Joseph Leefrom

JOSEPH LEEFROM. - Among the representative citizens of Wyandotte county, Kansas, is Joseph Leefrom of Walcott.

Mr. Leefrom was born in Illinois, in the year 1851, son of John and Mary (Scott) Leefrom, the former a native of Germany and the latter of France. John Leefrom came to this country in early life, and it was in Illinois that he met and married Miss Scott. To them were born three children: Mary, now the wife of Edward Blackman; Joseph, the subject of this sketch, and Andrew. The father was reared in the Catholic faith, to which he faithfully adhered throughout his life. By occupation he was a farmer. And it was on his father's farm in Illinois that Joseph Leefrom passed his boyhood days, his only educational advantages being those of the district schools. On attaining his majority in 1871, he left the scenes of his childhood and came west to Kansas, Wyandotte county his objective point, where he found employment as a farm hand. Later he went to Atchison county. There he became the owner of several farms, which he subsequently sold. He now owns the principal houses in Walcott, which he rents, and here he makes his home, he having returned to Wyandotte county several years ago.

Mr. Leefrom married, in 1877, Miss Lizzie Horstman, like himself, a native of Illinois. She shared the joys and sorrows of this life with him for nearly twenty-five years, until her death, which occurred in 1901; and their happy union was blessed in the birth of seven children, namely: Jessie, Alvin, Edward, Fred, Cora, Mamie and Andrew. Two of the daughters are married - Jessie and Cora, the former being the wife of Fred Hinkenbrant of Leavenworth; the latter, the wife of Clark Robinson, a farmer and dairyman of Wyandotte county. Two sons, Edward and Andrew, are residents of Kansas City, Missouri, and one son, Fred, died three years ago. The other two are with their father. Mr. Leefrom has always voted the Democratic ticket, but has never been active in political affairs.