Isaac Leffler was an American lawyer and legislator. He was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 18th district from 1827 to 1829.
Background
Isaac Leffler, the brother of Shepherd Leffler, was born on a plantation called "Silvia's Plain, " in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, where his grandfather, Jacob Leffler, had settled in 1774. He was the son of a second Jacob Leffler and Jane (Smith) Leffler.
Education
Leffler attended the public schools and was graduated from Jefferson College, (now Washington & Jefferson College), in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
Career
Leffler was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his profession at Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia). In 1817 he was elected to the Virginia legislature, and served during the years 1817-1819, 1823-1827, 1832-1833. In 1827 he was elected as a member of the state board of public works. He was a representative of Virginia in the Twentieth Congress, 1827-1829, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reëlection.
In 1835, he removed to what is now Burlington, Iowa, but which was at that time a small settlement on the outskirts of the Territory of Michigan. Here on April 15, 1835, he was admitted to the practice of law in the territorial courts. When the Territory of Michigan was divided in 1836, Isaac Leffler was elected to the legislature of the newly created Territory of Wisconsin. Reëlected for the following session, he was chosen speaker of the House. In 1836 he was the unsuccessful Whig candidate for the office of territorial delegate to Congress. On September 16, 1837, he was a president of a meeting in Burlington at which resolutions were adopted calling for a convention to consider the subject of separation of Iowa Territory. He also presided at the convention, which was held at Burlington November 6-8, 1837, and was perhaps the most important convention in the Iowa country prior to the establishment of the Territory. In July 1838, the Territory of Iowa was created, and in 1841 Leffler was elected a member of the territorial House of Representatives to succeed his brother Shepherd, who had been elected to the territorial Council.
Isaac Leffler had been recommended to President Tyler by Daniel Webster, then secretary of state, for appointment as one of the associate justices of Iowa Territory, but did not receive the appointment. In 1843, however, he was appointed by President Tyler as United States marshal for the district of Iowa, and served until removed by President Polk on December 29, 1845. At this time he resumed the practice of law at Burlington; four years later he declined appointment as register of the land office at Stillwater, Mitchell County, Iowa. In 1852 President Fillmore appointed him receiver of public moneys for the Chariton Land District of Iowa, but the following year he was removed from the office by President Pierce. He died at Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa, and was buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington.
Achievements
Personality
Leffler was a man of pleasing social qualities, amiable, kind, and hospitable. In personal appearance he is said to have resembled President John Tyler.
Connections
Leffler was married twice: to Rebecca Forman in November 1814, and after her death, to Lethenia Mitchell in 1832.