Surnames: LEONARD DARTON KURTZMAN

----Source: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 04/12/1913

Leonard, Mrs. Frank (1863? - 9 Apr 1913)

Our community was shocked early Wednesday morning by the news that Mrs. Frank Leonard had been terribly burned from her clothing igniting while building a fire in the cook stove, at her home in Houghtonburg.

Mrs. Leonard had arisen early, dressed, and had prepared to kindle the fire to get the family's morning meal. She turned the oil from a small lamp on the wood in the stove, presumably, as she told in conscious moments after the accident, spilling some of the oil on her dress sleeve. The flames burst out of the stove door and set fire to the oil on her dress. Mrs. Leonard rushed out of doors and the strong wind blowing at the time soon enveloped her body in flames. Her frantic cries for help aroused their son Robert, who called his father, and together they extinguished the fire, but not before almost the entire clothing was burned from her body. Mrs. Leonard was taken to the house of Drs. Moore, of Merrillan, and Schwarz, of this village summoned. The physicians dressed the wounds and relieved the patient's suffering as much as possible, but the shock and pain had been too great for a frail constitution to withstand, and Mrs. Leonard succumbed at five minutes before twelve, about six hours after the accident.

Messages were sent to the members of the family who were at other places, Evan and wife, and her sister, who were at Sparta; and Mrs. Darton at Wibaux, Mont. All are here to attend the last sad rites.

Funeral services will be held at her late home at 10 o'clock Saturday forenoon, and the remains will be taken to Sparta for burial.

Mrs. Leonard was a native of the state of New York, and was in her 49th year. She was married in 1885 and made their home in that state until about twenty years ago, when they came to Wisconsin and settled on a farm near Elroy.

Fifteen years ago the family came from Elroy, having purchased the farm which has since been their home. Mrs. Leonard was of a quiet and unassuming disposition, her home, her family, her church being uppermost in her thoughts. Her neighbors were all her friends, and in this sad hour they have lent assistance on every side.

Mrs. Leonard leaves to mourn her death, a husband, two daughters, Mrs. Lulu Darton of Wibaux, Mont., and Nellie; two sons, Evan and Robert; and one sister, Mrs. Alice Kurtzman of Sparta, to whom the sympathies of all are extended in their bereavement.