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Charles D. Leffler
Charles D. Leffler
10th Mayor of Miami
	In office; July, 1921 – June, 1923
Preceded by	W.P. Smith
Succeeded by	P.A. Henderson
Personal details
Born	August 12, 1868; Kentucky, US
Died	April 27, 1939 (aged 70); Miami, Florida, US
Political party	Democratic
Children	Cornelia Leffler, Charles D. Leffler Jr.
Profession	Banker
Military service
Branch/service	State Militia
Rank	Captain
Unit	Gate City Rifles, Florida State Troops

Charles Doyle Leffler 'Uncle Charlie' (August 12, 1868 - April 27, 1939) was a business leader and politician. He was the city of Miami's 10th Mayor.

Early life

Leffler was born in Smithland, Kentucky, and was the son of a Confederate Army non-commissioned officer. The Leffler family came to Florida in 1877 and Leffler spent his childhood in the city of Sanford.^[2] He served in the Gate City Rifles from the Orange County battalion of the Florida National Guard around the time of the Spanish-American War but the war ended before he was scheduled to be sent to Cuba.^[3] He attended the University of the South and later worked in the South Florida Railroad Company.^[4] Leffler enlisted for WWI in May 2017 but was soon commissioned as a LT.

Leffler held interests in a paving company, the Gulf Refining Company and the Miami Bank & Trust Company.^{[citation needed]}

Public service

In 1904 Leffler was elected to the Miami board of public works, serving for two years. He later became treasurer of the board of bond trustees of Dade County. He was also chairman of the Democratic Committee for Dade County.^[5] He was city commissioner, and President of the Miami Chamber of Commerce.^[6]

The City of Miami charter was amended in January 1921 to change the executive position to a commission-city manager system. Leffler was chosen by his fellow city council members to be the first mayor under the new system in the City of Miami election of 1921.

A petition and lawsuit were filed with the local court to keep the serving city commissioners including Leffler, J.E. Lummus, E.C. Romfh and J.I. Wilson, from being on the ballot in 1923. All the men were local bankers. They advertised and campaigned together. The courts eventually sided with the incumbents, allowing them to continue their hold on Miami government into the late 1930's.^[7]

Philanthropic and civic activities

Leffler was active in the Rotary Club, the Rod and Reel Club, the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club the Propeller Club and the Everglades National Park Association.

Leffler was considered a Miami Pioneer by his contemporaries. They honored him and his many contributions to the city posthumously.^[8]

References

Notes

^ "Gate City Rifles Muster Roll, Seminole County, 1893". Florida Memory. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
^ Blackman, E.V. (1921). "Miami and Dade County Florida; Its settlement progress and achievement". Retrieved 16 Feb 2023.
^ Florida, Office of Secretary of State. "Muster Roles". Florida Memory. Florida. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
^ Chapin, George M (1914). Florida, 1513-1913, past and future.
^ Moore, Daniel Decatur (1922). Men of the South: A Work for the Newspaper Reference Library. Southern Biographical Association. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
^ "May we present: Charles D Leffler". Miami Herald. 21 May 1936. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
^ "Miami Mayoralty". Miami Herald. 16 Nov 1947. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
^ Hollums, Ellis (1 May 1939). "Behind the front page". Miami Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

Sources

Moore, Daniel Decatur (1922). Men of the South: A Work for the Newspaper Reference Library. Southern Biographical Association. Retrieved 6 September 2023.

Bibliography

The Miami Herald; Charles D Leffler Mayor of the City of Miami; June 20, 1922; Page 1A
The Miami Herald; Leffler Rites are Conducted; April 30, 1939; Page 10A
The Miami Herald; Mayors of Miami have been leaders in business; July 7, 1924 Page 16D
Blackman, E.V. (1921). Miami and Dade County, Florida: Its Settlement, Progress and Achievement. Washington D.C.: Victor Rainbolt.