Levi F. Hostetler

As printed in 1910

LEVI F. HOSTETLER.

The subject of this review is one who is to be individually considered as one of the representative citizens and successful farmers and stock growers of Wayne county, and, in a more abstract sense, as a member of a family whose history has been honorably linked with this section of the Buckeye state for many decades. The fine farm property of our subject is located in Greene township and with its admirable improvements and general air of thrift well deserves mention as one of the model homesteads of the county.

Levi F. Hostetler was born in Greene township, Wayne county, on November 14, 1872, and is the fourth in the order of birth of the eight children born to David and Barbara (Yoder) Hostetler. David Hostetler was born in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, March 10, 1839, and is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Yoder) Hostetler. Christian Hostetler was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, as was his father, John, before him. David was reared under the parental roof and educated in the common schools. He followed farming operations throughout his life until 1906, when he gave up active farm work and moved to Weilersville, where he now resides.

In 1864 David Hostetler married Barbara Yoder, who was born in

Wayne county January 2, 1841, and to them the following children were born: Malinda, the wife of M. W. Hurst, of Baughman township; Samuel, who died at the age of four years; Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years; Levi F. married Amanda Steele and lives in Greene township, and is the immediate subject of this sketch; John married Anna Longenecker and lives in Greene township (see sketch elsewhere in this work); Amanda died at the age of twenty-two years; David died at the age of ten years; Minnie is unmarried and lives with her parents. Religiously the family are members of the Mennonite church, and of this society David Hostetler is an active member, having been ordained to this sacred office in 1872.

Levi F. Hostetler remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old and in the meantime he secured a good common-school education. After attaining his majority he took up the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked for some time, and he was also in great demand during the autumn as a thresher, having a complete outfit for this purpose. After his marriage, which occurred in 1896, he operated rented land for two years, and then bought a small tract of land, which he cultivated a short time, afterward going into the grain business at Smithville, Ohio. In 1908 he purchased the John Funk farm in Greene township and is now giving his undivided attention to its cultivation. The place comprises one hundred and thirty acres and is considered one of the best pieces of land in the township. Mr. Hostetler has, since buying the place, erected a set of fine new buildings, commodious and well arranged, and now the property will compare favorably with any other in the vicinity. Besides the cultivation of the soil Mr. Hostetler also gives considerable attention to the feeding and selling of livestock, giving special attention to heavy draft horses and sheep, in which line he has been very successful.

In November, 1896, Mr. Hostetler married Amanda Steele, the daughter of Isaac Steele, and to this union have been born four children, namely: An infant that died unnamed; Harry, born February 1, 1898; Edith, born August 12, 1900; Glenn, born January 31, 1904.

In matters political, Mr. Hostetler renders allegiance to the Republican party, and he takes a commendable interest in the public affairs of his community, though he is not in any sense a seeker for public office. In religion the family are members of the Mennonite church. He is justly accorded a place among the prominent and progressive representative citizens of Wayne county, for he belongs to that class of men whose enterprising spirit is used not alone for their own benefit. He is a man of cordial disposition and makes friends of all with whom he comes in contact.

As printed in History of Wayne County Ohio (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.