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, distant English
Bernie Leadon is an American musician and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist for legendary rock band Eagles. Other members of the group included Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, and Joe Walsh.
Bernie is the son of Ann Teresa (Sweetser) and Bernard Matthew Leadon, Jr., an aeronautical engineer and airplane designer. His parents were devout Roman Catholics. His brother is musician Tom Leadon. Bernie has a son.
Bernie’s paternal grandfather was Bernard Matthew “Barney” Leadon. He 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, an urologist (the son of Horatio Bartholomew Sweetser and Teresa Mary Ann Josephine). Theodore was born in Minnesota. Horatio Bartholomew, a physicist and surgeon from Brooklyn, New York, was the son of Horatio Sweetser, who was from Athol, Massachusetts, and Delia Kelly, who was Irish. Teresa was born in Canada, to an Irish father and a mother also from Canada
Bernie’s maternal grandmother was Marion/Marian Higgins. Marion was born in Minnesota, to a father from Wisconsin and a mother from New York, and of was likely of at least partial 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 Bartolomew Sweetser, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org