Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/421

 LEFFINGWELL

LEFTWICH

regiment was the first New York regiment to march to the front, and Colonel Lefferts trans- ported Ills regiment by boat to Annapolis, Md., and marched tlience across the state to Washing- ton, the march being attended with considerable hazard. After thirty days' service the regiment returned home, and in iy62 and again in lbG3 he led the regiment in emergencj- service at critical j>eriods of the civil war. While in Frederic, Md., in iy63. Colonel Lefferts was made military governor of the city. The regiment was recalled to New York in July, 1863, to protect the city from rioters who had held the citizens and their property at their mercy for two or three days and the presence of the 7th regiment and their steady and determined march tlirough streets mostly in control of the rioters soon restored order. He resigned the colonelcy of the 7th regiment in 1865, declined the office of brigadier-general of militia and accepted the command of the veteran corps of the 7th regiment. He early recognized the commercial post^ibilities of the telegraph as invented by Morse, and was a direc- tor and president of the companies first organized in New York and New England, 1849-60. He furnished the first zinc plated wire which came into general use as rustproof. He perfected and patented a system of automatic transmission, and his invention was purchased by the Amer- ican Telegraph company who employed him as electrical engineer and consulting engineer. He devised the instrument to measure the distance to defects in wires ixsed in the transmission of messages, and made it possible to raise and repair broken submarine cables. The American Tele- grapli company consolidated with the Western Union Telegraph company in 1806 and in 1867 he resigned liis position as electrical engineer of the Western Union and organized the Commercial News Department of that company. In 1809 he was made president of the Gold and Stock Tele- grapli company, which company in 1871 pur- cliased the Commercial News department of the Western Union and he became president and manager of the combined interests. While ac- companying his corps to Philadelpliia, Pa., to attend a Fourth of July parade in connection with the Centennial exhilntion, lie died suddenly on the cars near Newark. N.J.. .luly 3. 1876.

LEFFINGWELL, Charles Wesley, educator, was born in Ellington, Conn., Dec. o, 1840; son of Lyman and Sarah Chapman (Brown) Leffing- well, and grandson of Joseph and Sarah (Brand- ford-Ford) Leffingwell. His paternal ancestors were among the founders of Norwich, Conn., 1637. After teaching school he entered Union college in the class of 1860, and left in his junior year. He was principal of an academy in Galveston, Texaes, 18.59-60; and was graduated from Knox

college, Galesburg, 111., in 1862. He was vice- principal of Warring's Military institute, Pough- keepsie, N.Y., 1862-63, was graduated in theology at Nashotah House, Wis., in 1867, and remained there as a teacher. He was ordained deacon in 1867 and priest in 1868, and was assistant pastor at St. James's church, Chicago. 111., 1867. In 1868 he founded and became rector of St. Marys church and scliool, Knoxville, 111. He founded St. Alban's Academy for boys in Knoxville, in 1890. He edited The Living Church, 1879-1900 and was made president of the standing commit- tee and an examining chaplain of the diocese of Quincy. He received the degree of D.D. from Knox college in 1875. He is the compiler of a " Reading Book of English Classics for Young People"; " Lyrics of the Living Church,'' and the author of a volume of poems.

LEFTWICH, Jabez, representative, was born in Caroline county, Va., in 1766; son of Augustine Leftwich, a native of Clieshire. England, who settled in Caroline county, Va., in 1739 and re- moved to Bedford county about 1770. Jabez was inspector-general with the rank of colonel on the staff of his brother. Gen. Joel Leftwich (q.v.). Returning to Virginia he represented Bedford county in the state legislature, 1812-21, and the Bedford district in the 17th and 18th congresses, 1821-25, and was defeated for the 19th congress. At the close of his term he removed with his family to Madison county, Ala., and was a rep- resentative in the state legislature. He died near Huntsville. Ala., Jime 22, 1855.

LEFTWICH, Joel, soldier, was born in Caro- line county, Va., in 1759; son of Augustine Left- wich. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and took part in the battles of Germantown, Camden and Guilford. He returned to his father's estate in Bedford county, Va., and was an officer in the state militia. In the war of 1812 he was commissioned brigadier-general and served under General Harrison, commanding a brigade. He was subsequently major-general of state militia and for many years justice of the peace of Bedford county. He died in Liberty, Bedford county, Va., April 20. 1846.

LEFTWICH, John William, representative, was born in Liberty. Bedford county. Va., Sept. 7,1826; son of Joel and Mary (Thorpe) Left- wich; grandson of Jolin and Susannah (Smith) Leftwich and great-grandson of Augtistine Left- wich, a native of Clieshire, England, who came to Caroline county, Va., in 1739, and to Bedford county about 1770. John William Leftwich was graduated at Jefferson medical college in 1850, and subsequently settled in Memphis, Tenn., where he became an extensive cotton merchant. He was a representative from Tennessee in the 39th congress under the reconstruction act, and