The Levering Families of Morrow County, Ohio

DANIEL LEVERING, farmer; P. O., Levering; is the representative of one of the oldest and most highly respected families in the township of Perry. A genealogical account of the Levering family, embracing 193 pages, was published in 1858, which gives an account of two brothers, Wigard and Gerhard Levering, who emigrated from Germany about 1685 and settled in Roxborough, Philadelphia Co., Pa. It is thought that their father, Rosier Levering, came from France, as the name has a French sound. This account includes ten generations, and up to 1858 enumerated 2,091 descendants of that name. Daniel Levering, son of Nathan and Mary (Kearney) Levering, was born May 9, 1833, on this farm, where he passed his boyhood and youth; attended school on the hill near by, about three months per year until he reached his majority, his first teacher being Charlotte Gregg. He then worked for his father until

1857, when he took a three months’ tour through the West, visiting various places of interest in Iowa and other States. He united in ' marriage with Sarah K. Iden, March 4,

1858. She was born July 31, 1833; her parents were both natives of Loudoun Co., Virginia. John Iden was born in 1806, and Dorcas Furr was born in 1812. They were married April 22, 1830, and emigrated to Knox Co., in 1835, where they lived three years, settling permanently in Congress Tp. of this county, where they raised a family of nine children: Martha J., Sarah K., George W., Francis M., John A., Susan E., Thomas T., Lovd D. and Melville M. After marriage Mr. Levering settled on a quarter section of land in Congress Tp., where he tilled the soil for eight years; then moved to an eighty-acre lot which he purchased in the same township; remaining here six and a half years, he sold out and purchased 130 acres of the old homestead, to which he came in 1873. He has cleared a portion of the place since then, realizing 100,000 feet of walnut lumber from the timber removed. They have” three children — Martha I. was born May 8, 1859; Clint, Sept. 12, 1863; Addie M., April 9, 1872. Daniel Levering, grandfather of our subject, came on horseback in 1812, and entered a half section of land, near the present site of Waterford, O.; he then went back to Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1813, he and a family of seven children, together with William Rambo, who married his daughter Grace, in Pennsylvania. The names of the family are as follows- — Grace, Henry, Charles Nathan, John, Noah and Joseph; they drove two five-horse teams and four head of cattle, on the old wagon road from Bedfoi’dCo.. Pa., one hundred miles this side of Baltimore; they were twenty-one days performing the journey; he purchased another half section of one of the Mitchells on his arrival, and built a grist and saw mill. The town of Waterford was laid out on a part of his land, and the post office was named “ Levering,” in honor of John Levering, his son, who was the first Postmaster. The family settled in the woods, and lived on corn-bread at first; they sowed some buckwheat, probably the first raised in this vicinity, and it attracted large numbers of wild turkeys, which they killed; it was on his farm that the block house spoken of in the sketch of Stephen Cook, was built, and it was connected with the residence by a protected passage-way. Daniel Levering was born Feb. 3, 1764, in New Jersey, and died Dec. 31, 1820, leaving Nathan, the third son and father of our subject, to settle up his large estate. We will now trace the fortunes of Nathan Levering. He was born Oct. 14, 1795; he was eighteen years old when he came to this State. Possessing a fair education, obtained in the schools of Pennsylvania, he attended school two terms in the old log schoolhouse on his father's farm, then began teaching, which he soon abandoned for the more congenial employment of farming. He received 160 acres of the present site from his father’s estate, to which he added fifty acres more, clearing a

