USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 2 > Part 30
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cestor of the subject of this biography. John Fell was born April 1, 1730, married Eliza- beth Hartley, of Bucks county, Pa., and had thirteen children, the fourth in order of birth being Seneca Fell who was born April 6, 1760. Seneca Fell married Grace Holt, who bore him eight children, the seventh of whom was also named Seneca, and was the grandfather of Seneca Large, our subject. Seneca Fell, Jr., was born September 23, 1796, married Sarah Crest, whose birth occurred Jang try 10, 1797; they reared a family of seven children, and died in the years 1875 and 1888, respect- ively. The eldest daughter. Mary Ann, born February 10, 1820, married William K Large, and they became the parents of seven chil- dren, the subject of this sketch big the youngest in order of birth. It will thus be seen that the of Mr. Large's maternal ances- tors reaches back to nearly the sixteenth cen- tury, the Joseph Fell, of whom mention is above made, having been born August 19, 1668, and having died April 9, 1748, in Bucks county, Pa.
As stated above. Joseph Large married Melicent Church, a granddaughter of the above- mentioned Joseph Fell, and reared two chil- dren-Joseph S. and Rebecca -- the former born May, 1778. Joseph S. married Rebecca Kinsey, March 26, 1805, and had a family of seven children, the youngest being William K., who was born August 8, 1818. William K. Large was married in 1840 to Mary Am Fell, whose birth occurred November 18, 1955, and who died March 3, 1891. The following are the names of their children: Caroline. Seneca F., George Wesley, Howard P and Arthur C. The father died February 4, 1876. He was but three months of age when he lost his father, and was quit . young when bound ont, but he did not remain with his employ . long. and started to work for himself at $11 and his board for the first year, but from th - small
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beginning eventually achieved a fortune. He dealt extensively in horses during the war, was an auctioneer seven years in Philadelphia, but spent most of his life in Doylestown, and at his death was worth about $50,000.
Seneca Fell Large, our subject, at the age of fourteen years, began learning the milling business, but remained with his parents until the Civil war broke out. He then enlisted, April 17, 1861, in company C, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania volunteer 'infantry, served out his term, and enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania infantry for nine months, and then entered the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, under Capt. Craver, but was later transferred to Ringgold battery. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged in August, 1865, having passed all through the struggle without injury, saving a shot in the right ankle at Gettysburg. He had gained considerable experience as a miller in Pensyl- vania, and after the close of the war came west and located at Metamora, Ind., where he followed his trade for four years, and De- cember 24, 1869, married Miss Lizzie Harper, who survived but a brief period, dying Octo- ber 14, 1870. Mr. Large then went to Beat- rice, Nebr., where he ran a government mill two years, and then, in company with Carroll Emery, hauled freight, with thirteen yoke of oxen, to the Pacific coast, making two trips. Hle next wended his way eastward, making stops at Brownsville, Nebr., Abilene, Kans., and Kansas City, Mo., and in 1877 reached Cairo, Allen county, Ohio, and for a year op- erated the Cairo mills. In 1878 he engaged in the livery business in Columbus Grove, where In remained seven years ; was at Bluff- ton, Allen county, two years ; in Lima eight years, andI September 29, 1894, opened his present stables in Ottawa, where his success has been most flattering. The second mar- riage of Mr. Large took place, in Columbus
Grove, to Susan Mayor, a native of Scranton, Pa., but this lady survived only a short time, dying July 25, 1893, at fifty-three years of age. The third and last matrimonial alliance of Mr. Large occurred January 1, 1895, to Sadie Fee, a native of Titusville, Pa. In politics Mr. Large is a. stalwart republican, and is very popular with his party, as well as with the public in general.
