has won him the reputation for clean business methods.