For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 622
PROFESSOR RUTHVEN WILSON LEVERICH....Professor Ruthven Wilson Leverich, who has devoted his life to educational work and is now conducting a normal and training school in Muscatine where young men and women are fitted for teaching, was born in Muscatine county about two miles west of Wilton, on the old Muscatine and Tipton road, May 1, 1838. His birthplace was a log cabin in which his parents, Ira and Jane ( Morgan ) Leverich settled during the pioneer epoch in the history of this locality. His paternal grandfather, James Leverich, was a native of New York, where he followed the occupation of farming and reared a large family. The maternal grandfather, John Morgan, was a native of Virginia. He, too, followed the occupation of farming and with his family removed from Virginia to Ohio and in an early day they became residents of Iowa, where the remainder of their lives were passed.Ira Leverich was born in the Empire state, where his youthful days were spent upon a farm, and the occupation to which he was reared he made his life work. On leaving New York he removed to Ohio, afterward becoming a resident of Indiana and in 1836 arrived in Iowa. At that time the city of Muscatine, which was then called Bloomington, contained only a few log cabins and gave every evidence of being a frontier settlement. He secured a claim in Moscow township, upon which he resided for two years, and then removed to Linn county, where he aided in laying out the town of Marion---the county seat. After a short time however, he sold his interest there and went to Cedar county, where he secured a claim and conducted a farm until 1855. In that year he located in Wilton Junction, where the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad was being built and made his home there until 1867, when he went to Missouri. He died in Oxford in 1892 when in his eighty-sixth year. His wife, who was born in Virginia, passed away in 1885 at the age of seventy-three years. Both were Methodists of the old school, strict in their religious observances, and at all times their lives were most upright and honorable. The father was a soldier of the Black Hawk war. Their family numbered nine children, seven sons and two daughters : Morgan, deceased ; Ruthven W.; Marion, living in St. Louis ; Perry, who has passed away ; Angeline, the wife of B. Reed, of Elko, South Carolina ; Charles, whose home is in Montana ; Bruce, deceased ; Marilda, the wife of John Sutherland, of Missouri ; and William.
Professor Leverich was reared in Muscatine county, where he has made his home throughout his entire life. He began his education in one of the old log schoolhouses such as were common in primitive days. On each side of the room a log had been removed and little panes of window glass were strung along to fill up the hole and furnish light. Later, however, the school system was more organized, directors were elected and a brick schoolhouse was built. After he had mastered the curriculum of the district schools he entered Cornell College and has greatly supplemented his knowledge by broad reading, study, experience and observation. In the 70's he became a teacher in the Wilton schools and without his knowledge or solicitation was nominated for the post of county superintendent of schools, his ability causing him to be named for the office. At the ensuing election he was strongly supported by popular suffrage and reelection continued him in office for ten years. His experience during that period served to bring to him a knowledge of the deficiencies and the needs of school teachers and on his retirement from office he opened his present normal and training schol to fit young men and women for teaching. He has conducted this institution since 1885 and has made it a valuable adjunct to the educational facilities of this part of the state. He keeps in constant touch with the progress that is being made along educational lines and his initiative spirit has brought forth various advanced and progressive ideas, the practical worth of which has stood the test of time.
On the 20th of December, 1859, Professor Leverich was married to Miss Olive Garlock, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Garlock. Of the five children born of this marriage only two are living : Maude, the wife of W. L. Mull, a wholesale grocer of Muscatine ; and Mabel, who is the wife of F. D. Throop, publisher of the Muscatine Journal, and the mother of two children : Marjorie and Mary Katherine. Mrs. Leverich was born in New York, of which state her parents were also natives. Removing westward, they became pioneer residents of Muscatine county.
In his political views Professor Leverich is a republican and, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, is able to support his position by intelligent argument. His work in the educational field has been of distinct value to the county. He has many friends in this part of the state and is always seen in those social circles where the intelligent men of the community are to be found in the discussion of questions of vital importance.
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