J AMES P. LEASURE, prosecuting at- torney of Putnam county, and senior member of the law firm of Leasure & Powell, was born near Columbus Grove, Allen county, Ohio, on the 24th day of May, 1858. His parents, Henry N. and Hannah (Porter) Leasure, are among the substantial and well-known people of the county of Allen, . residing in Monroe township. The subject of this biography grew up with the energies and ambition of the great west, and soon mastered the learning of the public schools within his reach, after which he entered the Normal school at Ada, from which he was graduated in 1884. For some time thereafter he fol- lowed the teacher's profession in the counties of Putnam and Allen, and in the meantime began the study of law with Sidney Sanders, of Columbus Grove. The greater part of his legal studies, however, were prosecuted at home, and in order the better to prepare him- self for the profession, he entered the univers- ity of Michigan, and was graduated from the law department of that institution in 1889. He located in the practice of his profession at Ottawa, in the office of Sheets & Ogan, with whom he remained three months, and then effected a co-partnership with Charles Frayer, the firm thus constituted continuing for a lim- ited period. Subsequently he became asso- ciated with his present partner, David N. Powell, under the firm name of Leasure &
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Powell, and is now rapidly coming to the front as one of the able and successful lawyers of the Ottawa bar. Mr. Leasure is an enthusi- astic student and has a strong love for his pro- fession. In the trial of a case he is absolutely fair to all parties concerned, is frank and can- did in his dealings with every one, and to this may be attributed, to a great extent, his suc- cess. In politics Mr. Leasure is a republican, but numbers his friends by the hundreds ir- respective of party affiliation, as is attested by the fact of his having been elected to the of- fice he now holds in 1894, defeating his com- petitor by a majority of 1,263, in a strongly democratic county. He possesses a pleasing personality, is frank and genial, is a good mixer among men, and stands high profession- ally and socially. Mr. Leasure and Miss Har- · riet Fowler, daughter of Andrew Fowler, of Ottawa, were united in marriage in 1890, and their union has been blessed by the birth of two children-Henry N. and George P.
0 AVID N. POWELL, a rising young lawyer of Ottawa and junior member of the firm of Leasure & Powell, is a native of Putnam county, born on the old Powell homestead, Blanchard town- ship, May 20, 1863, son of Joshua and Fran- ces (Mccullough) Powell. The youthful years of the subject were passed on the home farm, and in the public schools he obtained his early educational training, and later took a course at Valpariso, Ind., graduating from the com- mercial department of the State Normal school in 1888. Prior to the latter year he taught school for sometime in Putnam county, was for two years assistant of the schools of Leipsic, and here earned the reputation of a painstaking and successful instructor.
Having early decided to enter the law, Mr. Powell, in 1888, began the study of the same
at the Northern Indiana Law school, and graduated from the law department in 1890, and afterward spent two years in the office of Sheets & Ogan of Ottawa. He was admitted to the Putnam county bar in November, 1893, and the ensuing year entered into partnership with James P. Leasure, and the firm thus consti- tuted still exists. Mr. Powell has made com- mendable progress since entering the profes- sion, and the firm to which he belongs has a large and constantly increasing practice in the courts of Putnam and counties adjoining. He possesses a well-balanced legal mind, is care- ful in the preparation of his cases, and has gained the respect and confidence of his pro- fessional brethren in Ottawa. Politically he is a republican, and takes an active part in all campaigns-local, state, and national, and in February, 1896, he was appointed by Gov. Bushnell judge of probate of Putnam county, to succeed the late A. Z. Thomas. Mr. Powell, in 1895, purchased the Sutton block. in Ottawa, in which his office is located, and in the accumulation of property he has met with well deserved success. He was married, August 20, 1890, to Miss Kittie M. Koons, the accomplished daughter of David and Margaret Koons, of Leipsic.
R. MOSES LEE, a deceased pioneer of Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 1787, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and be- quite eminent as a physician. Becoming a surgeon in the army of the war of 1812, he was rewarded with a soldier's land warrant, but this he afterward soll. In 1810 he was united in marrage with Roby Branch also a native of New York, born in 1791, and to this union were born for children, viz: Arzina. James Madison, Harbou G. and one that died in childhood. The mother of this famdy died
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in Delaware county, and later, 1826, Dr. Lee moved to North Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, and in that county married Mrs. Deborah Parker, to which union were born two chil- dren-Alvina and Warren -- both deceased. From Knox the doctor moved to Coshocton county, and in 1834 came to Kalida, Putnam county, and for a number of years was the only physician of the new town, his practice extending over a wide extent of territory; lie was also prominent as a citizen and was fre- quently elected to township and county offices on the democratic ticket, at one time serving as county clerk. In early life he was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, was also a member of the Masonic order at Kalida. He died in 1874, possessing the confidence, esteein and gratitude of the entire community, for, which he had done so much.
