Leazar Family History & Genealogy

Summary

While the full history and origin of the Leazar family has not yet been shared here (be the first!), there are some facts about the Leazar family that are known: One branch of the Leazar family arrived in North Carolina around 1780.  Subsequent generations of this family differed on the spelling of the surname, splitting into two groups: One kept the spelling Leazar and the other decided to spell it Leazer.  For more on this history of this, see "fun facts" below.  To add your own knowledge of the Leazar family, please click "edit."

History

We don't have any information on the history of the Leazar name. Have information to share?

Name Origin

The meaning of the surname Leazar has yet to be discovered (or shared).

Spellings & Pronunciations

Some members of the Leazar family changed the spelling of the surname to Leazer. (See "fun facts" for a detailed history on this.

Nationality & Ethnicity

Reference to the names Eleazer, Lleazar can be found in Biblical and Roman transcripts.

Famous People named Leazar

Famous people in the Leazar family:

Augustus Leazar (1843-1905): Leazar Hall, a large brick building with a broad Doric portico, served as a campus dining hall until 1971. It is named in honor of Augustus Leazar who joined with Charles W. Dabney to introduce legislation for the establishment of an industrial school. The first bill failed; however, the second bill was modified to include agriculture and to be compatible with federal Land-Grant college legislation. The second version was passed to create the "North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts," as it was called then, or NC State. Leazar graduated from Davidson College at the age of 17. He fought throughout the Civil War in a regiment that he commanded, which was reduced to only six men by the end of the war. Leazar longed to be a Greek scholar and for 17 years he was a teacher by day. By night, he published a newspaper. Actively involved in politics, Leazar was chairman of the Education Committee in the House and speaker pro tem. Throughout his years as head of the legislative committee on education, Leazar fought for appropriations for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Leazar Literary Society at the turn of the century was tribute to his intellect and support of education. Members asserted that agriculture students and engineers should be able to express their thoughts confidently and correctly on their feet. 2006 Renovation: Leazar Hall underwent a complete interior renovation to accommodate studio and office space for the College of Design which also include the addition of an elevator and stair tower. Augustus Leazer, serving Iredell County in the North Carolina House of Representatives, coauthored and introduced the 1885 bill to establish the North Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical College (now North Carolina State University) in Raleigh. Although the first bill failed, the second bill, modified and made compatible with federal land grant egislation, became law two years later. When the college opened in 1889, Leazer was appointed to its first board of trustees. Augustus Leazer was born in 1843 in Rowan County to John and Isabella Jamison Leazar. He graduated from Davidson College with first honors at age seventeen. Following service in the Confederate Army, Leazer married and began teaching in classical schools. In Mooresville, Leazer was co-principal, with his brother-in-law Stephen Frontis, of a school. He also began teaching at a summer normal school held at the University of North Carolina in 1877. In 1882 Augustus Leazer was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives. He served four consecutive terms, and was elected speaker in 1889. His progressive politics led Leazer in the 1880s to the Farmer’s Alliance movement. He ran for Congress in 1890 on an Alliance backed ticket. Leazer led Central Prison, serving as superintendent from 1893 to 1897. The state penitentiary became self-supporting for the first time in its history under Leazer’s management. He continued to serve on the board of the Agricultural and Mechanical College and later sat on the board for the University of North Carolina. For many years, Leazer also sat on the board of trustees for his alma mater, Davidson College. Leazer died February 18, 1905. He is buried at Willow Valley Cemetery in Mooresville. The highway historical marker is placed near the location of Prospect Church Academy, where Leazer taught.

Early Leazars

These are the earliest records we have of the Leazar family.