' r large portion. He united in marriage with Mary Kerney, April 17, 1827. She was a daughter of William and Sarah (Mackey) Kornev, and was born Sept. 4, 1800. They lived in a double hewed log house just east of this until 1845, when Mr. Levering burnt two hundred thousand brick and built the present substantial residence of nine large rooms and a hall, using one hundred thousand brick in its construction. The building is therefore thirty-five years old, yet in a state of good preservation. Nathan Levering raised a family of eight children: Sarah A., deceased, was wife of John McAnall; Mary J., now Mrs. Robert Moffet, of Congress Tp.; Esther, died at the age of twenty; Daniel, William W., now in Philadelphia; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Jacob Talmage; Martha, now Mrs. T. McKee; Samuel, died at about twenty-five, leaving two children. Nathan Levering died in December, 1872. He was a man of sterling integrity and irreproachable character; he was justice of the peace in this township for a number of years. He was delegated by this section to influence the legislature in behalf of the organization of the county at two different sessions of that body. He and wife were members of the Harmony Presbyterian Church, and he assisted in building the old lek£ and also the frame building which stands at present.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES B. LEVERING, farmer; P. 0. Chesterville; this well-to-do farmer was born Feb. 26, 1840. His father, Joseph, was born in 1805, in Belmont Co., Pa., and his mother, Elizabeth Blair, was born in the same Co. in 1806. They were married in Frederickstown, Knox Co., the father moving to Waterford in 1813 and the mother to Franklin Tp., now in Morrow Co., in 1811. The former died May 26, 1871, and the latter in August, 1876, the result of their union being seven children: Edmond (deceased), Lurana married E. W. Brown, farmer, Knox Co.; Charlotte (deceased), Charles B., Sherman married Lydia Ogle; Edmond married Satira Lanning; Calvin. The father was elder of the Presbyterian church, to which the mother belonged. Charles B. attended school in an eight-side school house during his younger days. He was married in 1868 to Mary J., daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Evans) Grove; her father was born in Licking Co., Ohio, and her mother in Virginia; they had: Jacob (deceased),

Mary J., Milton, Victorine. Mr. Levering’s wife was born in 1845; he settled at marriage on ninety acres in Franklin Tp.; in 1872 he bought the Corwin farm in said township, and in 1878 sold the same to Lydia Wait, and bought the present farm of T. C. Lord; he has in all 155 acres of well improved land; the home place is finely watered by spring; he makes a specialty of sheep and horses. He has two children: Milton, born 1869; Homer

B., born Dec. 14, 1875. Member of Lodges No. 238 A. F. & A. M., at Chesterville; Mt. Gilead Chapter, No. 59; Clinton Commandery, No. 5, Mt. Vernon. Mr. Levering paid out considerable money for the draft of the township; votes the Democratic ticket; cast his first vote for McClellan for president.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SHANNON LEVERING, farmer; P. O., Levering; son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Blair) Levering, was born near Waterford, O., March 25, 1842. He received a good education in the Waterford schools, and at 21 rented his father’s farm, where he continued to farm some five years. He began farming on the present place in 1868, where he owned a one-half interest. In the fall of 1871* he purchased the remaining one-half interest of his brother Charles. He now owns 107 acres of fertile land, known as the Old Van Buskirk Property. The old brick house, yet in good preservation, was built about 1825, and is a marvel of endurance against the “ tooth of time.” Mr. Levering united in marriage with Lydia Ogle, Nov. 11, 1869. She is a daughter of John Ogle, born in this township Nov. 29, 1850. (See township history for Ogle family.) Mr. Levering and wife are both members of the Disciple Church, and he is a Democrat in politics.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

NELSON LEVERING, farmer; P. O., Andrews; is a descendant of one of the early pioneers; Nelson was born April 21st, 1813, in Bedford Co., Pa., and is the fifth child of William and Ruth (Bryson) Levering, who emigrated to what is now Franklin Tp., Morrow Co., where they remained until their death — his occurring Sept. 4, 1864, in his bath year, and his wife died in 1856. Nelson began business for himself at the age of 21, by renting land of his father (on the farm where he now lives); he formed a union with Hester Mettler, July 21, 1839, who was born in Northumberland Co., Pa., Dec. 3, 1815, daughter of Levi and Elizabeth (Campbell) Mettler, who came to this county in 1827, and had thirteen children, Mrs. Levering being the third; eleven are living. Her father died June 20, 1862; her mother died June 8, 1854; the former was born March 7, 1788; the latter, Jan. 23, 1794, and were married Aug. 15, 1811. After several years of hard labor, he succeeded in saving enough means to enable him to buy the farm of his father, and since his first occupancy has been a constant resident thereon; he has an excellent farm of 151 acres; they have lived to themselves, and no children to disturb their quiet. Few people have lived a more quiet life than Mr. and Mrs. Levering — attending to their own personal affairs, rarely ever leaving the farm unless upon the most urgent business; they were never in Mt. Vernon but once, and that was to get his license, and looking askant towards his wife, remarked, “and that was under protest!”

