BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
Portrait Biographical Album
of
Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio
containing Full Page Portraits
and Prominent and Representative Citizens
of the County
Together with Portraits and Biographies of all the
Presidents of the United States.
Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1890.

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	MRS. ISABELLE (WELLS) LEFFEL makes her home on a well-improved farm two miles south of Springfield, her home being shared by her children.  The residence is well built, as are the other buildings which adorn the estate, while the land is productive and well cultivated.  The estate was operated for many years by the deceased husband and father, and upon it he breathed his last Apr. 26, 1877.      Mrs. Leffel was born in Miami County, and having lost her mother when very young, became an inmate of the home of her paternal grandparents.  She attended the district schools, and afterward advanced her education by pursuing her studies in the city schools of Dayton.  She became well informed, and under excellent home influences developed into a noble womanhood.  In 1868 she became the wife of James M. Leffel, a native of Clark County, who was reared to agricultural pursuits, and always followed that occupation.  Their union resulted in the birth of four children - Clarence N., James L., Maud V., and Leslie B.  They were quite young when deprived of a father’s care, and their widowed mother has endeavored to fill his place in the direction of their lives, while keeping before them the memory of the loved and lost.      Mrs. Leffel is of English ancestry, and it is believed that her grandfather was born in the mother country, and came to America with his parents.  The latter, Samuel and Martha Wells, after having lived for some time in Virginia, removed to Miami County, Ohio, where their last years were spent.  Their mortal remains were deposited on the home farm six miles from Troy.  Their son Silas married Elsie Skinner, a native of South Carolina, and is numbered among the early settlers of Miami County, to which he went about 1823.  There he bought land, engaged in agriculture, and like his parents, continued to reside there until death.      The father of Mrs. Leffel was Richard Wells, who was born in Virginia, and accompanied his parents to Ohio when about twelve years old.  At that early day, deer, wild turkeys, and other kinds of game were plentiful throughout the vicinity in which they located.  Young Wells learned the trade of a carpenter at Troy, afterward devoting a part of his time to his handicraft, and the remainder to farming.  When a young man he went to Illinois, where he was married, subsequently returning to Ohio, and occupying a farm adjoining that of his father until the death of his wife.  He then went West and traveled quite extensively, his last years being spent with his children.  He died about 1875, and was buried in Dayton.  He was the father of four children, Mrs. Leffel being the youngest.  The others are: Mrs. Mary J. Karnes, Thomas Benton, and Mrs. Ella Koogler, all of whom live in Miami County.      The father of Mr. Leffel was James P. Leffel, who was born and reared in Botetourt County, Va. When lie was eighteen years old he left the parental roof and journeying westward, soon reached Clark County, Ohio.  Here he found employment on a farm, receiving $2 per month for his services.  He was industrious and faithful, and saved his earnings, finally being able to buy a mill and distillery which he operated some time.  He then sold the property and bought a farm in Springfield Township, where he resided until death.  Good fortune seemed to attend him, and he accumulated quite a property.  The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Miller. Source:  Portrait Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio, Published Chicago: Chapman Bros. - 1890 - Page 672
Col. Joseph Leffel	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, Sept. 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 Apr. 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. Source:  Portrait Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio, Published Chicago: Chapman Bros. - 1890 - Page 845
	MICHAEL LEFFEL.  Among the old settlers of Clark County, Michael Leffel is numbered, and his name will beheld in remembrance wherever the frontiersman's work is known and appreciated.  His parents came to this country in an early day, and labored arduously among the pioneers, while their son, our subject, born and reared amid scenes of a much more primitive nature that those which now meet his eye, ahs worked as assiduously as they to still farther develop the resources of the county.      In Botetourt County, Va. James P. Leffel and Elizabeth Miller were born.  Both had become residents of the Buckeye State early in the history of Clark County, and in it they were married, settling in Bethel Township.  They afterward removed to Mad River Township, where Mr. Leffel built a flouring- mill, which he carried on for several years.  He then gave it up and returned to Bethel Township, three years later removing to Springfield Township, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death taking place two miles south of the city of Springfield.      Our subject is the eldest in a family of ten children, and was born Mar. 20, 1822, in Bethel Township, Clark County.  He lived with his father until he was twenty-three years old, and then settled on a farm in Springfield Township, where he now lives.  Eight years were spent by him in Miami County, but with that exception he has been a continual resident on his present estate since he first took up his abode there.  The farm consists of two hundred and ten productive acres on section 7, furnished with the usual farm buildings and conducted by one who has always been a farmer, is well and carefully managed, and proves a remunerative piece of property.      In Mad River Township, June 6, 1844, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between our subject and Miss Elizabeth Cosier.  Mrs. Leffel was born in Montgomery County, Sept. 5, 1821, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Meyers) Cosier, natives of Pennsylvania.  She is a fine example of Christian womanhood, is a member of the Methodist Church, and has conscientiously discharged her duties as wife, mother and neighbor.  The union of herself and our subject has been blessed by the birth of eight children, two of whom have been called hence.      The first-born was Xarisa, who became the wife of James Drake, and died in Springfield Township; the second was James H., who died when about thirty-two years old.  The oldest of the surviving children is Winfield, who is living at home; the next is Anna, wife of Joseph Kist; the next Leonidas, who is a farmer in Mercer County; following him is Mary, the wife of Milton Crabill; Addison is a farmer in Greene County; Elizabeth is the wife of William McCreery.      Mr. Leffel is a believer in and supporter of the principles of the Republican party.  He has held the office of School Director, discharging its duties in a manner which reflects credit upon himself and those whose interests he serves.  He has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church since he was nineteen years old, and has endeavored to manifest in his life the principles in which he believes. Source:  Portrait Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio, Published Chicago: Chapman Bros. - 1890 - Page 532

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