Rev. Levi Saylor

SAYLOR, FIRESTEIN, HILL, ALBRIGHT, STEVENS, BRETCHBILL, WATTERS, GISH, COPPOCK, IRVIN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/13/2011 at 11:43:26

REV. LEVI SAYLOR has been a resident of Marshall County, Iowa, since the year 1858, and the lesson derived from his career of energy, perseverance and Christian fortitude, carrying a youth from humble circumstances to a manhood of nobility and comfortable circumstances, needs no word or comment to make it significant and impressive. He is a son of George and Mary (Firestein) Saylor, both natives of Lancaster County, Pa., the former born in 1781, and the latter in 1785. Both were German Baptist Brethren in their religious views, and died in that faith. The father died in Miami County, Ohio, February 22, 1846, when in his sixty-sixth year, and the mother December 8, 1858, when in her seventy-fifth year. All of the eight children born to George and Mary Saylor are deceased except the youngest, our subject. Levi Saylor was born in Cumberland County, Pa., July 21, 1825, and was educated in that state and in Miami County, Ohio. When his parents emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio, in 1836, Levi Saylor was nearly eleven years of age, and he remembers that they moved by team, crossing the Ohio River at Wheeling. In 1858, he emigrated to Iowa and settled on a rented farm in Marion Township, Marshall County, remaining on the same two years. In the year 1860, he bought sixty acres, and about two years later he added eighty to that. His first tract was partly improved, and he went to work to break and fence it. The tract contained eighty acres and was raw land, on which Mr. Saylor built a house, barn, and made other improvements, all costing about $3,000. One well cost nearly $300. Everything on the place has been put there by Mr. Saylor and family, and a great part of the land had to have tree and brush roots grubbed out. About 1879, Mr. Saylor entered the ministry of the German Baptist Brethren Church.

Our subject was first married to Miss Sarah Hill, April 5, 1846. She was born in Miami County, Ohio, April 4, 1828. One son, John H., was born to this union, his birth occurring December 27, 1848. He married Miss Eliza Albright, and now resides in Reno County, Kan. Sarah Saylor died in the Buckeye State January 1, 1849, when nearly twenty-one years of age. Mr. Saylor's second marriage occurred March 11, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth Stevens, who was born in Miami County, Ohio, February 5, 1830. To them have been born seven children, five daughters and two sons. Mary, born December 4, 1852, is at home; Sarah, born July 16, 1854, married Frank Bretchbill December 23, 1875, and is the mother of six children; she lives in Grundy County, Iowa. Susan, born December 28, 1855, married Henry Watters March 22, 1878, and has three children; she resides in O'Brien County, Iowa. Nancy Ellen, born October 17, 1857, married Daniel H. Gish about March 4, 1887, and now resides in Republic County, Kan.; Charles F., born December 14, 1859, and Martha Jane, born October 1, 1861, are at home; and William L., born July 21, 1866, died March 29, 1891.

Mrs. Saylor's parents were Jacob and Mary Stevens. Her only brother, Austin Stevens, for his first wife married Mary Ann Coppock, and for his second wife Delilah Irvin, by whom he had three children, two now living. Mrs. Saylor has one sister living, who is a widow and resides in Illinois. When about nineteen years of age, our subject joined the Christian Church, and remained a member of that society until he was fifty-two years of age. He then united with the German Baptist Brethren Church, and in September, 1879, he became a minister, as before stated. He is now a minister of the church about a mile north of his house. At the time of their marriage, Mrs. Saylor was also a member of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Saylor is a Republican, and he has held a number of local offices. He has served as Supervisor; Justice of the Peace five years, Township Clerk three or four years, and Assessor three years in succession. He has been School Director, Clerk and Treasurer.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894