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A.J. Leffler ~ 1847-1932

LEFFLER, VALE, WELLS, NELSON, FORMAN, CAVEN, STORY, PARKER, MORRIS

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 1/31/2002 at 10:38:40

Aged Citizen Died at Home of Daughter in Ames Friday, March 25

Andrew Jackson Leffler, fourth son of Monsuit and Irene Caven Leffler, was born at the Leffler home two miles west of Harrisburg church on Feb. 6, 1847. He passed from this life at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lee Forman at Ames, Iowa, March 25, 1932, aged 85 years, 1 month and 19 days. He had been critically ill and required the ministrations of a trained nurse for fifty-one weeks prior to his death.

Mr. Leffler grew to manhood in his home community, attended school in Bonaparte, and soon began teaching, being the school master at Harrisburg for seven years. All his life he was interested in schools and education, as testified by his having served for thirty-five years as a member of the school board.

Andrew J. Leffler was united in marriage Jan. 1, 1878, with Miss Lydia Anne Vale, also of Harrisburg Twp. They located in Cedar Twp., on what is still known as the Leffler homestead, and now the home of their oldest son, George V. Leffler, and family. Having united early in life with the Baptist church of Harrisburg Twp., and living for so many years within going distance of its services, he was ever a faithful and devoted member, serving for years in the capacity of deacon.

There were eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Leffler: George Vale, above mentioned; Anne Irene, now Mrs. Earl Wells of Cleveland, Ohio; A. Rex of Vinton, Iowa; twins, Mary who is now Mrs. George Nelson of Goldfield, Iowa, and Martha, Mrs. Lee Forman of Ames, Iowa; John M. of Harrisburg Twp.; and Robert W. of Plymouth, Wisc. The youngest daughter, Elizabeth died in 1916, and the wife and mother in 1924.

In the fall of 1912 Mr. and Mrs. Leffler left the farm and bought a home in Ames. Here he enjoyed the broader educational view, and continued up to the time of his last illness to be interested in questions of agriculture, education, public welfare, religion, politics, to all of which he had given much time and study, in earlier years, having not only served as church and school man, but was an officer in the old Farmers’ Institute, the County Fair, and Grange, and the Democratic party had no more loyal supporter than he.

After the death of his wife Mr. Leffler made his home with his daughters at Goldfield and Ames, with frequent trips to visit with his children and other relatives in Van Buren county, and even made the trip to Cleveland to visit the daughter there a few years ago.

Besides the children he leaves 14 grandchildren and a large number of nieces and nephews, for Mr. Leffler was the last of a family of eleven children, nearly all of whom married and located near Bonaparte.

It is interesting to note that his father, Monsuit Leffler, came to America in 1832. He was born in the Grand Duchey of Baden, Germany, in 1803, had served in the German army, and was married. He came to New Orleans just one hundred years ago. There his wife died soon after landing. In 1839 he married Irene Caven of Tennessee, whose father was English, and mother Irish. Monsuit and his wife came to Van Buren county, took up a claim, and were numbered among the substantial builders of the early community in Harrisburg Twp. Even their children were pioneers and are now all gone, with the passing of “Uncle Andy” as so many called him. Those brothers and sisters, who are known now, were: Elizabeth, who never married; Melinda, who married John Story; John who was a doctor and practiced in California; Jacob, James and Andrew; Julia, who married Stephen Parker; Catherine, who lived to age 13; Melvina to 2 years; George who reached the age of 21; Mary, who married Ed Morris, of Stockport. Mr. Morris is now the sole survivor of those who married any of the above mentioned of the Monsuit Leffler family.

Funeral services were held at the Harrisburg Baptist church on the afternoon of Easter day, March 27, with the pastor, Rev. D.D. Flanagan in charge. Interment in Vale cemetery.

Source; Iowa Rankin and Jenny Matheson newspaper clippings


 

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