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MILTON LAVERING, farmer; P. O. Levering; lives on the old homestead purchased by his father in 1810, and he still holds the original land-warrant, signed by James Madison, who was then President. He is the youngest son of William and Ruth (Brison) Lavering, born Feb. 16, 1821, on his present farm. His father in company with the Rev. John Cook and John Ackerman came on horseback to this township from Bedford Co., in 1810; he entered 160 acres of land here, and, soon after, by his brother, 160 acres more in Congress Tp. They all soon returned to Pennsylvania; he made a second visit to this State and remained five months, and made a small clearing, returning to Pennsylvania; he this time loaded the four horse wagon with his family and household goods, reaching his destination in Nov. 1816; he moved into a cabin which his nephews had prepared for the family; there were nine children in the family, seven sons and two daughters— Archibald, Allen, Morgan, Morris, Neison, David, Nancy, Milton and Polly. Archibald and Allen died when young. William Lavering was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and departed this life Sept. 14, 1864. Milton Lavering has been a miller of the soil all his life; he began with $92 at the age of 21, and in 1864 he purchased the home place consisting of 160 acres of land, lying on the north branch of Owl Creek, with about fifty acres of fine bottom land. He married Mary Rinehart, April 24, 1860. She is a daughter of Jacob and Lydia Rinehart. In her father’s family there were nine children — Ellen, Caroline, Charles, Elizabeth, Mary and Jacob — three who died in youth, Lydia, Anna and an infant; they were natives of Pennsylvania, and came here in an early day. Mr. Lavering and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Waterford. He raised the first crop of flax for the seed ever sown in the vicinity. This was in 1845, and sold at eighty-seven and a half cents per bushel. In early days his father made trips to the lake with a barrel of maple sugar on the hind wheels of the wagon. They have a family of two children, Adda M. and Zantha E., the two eldest — Morgan and Walter B. are dead. The old brick residence was built about 1823, and is perhaps the oldest brick house in the township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HON. ALLEN LEVERING, Mt. Gilead, Ohio, the subject of this sketch and whose portrait appears in this work, was born in North Woodbury, Richland Co., Ohio (since 1819 Morrow Co. Nov. 12, 1839. The name of Levering is traced through a long line of ancestors, back to France, which country they left about the time of the edict of Nantes, and went into Holland (they being Huguenots); they came to America with Wm. Penn, and settled at Roxborough and Germantown, near Philadelphia, Pa. His ancestors on his mother’s side came from England, and settled in Sussex Co., N.,T. His great grandfather, Robert Bell, Sr., moved from New Jersey to Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1796, and to Richland Co., Ohio, in the year 1816, where he laid out the town of Belleville, now on the B. and O. R. R., where most of his mother’s family have since lived and died. Robert was uncle of John Bell, of Tennessee, a candidate for President in 1860, on the Constitutional Union Ticket. Morgan Levering, his father, was born in Bedford Co., Pa., in 1808, and came with his father, Wm. Levering, to Knox Co., Ohio, in 1816. In 1835 our subject’s farther started a general merchandise store in company with Mr. John Rule, Sr., under the firm name of Levering & Rule, in North Woodbury, and continued for sixteen years. Our subject was sent to common school in the winter terms and in summer was kept at work in his father’s store and on the farm. At the time of his father’s death in 1860 (occasioned by the effect of a surgical operation in removing a wen from the side of the face), though but little over 20 years of age, he took charge of his father’s store in partnership with Dr. Amos Rule, a son of his father’s partner; the new firm, Levering & Rule, using the old sign of same name, and continued for three years — after which he attended the Union schools at Belleville, Ohio, for two winters, and in the summer of 1865 he finished a course of study in Eastman’s Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; he then engaged as Bookkeeper and Teller in the ist Natl. Bank of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and remained in that capacity nearly one year, when he purchased the dry goods business of R. P. Halliday, in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and conducted the business for ten years. In Oct. 1873, he was elected one of the nine directors of the bank he formerly clerked in, and in January following he was elected Vice President of the same bank, which position he still holds.

