Leonard Andrew Breon was born on Jan. 18, 1898, at his parents' home in Axemann, the son of Elias and Laura (Harter) Breon. He was probably named in honor of his grandfather, Andrew Harter, and perhaps the Rev. Leonard Weaver, who led the revival services where his mother was converted a few years prior. His brother, Harry, and his sister, Bertha, were much older than he was. His father, a renowned carpenter, built the main homestead when Leonard was five years old, and the family moved in that year. His family was musically inclined and his parents locked him in a room for an hour every day so that he could learn how to play the piano. He did learn, grudgingly, and later became a talented piano player, although he would only play for himself when no one else was around. Because he was hard of hearing and loved to play marches, however, he played so loudly that most all of the neighborhood could hear!
Leonard went to school at the two-room Axemann school next door to his parents' house. His brother Harry was one of his teachers, but he was known as a "cut-up" in school. He only obtained an eighth grade education. Thereafter, he learned carpentering and construction skills from his father and often accompanied him on jobs. On one such job, they were hired to rebuild a barn in the Dry Top area of Boggs Township which had been struck by lightning, a farm owned by the Sliker family. While at this job Leonard and Helen Sliker, the youngest daughter of the family, became acquainted. They fell in love and Leonard and his "Billie," as he called her, were married on February 21, 1918, at Milesburg.
They lived at Milesburg for the first year of their marriage, where daughter Eloise was born in 1919. Then, by 1920, they moved to 129 North Penn Street in Bellefonte where Leonard is enumerated in the census as a laborer for the railroad, which seems a bit incongruous. Perhaps he was constructing something for the railroad at the time. Here son Elwood was born in 1921. The following year they left this house and moved into the back house on his parents' property in Axemann, which had been vacated by the Winn family. Here son Warren was born in 1927.
During the 1920s, Leonard was involved in numerous construction projects in Centre County. He was involved in building Cell Block B at the new Rockview State Penitentiary in the 1920s. Ever after he was a very good carpenter and good with a saw; he would often remark about cutting wood, "you have to saw it on the 'bias,'" which was probably a Pennsylvania Dutch expression he learned from his father. His health became impaired because of the construction work, however, and he left the contracting business and became an insurance salesman in 1927. He was an independent insurance agent and represented a number of companies.
His insurance office was located on North Spring Street in Bellefonte, near the present pizza shop, until after World War II. He rented this space from Bond White, a neighbor in Axemann. He then moved his operations into rooms in the Odd Fellows Building, now torn down, near the corner of High and Allegheny Streets, just down from the courthouse. In addition to insurance work, he also worked as a federal income tax consultant and, on October 14, 1947, opened "Breon's Bowling Center," which was a small bowling alley with a sporting goods store, also in the Odd Fellows Building.
After his parents died, he bought their home for $3000 from his brother and sister, and moved his family there (one house away) to live. He kept his house painted white with blue trim. It had a hedge row in front and was very elegant. In his community, he was elected as a tax collector and justice of the peace for several terms. He was known as a fair justice, telling police who brought in "speeders" without adequate proof, "that don't fly in my court." During the 1940s, he also ran a Christmas tree farm on property he owned across the road from his house. Leonard Breon was a special lover of Christmastime. When a certain sporting goods store went out of business in Bellefonte, he bought a stuffed deer that was in there. He used his carpentering skills to construct a fine sleigh and also made a stuffed representation of Santa Claus. He put this out in front of his home each Christmastime and also dug up evergreens from his Christmas tree farm across the street and placed around the Santa's Sleigh. His son Warren remembers they had to take the trees out and put them in bags full of dirt, meticulously, so that they could be replanted after Christmas!
Leonard Breon was profoundly affected by the Great Depression. Although outwardly he kept a nice house and was employed, he became a consummate saver and was a very hard worker. After that experience, he never traveled anywhere, even on pleasure, unless he could also combine it with a business opportunity (such as visiting an insurance customer) along the way. He was also extremely prompt. If he said that he was leaving in fifteen minutes, and his passenger wasn't in the car at the appointed time, he left without them. He worked from 9 to 9 in his offices in Bellefonte. He was frequently very tired and much of his free time was spent napping. One night, coming home late from work, he parked his car in the garage and it suddenly lurched, trapping him against the wall. He screamed and screamed for help and finally his wife found him, pinned to the wall, even his hands, but not otherwise hurt.
He was not a church-going man. When his grandson, Warren, became ill with leukemia at the age of five, he softened somewhat and was seen in church regularly for some time, at Trinity Methodist Church in Bellefonte.
