Great-Grandfather of my husband, Dennis Brown.
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Leonard's parents were:
William B Self (1817 - 1889)
Nancy Burchett Self (1819 - 1880)

Leonard and siblings:
Melissa Hopkins Self (Kiser) (1840 - 1935)
Wilson Vermillion Self (1842 - 1913)
Ailcey B. Self (Dickenson) (1846 - 1902)
Elizabeth B. Self (Begley) (1848 - 1896)
Leonard Burchett Self (1851 - 1936)
Tennessee Selfe (Counts) (1854 - 1932)
Charles Beauchamp Self (1857 - 1910)
Martha Virginia Self (Gillenwater) (1862 - 1903)

On October 15, 1860,
William & Nancy, ages 44 & 41, were living on a farm in Russell Co, VA; They picked up their mail at Bickleys Mills. Their real estate was valued at $2500 & personal estate, $957. Their children were Melisa H., 19; Wilson V., 17; Ailsay B., 14; Elizabeth, 11; Leonard B., 8; Temperance C., 5; & Charles B., 3.
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The Civil War had ended in 1865 reducing the value of their land and personal wealth. Nancy had given birth to one more child.

On August 18, 1870,
William & Nancy, ages 56 & 51, were living on their farm in Castlewood, VA. They received their mail at the Lebanon post office. Their son, Wilson, age 27, lived nearby with his wife & children. The Civil War had decreased the value of their land & personal wealth, now valued at $800 and $645. Children still at home were Elizabeth, age 21; Leonard, 19; Tennessee, 15; Charles, 13; & Martha, 8.
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Leonard married Ellen Margaret Counts in Wise Co, VA, on December 22, 1874. They were married by Rev. H. Bond, in Wise County "at the Dwelling House of John Counts."

Nothing is known about his childhood or how he met Ellen, the eighth child of John and Elizabeth "Betsy" Smith Counts.

At the time of their marriage, Leonard was a teacher in Russell County. Their first child, David Wilson, was born in Castlewood, Russell Co, VA on February 14, 1876. He told his children about gathering wood early each morning for the school house stove where his dad taught school.

Leonard and Ellen embraced the Baptist religion. In November 1880 he was chosen to serve as one of the deacons of the Springfield Baptist Church, located in Herald Valley, about one mile north of Carterton. His brother, Wilson, was the first elected pastor of the church. By this time Ellen had given birth to Charles Cowan, John Ruth, and Nannie Belle.

During the next 17 years, they had 9 more children: Zeura Melissa, William Bradley, Eliza Demeris, Alma Tennessee, Ezra George, Ira E., Orbin Gilmer, Bettie Daisy Carolinia, and Dallas Fletcher.

On September 14, 1906, Leonard and some other men from VA made a trip to Morgan County, Missouri to see what property was available. It appears that this was just a scouting trip and the men were probably not accompanied by their families. Leonard must have been happy with what he found. Less than three months later, he had returned with Ellen and the kids. They purchased an 83 acre farm, two miles east of Glensted, for $4000. After he took up farming, it is doubtful that he ever taught school again. He was, however, a skilled carpenter and was often called upon to do work throughout the county.

Leonard and Ellen became members of the Freedom Baptist church, where Leonard served as a deacon. Obviously proficient in carpentry, he finished building a new barn in January 1911. He must have been in good physical condition, because on July 4, 1912, he entered a contest and won a prize of $3 for winning the 50 yard dash for men over 60.

In September 1917 Leonard sold 80 acres of their farm land, keeping three acres where their house was located. In February of 1919 Leonard was called upon to build a new kind of building for the area, a garage for his neighbor's automobile.

By February of 1920, he had gone back to VA. For the next several years, Leonard and Ellen lived separately. He came back to MO sometime before January 1924 when he undertook a job for a neighbor, doing carpentry work and later, on October 16, 1924, made out his will.

By 1932, Leonard and Ellen were back together and had lived for several years in Fortuna. By June of 1933 he had become an invalid and went to live with their daughter, Zeura. While in her home he died from a stroke at 6:45 p.m on December 29, 1936.

The Sunday News and Tribune
(Jefferson City, MO)
Sun. Jan. 3, 1937
"SELF RITE HELD
Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at Freedom church for Leonard B. Self, 85 years old, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Quincy Hayes, Tuesday evening, Rev. Alice officiating. Mr. Self is survived by his wife, two sons, Ezra, of Versailles, Dallas, of St. Louis; three daughters, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Nobel French of Versailles, and Mrs. Floyd Langley, of St. Louis."

Versailles Leader
"LEONARD B. SELF DIED TUESDAY EVE.
Leonard B. Self, father of Ezra Self, of Versailles, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Quincy Hayes, Tuesday evening at 6:45. Funeral services will be held at Freedom church Thursday afternoon at 2:30. The Rev. Allee will be in charge of the services."

Versailles Leader
"JANUARY 8, 1937
Leonard B. Self was born in Russell Co., VA in 1857 and died December 29, 1936. He was married to Ellen Counts December 22, 1874 and to this union thirteen children were born, five of whom preceded him in death.

He moved to Morgan County, Missouri, in 1906 and had lived here since that time. He became a member of the Baptist Church when a young man and remained a faithful member until death.

He is survived by his wife and the following children: Mrs. Noble French, Mrs. Quince Hayse, and Ezra Self of Versaillies; Mrs. Nannie Fraley of Castlewood, VA, Gilmer Self of Centralia, Washington, Dallas Self and Mrs. Bettie Langley of St. Louis. He also leaves sixteen grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at Freedom Baptist Church Thursday afternoon of last week, conducted by the Rev. Allee. Burial was in Freedom Cemetery."
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In her later years, Ellen lived part of the time with Alma and part of the time with Bettie. She eventually died in Alma's home on June 10, 1944.