Conover, Levi

CONOVER, MARSHALL, MATTHEWS, JOHNSON, OSBORNE, HUKILL

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/3/2008 at 11:45:03

CONOVER, Levi

Farmer; Sec. 4; P. O. Lynnville; owns 600 acres, valued at $18,000; born in Morgan Co., Ill., June 8, 1828; in the Spring of 1849, he crossed the plains to California, and remained in the gold regions till the Fall of 1852, and returned to Illinois, and next Spring came to this county and purchased the land on which he now resides, and moved to it the same Fall; his farm is principally devoted to the raising of corn and grass; has a fine bearing orchard, covering 2 ½ acres; also valuable improvements in the way of buildings, his dwelling house being one of the finest in the county. Married Mary E. MATTHEWS March 1, 1855; she is also a native of Morgan Co., Ill.; their children are Thomas J., John R., Laura A., Ida C., Anna L., Luetta and Charles F. Is a Republican, and the family are members of the Protestant Methodist Church. ~ "Lynn Grove Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)
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Levi Conover, the prosperous owner of a handsome estate in Lynn Grove Township, Jasper County, is held in good repute by his many sincere friends throughout the county. He is a native of Cass County Ill., where he was born June 8, 1828, to Peter and Elizabeth (Marshall) Conover.

The father was a native of Kentucky, and was born May 20, 1802. He gave his entire attention to farming, and in 1825 settled in Morgan County, Ill., on Government land. After about thirty years he moved near Decatur, and died there when eighty-three years old. His parents were Levi and Jane Conover, also natives of Kentucky, and of Dutch ancestry. They had born to them five children. Levi was a soldier in the Revolutionary War when sixteen years old, serving his country five years. The mother of our subject died when in her twenty-second year, leaving two children, of whom Levi is the survivor. She was a daughter of James Marshall, of Scotland, and was one of a family of eight children.

Our subject was reared on the home farm, and when but twenty years old started for California with an ox team, and was five months on the way. Remaining in the Golden State about four years engaged in mining and teaming, he returned to his home in Illinois. In 1853, he came to Iowa, bought one hundred and fifty acres of land, and commenced farming. A log cabin was the abode of the family for three years, when he was enabled to erect something better. A frame structure was built, 16x32 feet, and in this they lived until 1872, when the present large and elegant house was built, having every convenience and comfort possible. Its value is estimated at $5,000. He has one of the largest and best improved farms in the vicinity, which formerly comprised over seven hundred broad and productive acres, on which are to be seen good and substantial buildings, well kept fences and all necessary farm machinery. Having divided with his children, he still owns three hundred and sixty acres.

Mr. Conover was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Mathews March 1, 1855. Mrs. Conover was born March 1, 1833, in Cass County, Ill., and died February 15, 1882. She was an active member of the Methodist Protestant Church. She bore her husband eight children, who are all living but one. Thomas J. is married to Louise Johnson, and has three children. John R. married Hannah Osborne, and their only child died at the age of two years. Laura Alice is the wife of Frank Hukill and is the mother of two children. Ida C. married William Johnson, and they have four children. Anna L., Louetta and Frank are at home with their father.

Our subject and his family are all members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and they contribute liberally to its support. Politically, Mr. Conover cast his first vote for James Buchanan, and remained with the Democracy until the war; since then he has been a strong supporter of the Republican platform and principles. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 270.