As was the fashion at the time, he smoked three packs of cigarettes a day. At the age of 61, in August, 1959, he suffered a heart attack. While in the hospital, he did not obey doctor's orders and elevated his arms to read the newspaper, and wanted a cigarette. He suffered a stroke and passed away at the Centre County Hospital in Bellefonte at 3:35 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 1959, after a twelve day illness. He was 61. His funeral was held at Wetzler Funeral Home, Bellefonte, officiated by Rev. Donald H. G. Miller.
bio by Justin Kirk Houser
Leonard went to school at the two-room Axemann school next door to his parents' house. His brother Harry was one of his teachers, but he was known as a "cut-up" in school. He only obtained an eighth grade education. Thereafter, he learned carpentering and construction skills from his father and often accompanied him on jobs. On one such job, they were hired to rebuild a barn in the Dry Top area of Boggs Township which had been struck by lightning, a farm owned by the Sliker family. While at this job Leonard and Helen Sliker, the youngest daughter of the family, became acquainted. They fell in love and Leonard and his "Billie," as he called her, were married on February 21, 1918, at Milesburg.
They lived at Milesburg for the first year of their marriage, where daughter Eloise was born in 1919. Then, by 1920, they moved to 129 North Penn Street in Bellefonte where Leonard is enumerated in the census as a laborer for the railroad, which seems a bit incongruous. Perhaps he was constructing something for the railroad at the time. Here son Elwood was born in 1921. The following year they left this house and moved into the back house on his parents' property in Axemann, which had been vacated by the Winn family. Here son Warren was born in 1927.
During the 1920s, Leonard was involved in numerous construction projects in Centre County. He was involved in building Cell Block B at the new Rockview State Penitentiary in the 1920s. Ever after he was a very good carpenter and good with a saw; he would often remark about cutting wood, "you have to saw it on the 'bias,'" which was probably a Pennsylvania Dutch expression he learned from his father. His health became impaired because of the construction work, however, and he left the contracting business and became an insurance salesman in 1927. He was an independent insurance agent and represented a number of companies.
His insurance office was located on North Spring Street in Bellefonte, near the present pizza shop, until after World War II. He rented this space from Bond White, a neighbor in Axemann. He then moved his operations into rooms in the Odd Fellows Building, now torn down, near the corner of High and Allegheny Streets, just down from the courthouse. In addition to insurance work, he also worked as a federal income tax consultant and, on October 14, 1947, opened "Breon's Bowling Center," which was a small bowling alley with a sporting goods store, also in the Odd Fellows Building.
After his parents died, he bought their home for $3000 from his brother and sister, and moved his family there (one house away) to live. He kept his house painted white with blue trim. It had a hedge row in front and was very elegant. In his community, he was elected as a tax collector and justice of the peace for several terms. He was known as a fair justice, telling police who brought in "speeders" without adequate proof, "that don't fly in my court." During the 1940s, he also ran a Christmas tree farm on property he owned across the road from his house. Leonard Breon was a special lover of Christmastime. When a certain sporting goods store went out of business in Bellefonte, he bought a stuffed deer that was in there. He used his carpentering skills to construct a fine sleigh and also made a stuffed representation of Santa Claus. He put this out in front of his home each Christmastime and also dug up evergreens from his Christmas tree farm across the street and placed around the Santa's Sleigh. His son Warren remembers they had to take the trees out and put them in bags full of dirt, meticulously, so that they could be replanted after Christmas!
Leonard Breon was profoundly affected by the Great Depression. Although outwardly he kept a nice house and was employed, he became a consummate saver and was a very hard worker. After that experience, he never traveled anywhere, even on pleasure, unless he could also combine it with a business opportunity (such as visiting an insurance customer) along the way. He was also extremely prompt. If he said that he was leaving in fifteen minutes, and his passenger wasn't in the car at the appointed time, he left without them. He worked from 9 to 9 in his offices in Bellefonte. He was frequently very tired and much of his free time was spent napping. One night, coming home late from work, he parked his car in the garage and it suddenly lurched, trapping him against the wall. He screamed and screamed for help and finally his wife found him, pinned to the wall, even his hands, but not otherwise hurt.
He was not a church-going man. When his grandson, Warren, became ill with leukemia at the age of five, he softened somewhat and was seen in church regularly for some time, at Trinity Methodist Church in Bellefonte.
