Chastan, Levi

CHASTAN, AYRES, MARTIN, MCGINNIS, WALTING

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/28/2019 at 19:29:40

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp 696-97.:

"LEVI CHASTAN, farmer, section 13, Eden Township, settled upon his present farm in 1855. He purchased this farm, also entered 160 acres on the same section. The land was timbered, and he soon after sold eighty acres. He still owns thirty-five acres of the land he entered having altogether 195 acres. But very little improvement had been made upon the place when Mr. Chastan purchased it. A small log cabin had been built, and about twenty-five acres were partially improved. He built his present residence in 1862. Mr. Chastan was born in Bath County, Kentucky, June 23, 1809. His parents were Martin and Elizabeth (Ayres) Chastan. The father died when Levi was a young boy. The mother lived many years afterward, and died on the old homestead. Mr. Chastan was reared in his native State, and married Louisa Martin, born in Montgomery County, Kentucky. The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Chastan were natives of Virginia. Three or four years after marriage Mr. Chastan removed to Putnam County, Indiana, where they lived until they came to their present home in Decatur County. Mr. Chastan had three brothers and three sisters, all of whom passed the age of sixty-six years; several lived to a more advanced age. Levi is the only surviving member, and the only one that settled in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Chastan have five children -- Lucy Ann, wife of John B. McGinnis, and living in Putnam County, Indiana; Lucious R.; Mary Elizabeth, widow of Joseph W. Walting; Eliza A. and John Martin. Mr. Chastan is of French descent. His grandfather, Rane Chastan, wa a native of France, and his grandmother of English origin. Both are members of the Church of Christ, and Mr. Chastan is a Democrat."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)