My Genealogy Hound

John C. Leffel, editor and proprietor of the “Western Star” and one of the best known newspaper men in southern Indiana, was born in Blairsville, Posey county, May 8, 1850, a son of Daniel and Barbara (Reichenbacher) Leffel, both of whom were born in Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany, where they also married. In 1832 they immigrated to the United States and for several years resided in New York City. They changed locations several times and in the latter part of the ‘40s located in Center township, Posey county, where Mr. Leffel purchased large tracts of land, the town sites of Blairsville and Wadesville being a part of his original purchase. In 1854 he removed to Mt. Vernon and engaged in merchandising. His death occurred in 1873, at the age of sixty-six years, and that of his wife in 1894, aged seventy-nine. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom survive, viz.: Nancy, the widow of George Henrich; Elizabeth, the widow of William H. Lichtenberger; John C., of this review; Celia, the wife of Henry Baldwin, all of Mt. Vernon; and Mollie E., the wife of Valentine Kratz, of Los Angeles, Cal. Those deceased are: Caroline, who married William Derman, of Spokane, Wash., and died in July, 1911; Catherine and William, the former of whom died aged nineteen and the latter aged four. John C. Leffel was educated in the schools of Mt. Vernon and at the age of fifteen became an apprentice in a harness shop at St. Louis, Mo., where he remained until 1867, when he returned to Mt. Vernon and entered the office of the “Democrat” and assisted Tom Collins, the editor and proprietor, in getting out his paper. He remained on the “Democrat” until October, 1875, when he established the Mt. Vernon “Wochenblatt,” the first and only German paper to be published in Posey county. In 1877 the first issue of the “Western Star” appeared, the founding of this paper by Mr. Leffel being the result of repeated requests upon the part of leading Democrats that he establish and edit a paper that could be counted on as the organ of the party in the county. From its first issue it has been the aim of the editor to make it alive with interest and with real, practical usefulness, and this has been done, with the result that it is, and has been for thirty-five years, welcomed as a personal friend in the homes of Posey county. In 1885 the publishing of the “Wochenblatt” was discontinued, due to the demands upon Mr. Leffel’s time by the “Western Star,” which prevented him giving both papers the attention they deserved. He enjoys the distinction of having been the first publisher in Posey county to install power presses and is the only one who has purchased a linotype machine. The office and press room of the “Star” are in point of equipment the best in the county. The building in which they are located was constructed from plans furnished by Mr. Leffel and is especially adapted to the needs of his business. It is the one printing plant of the county in which typesetting is done by machinery. The job printing department of the paper is up to date in all particulars and its business exceeds by far any other establishment in this line in the county. As a newspaper man Leffel has never been surpassed in Posey county. He is a vigorous writer, has a wealth of energy, his editorials are worthwhile, and his paper has been conducted in an able and clean manner. He has attained the Council degree in Masonry and is a member of Beulah Lodge, No. 578. Mr. Leffel married on July 2, 1872, Miss Minnie Brinkman, the eldest daughter of Henry Brinkman, of Mt. Vernon, a review of whom appears on other pages of this volume. Mrs. Leffel was born in Mt. Vernon on June 8, 1853, and died on February 28, 1907. She is survived by her husband and the following children: Edward, born May 4, 1872, personal mention of whom follows this article; Lillie, born October 4, 1874, the wife of Philip Suddoth, of Mt. Vernon; Herbert, born April 24, 1877, who is associated with his father; Daisy, born September 14, 1874, who resides in Evansville; Otto, born August 24, 1881, agent at Oskaloosa, Kan., of the Missouri Pacific railway; John, born February 5, 1887, employe of the passenger department of the Shore Line railway at San Francisco, Cal.; and Minnie, born February 16, 1892, residing with her father.