As was the fashion at the time, he smoked three packs of cigarettes a day. At the age of 61, in August, 1959, he suffered a heart attack. While in the hospital, he did not obey doctor's orders and elevated his arms to read the newspaper, and wanted a cigarette. He suffered a stroke and passed away at the Centre County Hospital in Bellefonte at 3:35 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 1959, after a twelve day illness. He was 61. His funeral was held at Wetzler Funeral Home, Bellefonte, officiated by Rev. Donald H. G. Miller.
bio by Justin Kirk Houser
Leonard Andrew Breon was born on Jan. 18, 1898, at his parents' home in Axemann, the son of Elias and Laura (Harter) Breon. He was probably named in honor of his grandfather, Andrew Harter, and perhaps the Rev. Leonard Weaver, who led the revival services where his mother was converted a few years prior. His brother, Harry, and his sister, Bertha, were much older than he was. His father, a renowned carpenter, built the main homestead when Leonard was five years old, and the family moved in that year. His family was musically inclined and his parents locked him in a room for an hour every day so that he could learn how to play the piano. He did learn, grudgingly, and later became a talented piano player, although he would only play for himself when no one else was around. Because he was hard of hearing and loved to play marches, however, he played so loudly that most all of the neighborhood could hear!
Leonard went to school at the two-room Axemann school next door to his parents' house. His brother Harry was one of his teachers, but he was known as a "cut-up" in school. He only obtained an eighth grade education. Thereafter, he learned carpentering and construction skills from his father and often accompanied him on jobs. On one such job, they were hired to rebuild a barn in the Dry Top area of Boggs Township which had been struck by lightning, a farm owned by the Sliker family. While at this job Leonard and Helen Sliker, the youngest daughter of the family, became acquainted. They fell in love and Leonard and his "Billie," as he called her, were married on February 21, 1918, at Milesburg.
They lived at Milesburg for the first year of their marriage, where daughter Eloise was born in 1919. Then, by 1920, they moved to 129 North Penn Street in Bellefonte where Leonard is enumerated in the census as a laborer for the railroad, which seems a bit incongruous. Perhaps he was constructing something for the railroad at the time. Here son Elwood was born in 1921. The following year they left this house and moved into the back house on his parents' property in Axemann, which had been vacated by the Winn family. Here son Warren was born in 1927.
During the 1920s, Leonard was involved in numerous construction projects in Centre County. He was involved in building Cell Block B at the new Rockview State Penitentiary in the 1920s. Ever after he was a very good carpenter and good with a saw; he would often remark about cutting wood, "you have to saw it on the 'bias,'" which was probably a Pennsylvania Dutch expression he learned from his father. His health became impaired because of the construction work, however, and he left the contracting business and became an insurance salesman in 1927. He was an independent insurance agent and represented a number of companies.
His insurance office was located on North Spring Street in Bellefonte, near the present pizza shop, until after World War II. He rented this space from Bond White, a neighbor in Axemann. He then moved his operations into rooms in the Odd Fellows Building, now torn down, near the corner of High and Allegheny Streets, just down from the courthouse. In addition to insurance work, he also worked as a federal income tax consultant and, on October 14, 1947, opened "Breon's Bowling Center," which was a small bowling alley with a sporting goods store, also in the Odd Fellows Building.
After his parents died, he bought their home for $3000 from his brother and sister, and moved his family there (one house away) to live. He kept his house painted white with blue trim. It had a hedge row in front and was very elegant. In his community, he was elected as a tax collector and justice of the peace for several terms. He was known as a fair justice, telling police who brought in "speeders" without adequate proof, "that don't fly in my court." During the 1940s, he also ran a Christmas tree farm on property he owned across the road from his house. Leonard Breon was a special lover of Christmastime. When a certain sporting goods store went out of business in Bellefonte, he bought a stuffed deer that was in there. He used his carpentering skills to construct a fine sleigh and also made a stuffed representation of Santa Claus. He put this out in front of his home each Christmastime and also dug up evergreens from his Christmas tree farm across the street and placed around the Santa's Sleigh. His son Warren remembers they had to take the trees out and put them in bags full of dirt, meticulously, so that they could be replanted after Christmas!
Leonard Breon was profoundly affected by the Great Depression. Although outwardly he kept a nice house and was employed, he became a consummate saver and was a very hard worker. After that experience, he never traveled anywhere, even on pleasure, unless he could also combine it with a business opportunity (such as visiting an insurance customer) along the way. He was also extremely prompt. If he said that he was leaving in fifteen minutes, and his passenger wasn't in the car at the appointed time, he left without them. He worked from 9 to 9 in his offices in Bellefonte. He was frequently very tired and much of his free time was spent napping. One night, coming home late from work, he parked his car in the garage and it suddenly lurched, trapping him against the wall. He screamed and screamed for help and finally his wife found him, pinned to the wall, even his hands, but not otherwise hurt.
He was not a church-going man. When his grandson, Warren, became ill with leukemia at the age of five, he softened somewhat and was seen in church regularly for some time, at Trinity Methodist Church in Bellefonte.
