Leonhardt, Alexander F.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Leonhardt, Alexander F., merchant and postmaster at New Orleans, was born in St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 3, 1860, of German parentage. His father, Ernest W. Leonhardt, came to this country from Germany in 1834, and died in St. Louis in 1896, at the age of 75 years. He was a mere boy when he came to America. In St. Louis he followed, for more than 60 years, the business of a flour miller, becoming a prominent miller of St. Louis. His wife, and the mother of the subject of this personal sketch, bore the maiden name of Frederica Odendahl, and was born in Germany. In St. Louis Mr. Leonhardt was reared, and in the parochial and public schools of that city received his education. He was a high school student in 1878, when he left St. Louis and came to New Orleans to accept a clerical position with the flour and grain commission firm of Glover & Odendahl, which firm was succeeded by Glover & Son. Mr. Leonhardt remained with this firm nearly 25 years, and then, 1902, embarked in the grain and hay business on his own account. In the business he has continued, the present firm name being A. F. Leonhardt & Co. Mr. Leonhardt's business career has been marked with success, and for years he has held a prominent place among leading business men of New Orleans. For several years, Mr. Leonhardt served as a director of the New Orleans Board of Trade; was several times vice-president of the board and once president, declining a re-election to the presidency, because of his appointment as postmaster of New Orleans, which appointment he did receive July 31, 1911. He assumed his duties as postmaster Oct. 2, 1911, and his administration of the office has been distinguished for fairness and efficiency. Mr. Leonhardt has been twice married. In 1884, Miss Mary Maguire became his first wife. She died, leaving him 3 children, and in 1909 he married Mrs. Marion Hill Dodge of Baltimore, Md. Residence, 3405 St. Charles avenue, New Orleans.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 251-252. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.