In 1875 he was one of the five who obtained a charter to organize the Mt. Gilead Building Association, and was elected Secretary and Treasurer, and still holds the same offices. In 1876, this Association, in connection with the Town Council, built the Van Horn Block, and in it a hall having a seating capacity of nearly 1,000 persons, which was named Levering Hall. In Aug. 1877, on the second ballot, he was chosen by the County Democratic Convention, the nominee for the office of Representative, and, in October, elected by 90 majority, he being the first Democrat elected from his county in twenty-two years. By an examination of his record there, we find he was an active member of two important standing committees — that of Finance and School and School Lands; he was also very successful in the business assigned to his care, having— in a total of nineteen bills and five resolutions— but two bills lost and two withdrawn.

He says the bill that gave him most labor and anxiety, was the one to build the Mt. Gilead Short Line R. R. (which road afterward complimented him by favoring him with throwing the first dirt and driving the last spike on same). On his return tk Mt. Gilead he de-

-V died a re-nomination, and in company with N. Merwine and his brother, Robert B. Levering, bought his former store, and now does business in the old stand, under the firm name of Levering, Merwine & Co. In social matters, we find Mr. Levering has also taken a prominent part; in 1868, as author of a society of young ladies, called Twelve Friends, which is yet in existence, and has its written history; also in 1875, ’6 and ’7, as President of the Plug Fraternity, a society of young men. In Aug. 1878, when Governor Bishop accepted the then Co., I, of 12th Regt., now Co. E of lath Regt., O. N. G., at the suggestion of Asst. Adjutant-General, and later, by the unanimous vote of the Company, it was christened “Levering Guard of Mt. Gilead, Ohio also, in April, 1880, when the C. C. C. & I. R. R. completed the leading of the Mt. Gilead S. L. R. R., the name of Gilead Station, on suggestion of Mr. Pappleton, their attorney, was changed to Levering Station, as a compliment, he having gathered the bill in the Legislature for building the S. L. R. R. In May, Mr. Levering was made an honorary member of the Philomathian Literary Society, of Otterbein University, at Westerville, Ohio. He is also an active member in the Masonic Fraternity, having filled the highest offices in his Lodge, and next highest in Chapter, and Junior Warden of his Commandery. In 1875, he received all the degrees in the Scottish Rite of Masonry to 33rd degree. He is Chairman of his County Central Democratic Committee, and a member of the Town Council of Mt. Gilead.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

BYRAM LEVERING, farmer; P. O., Woodview; son of Morgan and Mary (Bell) Levering; was born June 9, 1842, in North Woodbury. He spent his youth attending the village school, and working on the farm, near by, during the vacations. At 21 he had a good education, and began the struggle of life, for himself. He purchased the quarter section of land here, and began farming, and stock raising quite extensively. At 23 he wood and won the hand of Leah Ruhl daughter of Henry H., and Catherine (Patterson) Ruhl. She was born Dec. 15, 1840, in this township. Their marriage was celebrated April 6, 1865. Five children have been born to them; four are living, and one died in infancy. Nora, Orpheus, Alfred II., and Hylas Allen. After marriage he settled on his present home, where he erected an elegant brick Mansion of fifteen rooms, at a cost of $5000, in 1872. By his energy and management he has added another farm of 160 acres to his estate, and now owns some 320 acres of fine farming lands, with, with handsome and substantial buildings on the same. Mr. Leverina: has given close attention to the improvement of cattle, and has at present a herd of 27 fine grades of the short horn stock. He was formerly interested largely in sheep. Mr. Levering, wife and daughter, are all members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. His father, Morgan Levering, was the second son of William and Ruth (Bryson) Levering, (See sketch of Milton Levering). He passed his boyhood on the old homestead in Franklin Tp. At 21 he became a clerk in the store of John Markey, at Belleville, Richland Co. O., where he remained about four years. He then came to North Woodbury when there was only four houses in the village. A partnership was formed for general merchandise and produce business about 1836, consisting of four partners — Morgan Levering, John Rule, John Markey, and Elkanah Van Buskirk. The two latter soon retired, and Rule and Levering continued in partnership until 1851. They carried away produce and goods with a six-horse team to the lakes, and across the mountains to Baltimore, and other eastern cities. They raised three sons — Allen, Byram and Robert; two died young. The father died Jan. 25, 1860.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

