Curious probably post-war photo

[Allyn]

Charles C. Leonard was serving as a corporal in Co. A, 124th Ohio Infantry, when he was seriously wounded at Chickamauga, 19 Sept. 1863. Shot through the lung, he never totally recovered and received a pension based on total disability in 1870. Fairly shortly after the war, he relocated to the Pennsylvania oil region, and among other things, turned his hand to writing humorous newspaper columns. His humor was a little quirky, with some Twain-like tall tales, exaggerations, etc. For whatever reason, he had the below photo taken/composed by John A. Mather, a fairly well-known photographer in the oil region, at Titusville, PA, probably about 1865/66. Part of a civil war collection at the LOC, it is inaccurately labeled "Unidentified soldier in Union uniform seated at table with fork and knife ready to eat his own head, which sits on a dinner plate." Of course, he doesn't really seem to be in uniform, and he has been definitively been identified by comparison with other local photos. Unfortunately, we do not know the context of the photo.

 

[on again]

what was his vital dates where is he buried?

 

[lupaglupa]

I would love to know the story behind this photo!

 

[Kansan]

One of the more interesting trick photographs I've seen!

 

[Allyn]

Charley Leonard was born in Strongsville, OH, (SW of Cleveland) 17 Jan. 1845. He died at his home in Cleveland 12 March 1874. Initially buried in a vault at Erie St. Cem. in Cleveland, he was removed in 1875 to his parents' plot in Strongsville Cem. Bounced around a lot during a long period of declining health. He wrote many of his columns under the pen name Crocus.