My Genealogy Hound

COL. JOSEPH LEFFEL, a life-long resident of Clark County, is carrying on a large and extensive business in Springfield as a breeder of fancy poultry, and of pets of various kinds, his trade extending all over the United States; he is also engaged in training and selling Shetland ponies. He was born near Medway, September 21, 1833, and is a son of James P. Leffel, one of the early settlers of this county, and a native of Botetourt County, Va.

James Leffel, after passing the first eighteen years of his life in the above named county, left the parental roof to seek his fortunes in the Far West, as this part of the Nation was called, and making his way to this county, he cast in his lot with its pioneers. He found employment in a mill and distillery, receiving $10 a month for his services. He was very industrious and of good habits, and after working at that low salary for four years was enabled to buy a mill.

At that time there were no railways or canals here, and James Leffel used to take his flour to Cincinnati with an Ox-team. Money was scarce, and he traded flour oftentimes for merchandise, which he would dispose of at home for cash or wheat. He operated his mill and distillery until about 1834, when he sold out, and purchased a farm in Springfield Township, south of the city, and gave himself up to agriculture until his death April 7, 1887. He was a man of consideration in the township, in whose agricultural development he bore an active part, and was all-worthy of the respect accorded to his character. When he first came here the county was but thinly populated, Indians were plentiful, and in the forest wilds deer, bear and other game abounded. He lived to see the district well settled and wealthy, and during his residence here Springfield grew from a hamlet into a city of upward of forty thousand inhabitants. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Miller; she was a native of Virginia, and departed this life some years before her husband. She was the mother of ten children, six of whom survive.

Col. Leffel attended the pioneer schools of this, his native county, the first one being taught in a log house, and furnished with home-made furniture, slabs for seats with the bark side down, and common wooden pins for legs. After attaining his majority he engaged in bee culture, and making a thorough study of it, he patented a hive, which has since been used very extensively. He finally turned his attention to breeding fancy poultry, in which he is extensively engaged at the present time, having upward of forty distinct varieties of fowls. He has all the appliances in neat buildings, etc., to carry on the business to the best advantage. He also raises pets of various kinds, including rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, etc., besides training Shetland ponies.

In the month of March, 1876, Col. Leffel was united in marriage with Miss Sadie Mead, a native of this city, and a daughter of Alfred and Nancy (Hatcher) Mead. Four children complete their pleasant home circle, as follows: Joseph Frank, Gilbert, Blanche and Philip L.

Our subject is a man of exceptionally fine character, and of irreproachable habits. In his business career he has carried on his extensive dealings with unfailing honesty, and has won and retains the entire confidence of the many with whom he has business relations. He is a man of thought as well as of action, and his liberal mind and varied information make him an interesting companion. A son of one of the early pioneers of the county, he has proved himself a worthy scion of the stock that laid the basis of the present prosperity of this region, where his life has been passed.

In connection with his personal sketch a portrait* of Col. Leffel is shown on another page.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.