Leedham, Frank W.

LEEDHAM, LEFFINGWELL, WESTBROOK

Posted By: Volunteer Subscribers
Date: 4/15/2003 at 19:09:43

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

FRANK W. LEEDHAM.

Among the active and enterprising citizens of Clinton is this well-known public official, who is now so acceptably filling the office of auditor of his native county. He was born in Lyons on the 10th of May, 1867, and is a son of Thomas Leedham, whose sketch will be seen on another page of this volume. He passed the days of his boyhood and youth in his native township, and is indebted to her public schools for his educational privileges, which were supplemented by a course in Griswell’s College in Davenport. He began his business career as assistant bookkeeper with the Lyons Lumber Company, and later accepted a position in the office of W. J. Young & Company, where he filled different positions in their office until 1890, when his health failed and he was obliged to return to his father’s farm with the intention of soon going to the mountains of Colorado, but was not well enough to leave for some time, having had a hemorrhage. Owing to his outdoor exercise, he improved, however, and as soon as he had sufficiently recovered he commenced buying and shipping cattle. While engaged in this business he was on horseback most of the time, and this proved very beneficial to his health, so that he has entirely recovered, and is to-day a fine specimen of strong, robust manhood.

Mr. Leedham was married in 1892 to Miss Blanche Leffingwell, a daughter of Charles Leffingwell, of Lyons, who was a son of Judge William E. Leffingwell, and who was accidentally killed while hunting when about thirty years of age. His wife was a daughter of Dr. Westbrook, one of the oldest physicians of Lyons.

Mr. and Mrs. Leedham are the parents of three children: Harry L., Helen A. and Donald W. Mrs. Leedham when a young lady took up vocal music and studied under Miss Lincoln, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, for about two years, and for many years has taken a prominent part in musical affairs in Clinton, singing in the various churches of both Clinton and Lyons.

In his social relations Mr. Leedham is a member of the blue lodge, chapter, consistory and Eastern Star chapter of the Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Court of Honor and the Knights and Ladies of the Golden Precept. In his political affiliations he is a stanch Republican, and on his party ticket was elected county auditor in 1900. He has since efficiently served in that capacity, and at the same time has filled the position of president of the public library of Lyons. He is pre-eminently public spirited and progressive, and takes an active interest in any enterprise which he believes calculated to advance the welfare of his native county.