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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Levi Stockwell

Levi Stockwell, who for so many years was a resident of Greene county but is now deceased, was a native of Hadley, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, born on the 20th of January, 1826. He was indebted to the common-school system of that state for his educational advantages, and having arrived at years of maturity he was married in South Hadley, Massachusetts, on the 15th of April., 1851, to Miss Lydia Judd, whose birth occurred July 24, 1828. Following their marriage they removed to Connecticut, where Mr. Stockwell engaged in farming through the summer months, while in the winter season he worked in a broom factory in Hadley.

In 1857 he went to Cedar county, Iowa, settling on land which he had purchased in the year 1854. There amid pioneer conditions and environments he developed a farm in the midst of a trackless and wind-swept prairie. Breaking the sod, he planted the seed that in due course of time brought forth good crops and year by year he continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits in Cedar county until thirteen years had gone by, when he disposed of his home there and in 1870 came to Greene county. Here he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land in Hardin township, which has since been the family home. It was ‘his task throughout his remaining days to till the soil and cultivate the fields and as the years passed he brought his farm into a state of rich fertility, continuing his work upon the old homestead up to the time of his demise, which occurred July 3, 1898.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stockwell were born three children, Mary A., Harriet B. and William J., all of whom are yet on the old homestead, the son carrying on the farm work. The family were among the early residents of Hardin township, being the first to locate in their school district, where the children attended school alone for the first two years, and they met with the usual experiences and difliculties incident to the settlement of the frontier. They met with reverses as well as successes, on one occasion suffering considerable loss by fire. The family hold membership in the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they take an active interest. Mr. Stockwell served as elder in the Presbyterian church in Jefferson and was ever known as a good man, esteemed by all for his high and honorable purposes and manly conduct. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and for two terms served as member of the board of supervisors. Mrs. Stockwell, her two daughters and son, still reside upon the old homestead, where they have lived since coming to the county, and in the community they have a wide acquaintance and are favorably known.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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