Pueblo-Fremont-Custer County CO Archives Biographies.....Leftwich, Charles J. 1867 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 14, 2009, 2:37 am Author: Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918) HON. CHARLES J. LEFTWICH. Hon. Charles J. Leftwich, a well known Pueblo contractor, was born in Nodaway county, Missouri, on the 27th of December, 1867, his parents being Berry and Sarah (Hayes) Leftwich, who were natives of Iowa. The family came originally from Pennsylvania. The mother was born in Indiana but was reared in Iowa. During the Civil war the father responded to the country's call for troops to aid in the preservation of the Union and was at the front for eighteen months. Obtaining his father's consent to his enlistment, he was enrolled at Des Moines, Iowa, and with the "boys in blue" went to the front. Later he was married in Des Moines, Iowa, and subsequently removed to Missouri. His last days, however, were passed in Tacoma, Washington, where he died thirteen years ago. He is still survived by his widow. They had a family of eight sons and two daughters, of whom the second eldest is Charles J. Leftwich of this review. In the rural schools of his native state and of Colorado, Charles J. Leftwich pursued his education. The family removed from Missouri to Kansas during his early childhood and afterward came to Colorado in 1881, at which time he was a youth of fourteen years. The family were pioneers of the state and he shared with the others of the household in the hardships and privations which constitute features of frontier life. His educational opportunities were largely those of the school of experience. As a boy he worked with his father until the latter left the state, and it was under his direction that he learned the trade of carpentering and building. He came to Pueblo in September, 1898, after living for a time in Canon City. He has confined his attention here to the building of dwellings and has erected many of the attractive homes of the city, including the Gahagen home at Thirteenth and Court streets; the McFeeley residence at 21 Court street; the home of John Finland and many others. In his building operations he has ever been able to combine beauty, utility and convenience in a well balanced way and the results of his labors are highly satisfactory to his patrons. Mr. Leftwich was united in marriage on the 17th of June, 1895, to Miss Maud A. Barnes, of Wet Mountain valley, and their children are Hildred, Lois and Irene. Mr. Leftwich gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has served as city building inspector for four years. He has also twice been called upon to represent his district in the state legislature, having been a member of the general assembly during the eighteenth and nineteenth sessions. During the first session the attention of the assembly was given practically only to lahor and factory hills and Mr. Leftwich was instrumental in securing the passage of the puhlic utilities hill. He stood at all times for what he believed to be right and his activity, strong purpose and patriotic spirit proved elements of public welfare. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is greatly respected by those who know him. His father was one of the earliest residents of Colorado and from that time to the present the name of Leftwich has figured in connection with the substantial development and upbuilding of the state. Mr. Leftwich occupies an enviahle place in the business circles of Pueblo and has the entire confidence of those with whom he has heen hrought in contact through trade relations as well as those whom he has met in social circles. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF COLORADO ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1918 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/pueblo/photos/bios/leftwich279nbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pueblo/bios/leftwich279nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cofiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb