Frank Leffingwell
Encyclopedia
Frank Seth Leffingwell was a business man, stone cutter, horse trader, real estate agent, officer of the law, as well as a municipal and provincial politician who was elected to public office in both the United States
and Canada
.
, Wisconsin
. He married his wife Ida May Erdman on December 24, 1890 and they moved to Benton County
, Minnesota
. In his early years Leffingwell traded horses and cut granite. Leffingwell joined the Benton County police force and became deputy Sheriff in 1898. In 1900 he ran in a 3 way election for the position of Sheriff as the Democrat
candidate. He won the hotly contested race by 119 votes to become Benton County's new Sheriff defeating incumbent Democrat Sheriff Andrew LaVoie. While he was Sheriff Leffingwell got into the Hotel business he owned his first Hotel The Hotel Foley in Foley, Minnesota
from 1902 to 1906. In November 1906 Leffingwell and his wife moved to Brunton
, Alberta
Canada
known today as Warner, Alberta
to take part in the great land rush
.
to take part in the great land rush, they procured a 150000 acres (607 km²) of land, selling it all to arriving settlers. Leffingwell used his fortune to found the Warner Hotel in 1906. The Hotel operated from 1906 to 1927 before it was destroyed by fire. He also helped fund the construction of the first church on the town site the Evangelical
church in Warner, and established the Warner Cemetery. Leffingwell continued his active role in politics serving as the towns first Mayor. He moved to provincial politics in 1913.
. In that election Warner had become big enough to have its own seat represented in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Leffingwell became the first Member of the Warner winning a hotly contested 3 way race. Leffingwell was re-elected to his 2nd term in office in the 1917 Alberta general election
with a comfortable plurality. He would suffer electoral defeat in the 1921 Alberta general election
by Maurice Conner
, a candidate from the United Farmers of Alberta
.
Leffingwell would run against Conner again in the 1926 Alberta general election
, losing half the votes he had during the previous election. After Conner retired in 1935 he attempted to run for office 1 more time in the 1935 Alberta general election
. This time he placed a distant 3rd behind Social Credit candidate Solon Earl Low
and James Walker
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Early life
Leffing well was born on November 16, 1868 in WhitewaterWhitewater, Wisconsin
Whitewater is a city in Jefferson and Walworth Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located near the southern portion of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Whitewater is the home of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.-Geography:...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He married his wife Ida May Erdman on December 24, 1890 and they moved to Benton County
Benton County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,226 people, 13,065 households, and 8,518 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 13,460 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. In his early years Leffingwell traded horses and cut granite. Leffingwell joined the Benton County police force and became deputy Sheriff in 1898. In 1900 he ran in a 3 way election for the position of Sheriff as the Democrat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
candidate. He won the hotly contested race by 119 votes to become Benton County's new Sheriff defeating incumbent Democrat Sheriff Andrew LaVoie. While he was Sheriff Leffingwell got into the Hotel business he owned his first Hotel The Hotel Foley in Foley, Minnesota
Foley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,154 people, 756 households, and 499 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,148.6 people per square mile . There were 793 housing units at an average density of 422.8 per square mile...
from 1902 to 1906. In November 1906 Leffingwell and his wife moved to Brunton
Warner, Alberta
Warner is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in County of Warner, approximately 65 km south of the city of Lethbridge. Warner is a farming community. Warner is situated at the intersection of Highway 4 and Highway 36, about 38 km north of the Montana border and...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
known today as Warner, Alberta
Warner, Alberta
Warner is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in County of Warner, approximately 65 km south of the city of Lethbridge. Warner is a farming community. Warner is situated at the intersection of Highway 4 and Highway 36, about 38 km north of the Montana border and...
to take part in the great land rush
Land run
Land run usually refers to an historical event in which previously restricted land of the United States was opened for homesteading on a first arrival basis. Some newly opened lands were sold first-come, sold by bid, or won by lottery, or by means other than a run...
.
Alberta
Leffingwell arrived in Warner, AlbertaWarner, Alberta
Warner is a village in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in County of Warner, approximately 65 km south of the city of Lethbridge. Warner is a farming community. Warner is situated at the intersection of Highway 4 and Highway 36, about 38 km north of the Montana border and...
to take part in the great land rush, they procured a 150000 acres (607 km²) of land, selling it all to arriving settlers. Leffingwell used his fortune to found the Warner Hotel in 1906. The Hotel operated from 1906 to 1927 before it was destroyed by fire. He also helped fund the construction of the first church on the town site the Evangelical
church in Warner, and established the Warner Cemetery. Leffingwell continued his active role in politics serving as the towns first Mayor. He moved to provincial politics in 1913.
Provincial politics
Leffingwell ran for the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1913 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1913
The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July...
. In that election Warner had become big enough to have its own seat represented in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Leffingwell became the first Member of the Warner winning a hotly contested 3 way race. Leffingwell was re-elected to his 2nd term in office in the 1917 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1917
The Alberta general election of 1917 was the fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, held on 7 June 1917 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
with a comfortable plurality. He would suffer electoral defeat in the 1921 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
by Maurice Conner
Maurice Conner
Maurice Joy Conner was a Canadian politician who served as the member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Warner from 1921 until 1935. Before entering politics, he was a Methodist preacher in the United States. He first sought office in the 1921 Alberta provincial election as a candidate...
, a candidate from the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
.
Leffingwell would run against Conner again in the 1926 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
, losing half the votes he had during the previous election. After Conner retired in 1935 he attempted to run for office 1 more time in the 1935 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1935
The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. This time he placed a distant 3rd behind Social Credit candidate Solon Earl Low
Solon Earl Low
Solon Earl Low was a Canadian politician in the 20th century.Low was born in Cardston, Alberta, and was a farmer, school teacher and school principal. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 1935 provincial that swept the Social Credit Party of Alberta to power...
and James Walker
James H. Walker
James H. Walker was a former farmer, provincial level politician and World War I era soldier. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1940 to 1944. During that time he served as official opposition leader twice and was leader of the Independents.- Early life :Walker...
.