As was the fashion at the time, he smoked three packs of cigarettes a day. At the age of 61, in August, 1959, he suffered a heart attack. While in the hospital, he did not obey doctor's orders and elevated his arms to read the newspaper, and wanted a cigarette. He suffered a stroke and passed away at the Centre County Hospital in Bellefonte at 3:35 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 1959, after a twelve day illness. He was 61. His funeral was held at Wetzler Funeral Home, Bellefonte, officiated by Rev. Donald H. G. Miller.
bio by Justin Kirk Houser
Leonard went to school at the two-room Axemann school next door to his parents' house. His brother Harry was one of his teachers, but he was known as a "cut-up" in school. He only obtained an eighth grade education. Thereafter, he learned carpentering and construction skills from his father and often accompanied him on jobs. On one such job, they were hired to rebuild a barn in the Dry Top area of Boggs Township which had been struck by lightning, a farm owned by the Sliker family. While at this job Leonard and Helen Sliker, the youngest daughter of the family, became acquainted. They fell in love and Leonard and his "Billie," as he called her, were married on February 21, 1918, at Milesburg.
They lived at Milesburg for the first year of their marriage, where daughter Eloise was born in 1919. Then, by 1920, they moved to 129 North Penn Street in Bellefonte where Leonard is enumerated in the census as a laborer for the railroad, which seems a bit incongruous. Perhaps he was constructing something for the railroad at the time. Here son Elwood was born in 1921. The following year they left this house and moved into the back house on his parents' property in Axemann, which had been vacated by the Winn family. Here son Warren was born in 1927.
During the 1920s, Leonard was involved in numerous construction projects in Centre County. He was involved in building Cell Block B at the new Rockview State Penitentiary in the 1920s. Ever after he was a very good carpenter and good with a saw; he would often remark about cutting wood, "you have to saw it on the 'bias,'" which was probably a Pennsylvania Dutch expression he learned from his father. His health became impaired because of the construction work, however, and he left the contracting business and became an insurance salesman in 1927. He was an independent insurance agent and represented a number of companies.
His insurance office was located on North Spring Street in Bellefonte, near the present pizza shop, until after World War II. He rented this space from Bond White, a neighbor in Axemann. He then moved his operations into rooms in the Odd Fellows Building, now torn down, near the corner of High and Allegheny Streets, just down from the courthouse. In addition to insurance work, he also worked as a federal income tax consultant and, on October 14, 1947, opened "Breon's Bowling Center," which was a small bowling alley with a sporting goods store, also in the Odd Fellows Building.
After his parents died, he bought their home for $3000 from his brother and sister, and moved his family there (one house away) to live. He kept his house painted white with blue trim. It had a hedge row in front and was very elegant. In his community, he was elected as a tax collector and justice of the peace for several terms. He was known as a fair justice, telling police who brought in "speeders" without adequate proof, "that don't fly in my court." During the 1940s, he also ran a Christmas tree farm on property he owned across the road from his house. Leonard Breon was a special lover of Christmastime. When a certain sporting goods store went out of business in Bellefonte, he bought a stuffed deer that was in there. He used his carpentering skills to construct a fine sleigh and also made a stuffed representation of Santa Claus. He put this out in front of his home each Christmastime and also dug up evergreens from his Christmas tree farm across the street and placed around the Santa's Sleigh. His son Warren remembers they had to take the trees out and put them in bags full of dirt, meticulously, so that they could be replanted after Christmas!
Leonard Breon was profoundly affected by the Great Depression. Although outwardly he kept a nice house and was employed, he became a consummate saver and was a very hard worker. After that experience, he never traveled anywhere, even on pleasure, unless he could also combine it with a business opportunity (such as visiting an insurance customer) along the way. He was also extremely prompt. If he said that he was leaving in fifteen minutes, and his passenger wasn't in the car at the appointed time, he left without them. He worked from 9 to 9 in his offices in Bellefonte. He was frequently very tired and much of his free time was spent napping. One night, coming home late from work, he parked his car in the garage and it suddenly lurched, trapping him against the wall. He screamed and screamed for help and finally his wife found him, pinned to the wall, even his hands, but not otherwise hurt.
He was not a church-going man. When his grandson, Warren, became ill with leukemia at the age of five, he softened somewhat and was seen in church regularly for some time, at Trinity Methodist Church in Bellefonte.
As was the fashion at the time, he smoked three packs of cigarettes a day. At the age of 61, in August, 1959, he suffered a heart attack. While in the hospital, he did not obey doctor's orders and elevated his arms to read the newspaper, and wanted a cigarette. He suffered a stroke and passed away at the Centre County Hospital in Bellefonte at 3:35 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 1959, after a twelve day illness. He was 61. His funeral was held at Wetzler Funeral Home, Bellefonte, officiated by Rev. Donald H. G. Miller.
bio by Justin Kirk Houser
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