Harrison G. Lee, the pioneer druggist of Kalida, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, July 15, 1816, and in 1834 came to Kalida with his father, Dr. Moses Lee. In 1847 he married Rhoda Isreal, of Piqua, Miami county, to which union was born one child, Frank G. The mother died in 1849, a devout member of the Presbyterian church, and in the same year Mr. Lee made an overland trip to California. In 1856 he returned to Kalida, via the Istlimus of Panama, and for several years was employed as clerk in the store of D. I. Brown, afterward purchasing the business and conducting it until ill health compelled him to abandon it. In 1849, also, he became a member of the Ma- sonic order in Piqua, Miami county, Ohio; in politics he is a democrat, and among other offices held that of township treasurer for a number of years. For a long time has been an active and consistent member of the Pres- byterian church.
Frank G. Lee, son of Harrison G., was edu- cated in Kalida and for five years was a teacher in Potnam and Paulding counties. In 1873
he was married to Emma Haller, daughter of Milton and Lucinda Haller, the union result- ing in the birth of four children, viz: Ward, Harrison, Inez and Rhoda. Mrs. Lee is a native of Defiance county, born in 1856, her father being an Ohioan and her mother a Canadian. . After his marriage Mr. Lee en- gaged in Kalida consecutively in the saw-mill business, as a farmer, and as a druggist. In politics he is a democrat and has served as township treasurer and in other offices, being at present a member of the school board. With his wife he is a member of the Presby- terian church.
J AMES M. LEE, of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, and a son of Moses and Roby (Branch) Lee, was born in Greene county, N. Y., Febru- ary 14, 1814. The father, who was born in the same county in 1787, was a successful physician, and acquired his knowledge of the profession, in all probability, from a brother. He served as surgeon in the western army in the war of 1812, and for his services received a land warrant, which he subsequently sold. He was married, about 1810, to Miss Branch, a native of New York, who bore the following children, viz: Arzina; James M., our subject ; Jane; one child that died in infancy, and Har- rison, now of Kalida, Ohio. Mrs. Roby Lee was born March 2, 1789, was a pious Metho- dist, and after her death, in 1824, in Delaware county, Ohio, Dr. Lee married Mrs. Deborah Parker, of Knox county, to which union were born two children-Mrs. Alvina Lee and War- ren, both now deceased. Dr. Lee had come from New York to Ohio about 1826 and prac- ticed his profession at North Vernon, Knox county, until after his second marriage, when he moved to Coshocton county, where he con- tinned to practice until 1834, when he settled
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in Kalida, being then not only one of the earliest pioneers, but for years the only physi- cian of the place-his practice extending over a wide expanse of territory. He was very in- fuential in his community and frequently elected by the democratic party to fill positions of honor and trust in both township and county-being at one time deputy county clerk. In his religious views he was first a Methodist, but later joined the church of the Disciples; as a member of the Masonic order he stood very high, and as a physician he was withont compare in Putnam county. He twice passed through the hardships and vicissitudes of pio- neer experiences, reached nearly four score and ten years, and passed away, a truly hon- ored citizen, in 1874.
James MI. Lee, onr subject, laid the founda- tion of his education in the log cabin school- houses of Knox and Coshocton counties, Ohio. In his youth he learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed many years before adopting agriculture as a calling. His marriage took place in 1836 to Miss Rebecca A. Pratt, who was born in Caroline county, Md., February 4, 1821, a danghter of James and Elizabeth (Ringgold) Pratt, and to this union have been born two children, viz: Levi G., a printer of Kalida, and Charles, who lives on the old . homestead. James Pratt was also a native of Maryland, born October 16, 1792, of French- fish parentage, was a school-teacher, and married Elizabeth Ringgold, native of the same state, and to this union were born four chil- dren, viz: Washington and Philip, deceased, and Rebecca A., of this mention, and Francis A., of Guernsey county. About 1823 James Pratt and his family came to Ohio, their des- tination being Chillicothe, but on the way Mrs. Pratt sickened and died, the children being reared by friends-Mrs. Lee being reared by Susan Johnson, who afterward became Mrs. Levi Lee. Mr. Pratt next married Mrs. Lydia
Oxley, to which union were born six children, of whom three are still living, viz: Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Sickman; Harriet, wife of John Clark, and Susan, wife of Charles Lathrop- all of Illinois, in which state Mr. Pratt also took up his abode and there died June 22, 1872.
In 1849 James M. Lee made the overland trip to California, being three months on the journey, and for three years engaged in car- pentering and mining in that state, returning via the Isthmus of Panama to Kalida, where he has since resided. For twenty years Mr. Lee has been engaged in farming, in which occupation he has been very successful. He and wife are members of the Missionary Bap- tist church, and also of the Putnam County Pioneer association. Mr. Lee is a stanch dem- ocrat, and has served as justice of the peace, as mayor of Kalida, and has also filled several of the minor offices with great ability and fidel- ity. He is one of the oldest pioneers of the county, and has won the esteen and respect of the entire community.