R. B. LEVERING (of the firm of Levering, Merwine & Co., dry-goods) Mt. Gilead; was born in the village of Woodbury, Richland, now Morrow Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, 1816; his early life was spent in attending school and assisting in the store; at the age of 18 he attended the Bellville school for three terms; he also taught a number of terms; at the age of 22 he obtained an interest in the business of Merwine & Rule; the firm name changing to Levering & Rule, and continued for six years, when Mr. Levering sold his interest and managed the farm for the following three years; he then came to Mt. Gilead, and March 15, 1880, became a partner in the firm of Levering, Merwine & Co. April 6, 1871, he married Miss Louisa Dillin, who was born in Knox Co., O.; they have four children: Hibbard, Keturah, Alexander and John. Mr. Levering has taken no part in public affairs, having held no office except that of Justice of the Peace while at Woodbury.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SAMUEL LEVERING, farmer; P. O. Ashley; the grandfather of Samuel Levering was Griffith Lovering, a ship carpenter in Philadelphia; his grandmother was Hannah

Griscom. His son, Thomas Levering, was born in Philadelphia in 1781, and Thomas’ wife, Rachel Ann Schofield, was born in North Corolina, in 1798; their marriage occurred in December, 1814, after which they resided in Washington City, D. C., engaged in the grocery business. In 1832 Thomas came to Ohio, and located on lands purchased from Jacob Yan Deventer (a still earlier pioneer), near the site of West Liberty. The same year Thomas purchased five quarter sections, whose titles bore the signature of General Andrew Jackson. In 1839 he again went east, locating in Cecil Co., Md., until 1847, when l.e again came to Ohio. Thomas Levering had two sons, Griffith and Samuel. Griffith born Aug. 10, 1818; Samuel born Sept. 22, 1828, in the City of Brotherly Love. Samuel, the subject of this sketch, settled on what was known as the Joseph Keane farm, in 1850, and the next year made additional purchases. On the 20th of Nov., 1852, he married Miss Ada R. Hathaway, born Jan. 13, 1830, near Milan, Erie Co., Ohio. Samuel has the following children — Rachel Ella, Thomas Henry, a teacher in the Industrial Boarding School, Wyandotte Mission, Indian Territory; Mary Alice, Clara Maria, Laura Letitia, Susanna Matilda, Jennie Eva, Fanny Esther, Ralph Griffith and George Canby. Rachel Ella is the Principal in Alum Creek Academy. In 1856 Samuel erected the stately family mansion he now occupies, he himself being a carpenter by trade. He is an extensive farmer and stock breeder, especially of fine Durham cattle and fine wooled sheep, the latter of which he handles in large quantities. He has paid unusual attention to family education, several members of his family being graduates. He also, in connection with Dr. Townsend, has erected and put into successful operation Alum Creek Academy, which, however, will be treated of in the history of the township at large. He has bestowed great care and expense in beautifying his grounds and surroundings, rendering Sunny Slope, (the name of his home) one of the most attractive in the country. He is a devoted member of the Society of Friends, a church organization which has existed in his locality from the earliest settlement.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.