Bernie Leadon

Birth Name: Bernard Mathew Leadon III

Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States

Date of Birth: July 19, 1947

Ethnicity: Irish, as well as some French-Canadian and English

Bernie Leadon is an American musician and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist for legendary rock band Eagles. Other members of the group include/have included Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, and Joe Walsh.

Bernie is the son of Ann and Bernard Leadon, Jr., an aeronautical engineer and airplane designer. His parents were devout Roman Catholics. His brother is musician Tom Leadon. Bernie has one son.

Bernie’s paternal grandfather was named Bernard Matthew “Barney” Leadon. Bernard was born in Minnesota, to an Irish father and a mother from Wisconsin.

Bernie’s paternal grandmother was Ruth Cecelia McDonnell (the daughter of Patrick Joseph McDonnell and Catherine Rouin). Ruth was born in Minnesota. Patrick was the son of James McDonnell and Bridget Reilly, who were Irish. Catherine was French-Canadian.

Bernie’s maternal grandfather was Theodore Horatio Sweetser, a urologist (the son of Horatio Bartholomew Sweetser and Teresa Mary Ann Josephine Higgins). Theodore was born in Minnesota. Bernie’s great-grandfather Horatio, a physicist and surgeon from Brooklyn, New York, was the son of Horatio Sweetser, who was from Athol, Massachusetts, and had Colonial American (English) ancestry; and of Delia Kelly, who was Irish. Teresa was born in Prince Edward Island, Canada, to an Irish father and to a mother, Elizabeth, who was also from Canada.

Bernie’s maternal grandmother was Marion/Marian I. Morrow (the daughter of James J. Morrow and Annie/Anna E./L. Higgins). Marion was born in Minnesota, to a father from Wisconsin and a mother from New York, and was of at least part Irish descent. Marion’s family had roots in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Sources: Genealogy of Bernie’s father (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com

Bernie’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Obituary of Bernie’s father – https://www.legacy.com

Genealogy of Bernie’s paternal grandmother, Ruth Cecelia McDonnell – https://www.geni.com

Information about Bernie’s mother’s family – http://www2.mnhs.org

Genealogy of Bernie Leadon (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Bernie’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Bernie’s maternal grandfather, Theodore Horatio Sweetser, on the 1910 U.S Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Bernie’s maternal great-grandfather, Horatio Bartholomew Sweetser, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org