Levi G. Lee, son of James M. Lee, was born in Kalida, March 21, 1840, and in 1858 married Miss Elizabeth Haggard; to this union were born four children, viz: Annie, wife of Isaac Gray, of Kalida; Edith, wife of James D. Huddle, county surveyor, of Ottawa, Wal- ter and Charles, of Kalina. Mrs. Lee was a native of Franklin county, Ohio, and died July 4, 1894, a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Levi G. Lee, as a printer, has traveled extensively, as is the custom with most members of his craft. In 1861 he en- listed in company K, Capt. B. A. Holland, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served through the trying cam- paigns of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, and is now a member of the G. A. R. and Pioneer association. Ilc had published the Kalida Sentinel two years before the war, until the removal of the county seat to Ottawa.
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Charles Lee was born in Kalida July 6, 1837, and has always been a farmer. In 1861 he enlisted in company H, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and at the battle of Mossy Creek was wounded by a fragment of a shell; after recovery he was transferred to the invalid corps and served until the close of his enlistment. The Lee family are all held in the highest esteem by their neighbors, and certainly well deserve the position in which they stand before the public.
ETER LEFFLER, one of the old- time practical fariners of Van Buren township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a native of Hocking county, born September 10, 1839. His parents were John and Nancy ( Myres) Leffler, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania, and both of German descent. They came to Ohio single and were married in Fairfield county, where the father was engaged in butchi- ering at first, but afterward became a farmer, and after one or two changes of location brought his family to Putnam county about 1852, bought a tract of woodland, which he cleared up as far as he could, and made into quite a comfortable home before his death, which occurred some five years later, in 1857. When the family came here, game was still quite plentiful, and Mr. Leffler did considerable hunting in order to make a living for his family of children, which numbered nine, named as follows: Levi, unmarried, and now the owner of the old homestead; Daniel, also single and living with Levi; Mary, widow of Samuel Ram- sey and the mother of one child; Catherine, wife of John Rails, farmer of Henry county, Ohio; Peter, our subject; Leah, wife of Thomas Trott, farmer of Van Buren township. Putnam county; David, who died at the age of seventeen years: Caroline, yet single, and
Elizabeth, who died at the age of fourteen years. In his educational acqurements John Leffler was well advanced, and in his carlier days had taught school a number of terms; in politics he was a democrat, filled many offices of honor and trust in the township, including that of magistrate, and no man stood higher in the esteem of the citizens of Van Buren.' With his wife, he was a devoted member of the Lutheran church.
Peter Leffler, subject of this sketch, has always been identified with agricultural pur- suits and was quite well educated in the public schools. In 1852 he came to Putnam county with his parents, and beside assisting to some extent on the home farm, worked in his younger years of labor about saw-mills, help- ing to run engines, etc. The father, it will be seen, died before our subject reached his ma- jority, but the latter continued to make his home with and to assist his mother until he was twenty-seven years of age, with the exception of the time he was in the army. His enlist- ment took place, in 1861, for three years, in the Forty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry; he was assigned to the army of the Tennessee, under Col. W. H. Gibson, who was afterward promoted to be general and department com- mander. Mr. Leffier saw some severe service in a number of skirmishes, took part in the bat- tle of Shiloh, and at Stone river was wounded in the right side by a minie ball, which, being cut out, he still retains a souvenir. He was confined for treatment in the hospital nine months, and for fifteen years was hardly able to perform any manual labor, and yet feels the effect of his wound. At the time of being in- jured, it should be mentioned that he was cap- tured by the enemy, was held four days and was re-taken by the Federals and sent to hos- pital at Nashville. After having sufficiently recuperated, he returned to active service and served in the campaign from Chattanoog. to
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Atlanta, and in front of the latter place received a shot in the leg which prostrated him tempo- rarily, but did not disable him for duty. At this point, also, his term of service expired, and, nothing daunted by the injuries he had received, he made an effort to re-enlist, but was rejected on account of his disability. He then returned home and is now the recipient of a small pension.
