The Reverend  (Private) Leonard Haney

by William F. Haney
20 September 2014
at Hillside Cemetery
451 Canboro Road, Pelham, Ontario, Canada

The Reverend Leonard Haney was born to Isaac and Mary Haney in Thorold, Ontario (Upper Canada) on 10 January 1796. The family moved to the Pelham area around 1808. The first documented mention of Isaac Haney in this area we have found is in 1788 when he helped serve as chain bearer in the land survey of land of and around Thorold.

When the War of 1812 began, although quite young, Leonard served in defense of the homeland along with his older brothers. He appears on the payroll of Captain John DeCews Company of the 2nd Regiment Lincoln Militia, along with his older brothers James, also a private, and Mathew, who was a Sergeant. His service with the 2nd Lincoln coincides with the Capture of Fort Erie, Battle of Chippewa, the Burning of St Davids, and the Battle of Lundy’s Lane.

After the war, Leonard married Miss Elizabeth Maynes, daughter of George Maynes, UEL (United Empire Loyalist) and Phoebe Outhouse and granddaughter of Nicholas Outhouse, UEL.

When the community of Fenwick was established in 1853, the Rev. Leonard Haney served as its first Postmaster until 1858.

Like his father, Isaac Haney, who served as Warden in 1813, Leonard served as Warden in Pelham from 1844 to 1858.

In 1858 Leonard’s pastoral duties were moved to the neighboring community of Gainsboro.

He preached his last sermon eight days before his death, from the 7th verse of the 19th Psalm: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”

Next day he was taken down with gastric fever. This fever, and the complications associated with it, caused his death after one week of severe and painful illness. When Leonard died on 25 July 1864 he joined the Church triumphant.

His funeral procession was described as “one of the largest processions ever witnessed in this part of the country.”

Rev. Leonard Haney’s obituary of 19 April 1865 from the Canada Christian Advocate has this information regarding his ministry (done much later by the Dis. Conference):

Died, in great peace, on the 25th of July, 1864,
Brother Leonard Haney, in the 69th year of his age.

Brother Haney was born in the township of Thorold, Welland County, on the 10 Jan 1796, and when 22 years of age, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Maynze. He embraced religion under the labors of Rev. I. Smith, and united with the ME Church, 11th Sept 1817, he filled the various offices of steward, class-leader and exhorter with great acceptability and success, until 1832, when he received a license as local preacher.

In 1833 when the union took place, brother Haney took a decided stand, unflinching in his integrity, firmly adhering to the church of his choice through all her troubles connected with that event, supporting her institutions by his influence and contributions till called to join the church triumphant.

Brother Haney joined the traveling connection and was ordained deacon in June 1835, and was appointed to a field of labor as an itinerant. He received ordination of Elder in Sept 1840, at the hands of Bishop Reynolds. He located in 1842, and from that time till his death he was ever about his master’s business, both in regular and protracted efforts for the advancement of the cause of Christ.

As a neighbor he was affable and obliging; as a husband and father, he was kind, indulgent and affectionate; as a christian he was zealous, exemplary and devoted; an excellent counsellor, and a faithful friend.

He preached his last sermon eight days before his death, from the 7th verse of the 19th Psalm: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Next day he was taken down with gastric fever, which terminated in death, after one week of severe and painful illness, without a murmur; his firm faith and confidence in God remained unshaken to the last moment. In reply to a friend the day before his death he said, “my feet are on the rock;” the same evening to another he said, “All is clear, here is not a cloud, between me and my Saviour.” A short time before he left the world he said to his weeping companion, “Do not mourn for me I am going home,” and to one of his family who said to him, ‘O death where is thy sting.’ — with a smile he replied, “Truth, truth”; and in a few minutes his spirit took its flight to be with Christ eternally shut in.

He left a large family to mourn their loss, most of whom give evidence of a change of heart and know that if faithful here they will meet the loved one again. His absence is sorrowfully felt in the church, and throughout the whole community. His remains were followed to the tomb by a large circle of sorrowing relatives and friends, in one of the largest processions ever witnessed in this part of the country. An appropriate address was delivered by Rev. F.M. Smith, from Numbers xxiii. 10 — “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his”

By order of Dis. Conference,  Jacob Patteson