From Michigan Place Names
Oakland County: founded by Leonard Rowland in 1882 and named for him who donated the Rowland Hall to the community. The Pontiac, Oxford & Northern Railroad came through here in Addison Township in 1882, and the Trombley post office was moved a mile and a half north to the station here and renamed Leonard on Dec. 22, incorporated as a village in 1887 [Seeley; GSM 1887; PO Archives]