The first marriage of Mr. Leffler took place, in 1866, to Miss Nancy A. Punches, who was born in Henry county, Ohio, a daugh- ter of George Punches, of German descent, and an early settler of Ohio, but who later moved to Michigan, where he ended his days. To this first marriage of Mr. Leffler were born two children-Mary, the wife of Milton Fisher, of Van Buren township, Putnam county, Ohio, and John H., a farmer of Wyandot county. Mrs. Leffler passed away in 1873, and in 1879 Mr. Leffler chose for his second helpmate Miss Caroline Hile, who was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, in 1852, a daughter of Adam Hile, who was a German by birth and a tailor by trade, as well as the owner of a large farm. He died in Seneca county, the father of seven children, viz: Solomon, Elizabeth, George, Susan, Ellen, Caroline (Mrs. Leffler) and Laura. The second marriage of Mr. Leffler has been blessed with three children: Millie, Ethel F. and Pearl, all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Leffler are members of the Lutheran church, but in politics Mr. Leffler takes little or no interest.
After his first marriage, in 1866, Mr. Leffler lived in Henry county, Ohio, four years, and then came to Putnam county and purchased a small farm, on which he lived three years. He then bought the eighty-acre tract on which he now lives, and on which there was at the time a cabin and a clearing of about twenty-five acres, but through the skill and industry of Mr. Leffler, as well as the exercise of that
practical knowledge of agriculture for which he is famous, this farm has been transformed to one of the best of its size in the county, being all under cultivation and improved with a handsome dwelling, substantial barn and out-buildings, orchard and wind-pump, and be- ing pleasantly located one mile and a half from Leipsic. Mr. Leffler stands very high in the opinion of the community, not only for his ardent devotion to bis country during the late Civil war, but for his straightforward and hon- orable conduct as a civilian.
ERNARD LEHMKUHLE, one of the oldest settlers of Ottawa township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born it in Glandorf, Germany, October 13, 1813, a son of George Lehmkuhle. He was reared a farmer, was married in his native land, about 1834, to Miss Katrina Schnupke, and came to America shortly after that event, locating at once in Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, where he rented twenty-two acres of land from the original colony, which he im- proved with the requisite buildings, and later purchased this land and a tract of forty acres, . also in section No. 30; the latter, however, he sold, and then bought fifty-two acres in Pleas- ant township, which he presented to his son, Joseph. After clearing up his farm, Mr. Lehinkuhle taught public school in Glandorf for twelve years, then returned to his farm, where he rested four or five years, after which he taught school in Greensburg township for thirteen years, then retired to his farm for four years; he was then elected county auditor by the democratic party, and served two terms; he next served as deputy auditor under his son Lewis for six years, or two terms, since when he has made his home with his son, William C., at Glandorf, where he is doing an office practice in medicine, having studied the home-
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
opathic school under Prof. Horstman, the founder of Glandorf, Ohio. Mr. Lehmkuhle lost his wife in October, 1886. They were the parents of three children, viz: William Charles, Joseph and Lewis.
William Charles Lehmkuhle was born in May, 1837, on the home farm in Ottawa town- ship, Putnam county, Ohio, and this farm he assisted materially in clearing up as he increased in years. He has always followed farming, with the exception of three or four years that he devoted to carpentry. He now owns three tracts of land- one of twenty acres, on which he resides, and one of fifteen acres, both in section No. 20, and one of forty acres in sec- tion No. 5, Ottawa township. His improv- ments are all of the best, elegant and conven- ient in all respects.
Since 1878 Mr. Lehmkuhle has been secre- tary of the German Mutual Insurance associa- ciation of Glandorf, which he assisted in or- organizing and which is one of the strongest assurance companies in northwest Ohio. He was married, January 19, 1859, to Miss Katrina Elizabeth Uphaus, born in Ottawa township, Putnam county, Ohio, April 5, 1840, a daugh- ter of John G. Uphaus. This gracions union has been blessed with seven children, born in the following order: Mary C., February 13, 1863, wife of Theodore Heckinan, a black- smith of Glandorf; Catherine E., March 13, 1866, wife of Charles Bucker, farmer of Jack- son township; Anna Bernardina, August 7, 1868, wife of William Strautker, also a farmer of the same township; Charles Henry, De- cember 28, 1870, married to Elizabeth Beck- man, and an employ of the C., H. & D. rail- road company, with his residence at Cohimbus Grove; Joseph Bernard, November 17, 1872, at home; John Frank, September 19, 1880, and Edward Bernard, July 25, 1883. The family are all members of the Saint John's Catholic church at Glandorf, and in politics 17
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