Middletown transcript., 1911-05-06
LEONARD V. AsPRrL sR.
An Old and Highly Respected
Resident of Odessa Dead

Leonard V. Asprll ST., Q hlghly respect
able and widely known resident of Odessa,
died on Monday evening at six o'clock at
his home in that town. Mr.. Aspril would
have reached the truly patriarchal age Of
81 years had be lived until the 10th of
July. He had been in failing health for
over year previous to his death and suf-
fered greatly for some weeks prior thereto.
The Asprils came from Sweden, and
we're among the oldest settlers in Della
ware. Mr.. Aspri's grandfather, Joseph
Aspril, born in Delaware, February I'd,
1742, was farmer and land owner near
Port Penn, and married Mary Skeer; they
had eleven children, and John, the father
Of Leonard V. was born in 1888. He was
self-educated maA who after farming
awhile came as q young man to Odessa
where he learned blacksmithing, and aid.
ed in that capacity in the building
of the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal.
He spent the last % years of his life
in farming He married twice, Letitia
Fitermary OF Philadelphia by whom be
had one SOD, David; some years after her
death he married Ann, daughter of Leon
ard G. Vandegrift. Of the eight child.
rem born to this union, Leonard ", the
subject of this sketch was the oldest.
Mr.. John Aspril was highly reputed
citizen, and died in 1857. Leonard V.
Aspril Sr., learned his fathers trade, and
upon his retirement took charge of the
business, and in addition to the black
smithing was for over 90 years engaged
10 the manufacture of farm wagons, and
agricultural implements generally, and
till recently employed eight men in the
business. Himself a hale octogenarian
was occupied in that business until bis
S6th year. His son Leonard v. Aspril
Jr.. was taken into partnership with him
in 1875.
Mr.. AspriI in 1s43 married Mary,
daughter of Andrew McMurphey; Mrs.
Aspril died August Oath 1879. They had
five children all of whom are dead except
Leonard V. Jr. with whom Mr.. Aspril
was living at the time of his death,
He was leading official member OF the
st. PauPs M. E. Church in Odessa, and
was for over sixty years class leader of
that Church, which he ,ined in l841,
and devoted aud enthusiastic in bis lab.
ors in behalf Of that communion. He
was also for many years teacher and a
superintendent in the Sunday School.
He was a man of sterling integrity in all
the relations of life, staunch Unionist,
and was not only greatly esteemed but be-
loved in the community in which be
lived bis long and useful life, with the
exception Of two years spent elsewhere
when he was young man.
The funeral was held at his late resid-
ence in Odessa at 1.30 o'clock Thursday
afternoon, the services being conducted
by the Rev. ]. H. Gray, pastor of the st.
PauI's NJ. E. Church, assisted by the
Revs. W. Hutchin and Vaughan s. Col
lins from Middletown.
These gentlemen paid the memory OF
the venerable deceased many apprecia-
tive eulogies, referring to his long and
active services in the church, and to his
high character as a christian gentleman.
The attendance at the funeral was very
large one.
The following gentlemen acted as
bearers: George W. Davis, DR.. Il. F.
smyth, George E. Rhoades, Charles
Kronemyer, David Thornton, Richard E.
Rhoades. Interment was made in the st. |
PauPs churchyard in Odessa.