Levi Dermont Erskine

ERSKINE THOMAS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/26/2010 at 21:34:43

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Levi Dermont Erskine
By Bonnie J Erskine Heetland

Levi Dermont Erskine was born April 14, 1840, in South Richland, Oswego County, New York; died December 15, 1910, in Grant Township, Monona County, Iowa; and is buried in Grant Cemetery, Monona County, Iowa.

He married Leanora Lavonche Thomas in Adams, Jefferson County, New York, on February 14, 1865. Leanora was born February 28, 1842, in Adams, Jefferson County, New York, and passed away on March 8, 1914, in Onawa, Monona County, Iowa. They had one daughter, Clara, born February 15, 1867, in New York and died on the way West. Then, Charles Edward, born Juen 17, 1868; Cyril Benjamin, born September 27, 1869; Arthur Levi, born April 28, 1872; Erwin Benedict, born Decembe 3, 1874; Margaret Ann, born April 6, 1876, died at birth; and John Quincey, born April 24, 1880. Coming West with Levi were his parents (Edward Emmet and Marinda Ann Morse Erskine) form South Richland, Oswego County, New York.

Levi came to Iowa after the Civil War and his discharged form the Union Army and settled on Section 28, Grant Township, Monona County, Iowa, on December 28, 1866.

He was a farmer and was also a Real Estate man dealing both in the building and selling aspect.

He came to Woodbury County, buying a block of land. He built several homes in Highland Park, county on the streetcars to pass thse homes. When the streetcar system changed routes in 1890; he lost his land and returned to Monona County, Iowa.

One of the homes he built still stands at 1915 Everett Street. The home has been changed several times by its owners and at various times was owned by other Erskine families. In 1891, Ben, Arthur, Quincey and Erwin all lived there at one time. The City Directory Census shows it was sold in 1902 by Charles Edward Erskine, the last of the Erskines to own it.

My name is Bonnie J Heetland; I live at 501 East Main Street, Laurens, Iowa. More about the people I have just written aobut are to be found in a book I hope to have published in 1984. The book will be more about the Erskine Family and related families, such as Thomas, James, Ham and many more. All of this material is true to the best of my knowledge, done with a great deal of research, help from relatives and a great deal of help from Cyril Benjamin Erskine, my uncle. Without his help there would have been no beginning to any of this. To him, I shall always be greatful.