Leffel Last Gant

Leffel Last Gant was the third son and the sixth child of John Lee Gant and Rachel Clementine Howard. He came to this world on 14 April 1903 in Plano, Collin, Texas.

22-year-old Leffel married on 21 Feb. 1925. His spouse was Miss Ollie Olivia Standley (b. 21 Dec. 1899, Groveton, Trinity, Texas). She was the daughter of Mr. Henry D. Standley and Miss Mary Ellen Tull.

At first, the newlyweds moved on the family farm in Plano, TX.

There is a record of the sale Leffel advertised in The Plano Star-Courier (1 Sept. 1922), as we can see he lived at Road No.1 then.

Clipping source:

The Plano Star-Courier (Plano, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 30, Ed. 1 Friday, September 1, 1922, newspaper, September 1, 1922; Plano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth570593/: accessed April 17, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Collin County Genealogical Society.

By 1930, Leffel and Ollie relocated to Dallas where Leffel started an auto repair shop.


I have also found the records of Leffel's address and work in the old Dallas City Directories.

1. 1930

page 953

Gant Leffel L (Ollie) repairman h722 Cantegral

page 998

Gant Leffel L (Ollie) car wrecker h 722 Cantegral

2. 1933-34

page 1623

Cantegral 722 Gant L L, Gant W A

Here we can see that Leffel's older brother  (Gant WA) Watson Alexander (b. 15 Feb. 1898, Plano, Collin, TX) lived at Leffel's place as well.

3. 1936

Gant Leffel L (Ollie) junk dealer 722 Cantegral h do

4. 1938

page 523

Gant Leffel L (Ollie) garage h722 Cantegral

5. 1941

page 1593 (yellow pages)

Gant Leffel L 722 Cantegral

It seems at that time, Leffel worked at a few other places besides his auto repair shop.

page 797 (white pages)

Salazar Michael mechanic  Leffel L Gant r2906 Nussbaumer

page 355 (white pages)

Gant Leffel L (Ollie)  auto repair 722 Cantegral
 h do

page 467

Howell Fred (Pinkie A:1) mech Leffel L Gant h3906 Bertrand

page 1094

Cantegral 722 Gant Leffel L auto repair

6. 1944-45

page 1735 (yellow pages)

Automobile Repairing
Gant Leffel 722 Cantegral

7. 1956

page 448

Gant Leffel L (Ollie: L L Gant Auto Supply & Garage) h722 Cantegral

8. 1957

page 454

Gant L L (Leffel L Gant) 722 Cantegral

Leffel's house does not exist anymore. There is an apartment complex where his auto repair shop used to be.

Leffel and Ollie had four children two boys and two girls. The youngest child Leffel Last Jr. was born on 22 Dec. 1931. The baby seemed to be healthy and developed properly. Till his fifth month came. Suddenly he got sick and his system did not accept milk or any special kind of formula. Sadly, for eleven days little Leffel suffered from infectious diarrhea. Finally, the carers tried to feed little Leffel with goat's milk - with a positive result. However, the baby's body had been highly dehydrated and very weakened. Leffel Last Junior passed on 18 June 1932 due to hyperpyrexia (very high fever) and convulsion (9). He was buried at Plano Mutual Cemetery.

Uncle Leffel Sr. is remembered as a family man, caring father and relative. He frequently organized family dinners enjoyed by everybody. Among others, he also helped his youngest nephew to make an "Edison machine" for a school science fair.

Leffel Last Gant

His nephews also remember the little spider ringtail monkey which their uncle had in the 50s. The man seemed to be the only one who could handle the pet best. Uncle Leffel sometimes carried the monkey on his shoulder. One of the nephews recalls that their uncle took the animal to the State Fair where people found the monkey quite curious as the pet could interact with people too. As I was told by uncle Leffel's daughter, Mrs. Rachel B., the monkey was called Seal and the animal was given to Mr. Leffel by his son.

 Leffel's wife Ollie passed on 13 Nov. 1972.

Leffel Last Gant remarried sometime later. His second wife was a cousin Georgia Lou (Gant) Mayes (b. 23 August 1895, Plano, Collin, TX), the daughter of Andrew Morgan Gant and Nannie Ann Gunter. The marriage did not last long as Georgia died on 28 Dec. 1973.

Leffel Last Gant lived 73 years. He passed away about a month before his 74th birthday. Both Leffel and Ollie found their resting place at the Plano Mutual Cemetery.

Article related to Mr. Leffel's name

Leffel - The Name And The Story Beyond It

Resources:
1. John F. Worley Directory Co. Dallas City Directory, 1930, book, 1930; 905 Main St., Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth806919/: accessed April 17, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.

2. John F. Worley Directory Co. Dallas City Directory, 1933-34, book, 1933; 905 Main St., Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth806915/: accessed April 17, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.

3. John F. Worley Directory Co. Dallas City Directory, 1936, book, 1936; 905 Main St., Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth806921/: accessed April 17, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.

4. John F. Worley Directory Co. Dallas City Directory, 1938, book, 1938; 905 Main St., Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth806911/: accessed April 17, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.

5. John F. Worley Directory Co. Dallas City Directory, 1941, book, 1941; 202 Thomas Bldg., 1313 Wood St., Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth806925/: accessed April 17, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library. 

6. John F. Worley Directory Co. Dallas City Directory, 1944-45, book, 1944; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth806908/: accessed April 17, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library. 

7. John F. Worley Directory Co. Dallas City Directory, 1956, book, 1956; 3510 McKinney Ave., Dallas 4, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth806926/: accessed April 17, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.

8. John F. Worley Directory Co. Dallas City Directory, 1957, book, 1957; 3510 McKinney Ave., Dallas 4, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth806909/: accessed April 17, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.
9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K332-KLC : 13 March 2018), Leffel Last Gant, 18 Jun 1932; citing certificate number 24790, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,135,874.

Picture of Uncle Leffel and information: courtesy of Mrs. Rachel G. B.
Pictures of gravestones: courtesy of mystic75074