Wilcox - Levi - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Levi WILCOX, who owns a large and well-managed farm on Section 8, Ripley Township, is an old citizen of this section who is well known and favorably spoken of throughout Montgomery County.  He was born in Butler County, Ohio in 1823 into the pioneer home of Peter Wilcox. When a lad of 10, his father, who was a native of Maryland, came with his family to this county in 1833, as one of its pioneers.  He bought land from the Government east of the present village of Yountsville, and at the time of his death in 1878, he owned a large and well-improved farm.  He had 3 sons and 2 daughters. Daniel, the eldest, married Mary Ann, the daughter of Conrad Smith; Mary, who was born May 29, 1827, was married first to William causer, who died and she then became the wife of Conrad Smith; Susanna, who was born March 15, 1832 died April 8, 1875 in Illinois; John, a farmer, was born September 29, 1834; and our subject completes the family. Our subject has given his attention to agriculture from his early youth and has made it a profitable pursuit. After his marriage in 1852, he rented land for farming purposes two miles south of Crawfordsville.  A year later he purchased 80 acres of land of Robert Smith, paying $20 an acre for it. He resided upon that place 10 years and then bought his farm in Ripley Township, upon which he has since lived.  It is of goodly dimensions, the soil is rich and well tilled, and much of it is admirably adapted for grazing purposes, and a fine class of stock is raised in its pastures.  The buildings are substantial and well kept, and ample machinery lightens the labor of the farm.  Mr. Wilcox was married in 1852 to Miss Ella Smith, daughter of Robert and Hannah Smith, and granddaughter of Robert Smith, a native of NC and a Revolutionary War Soldier. Mrs. Wilcox had two brothers and two sisters, all of whom were born in Ohio, namely: Hiram the eldest; Elizabeth, deceased; Joseph who married Martha Goss; and Margaret who married Warren Davis and who resides 4 miles south of Crawfordsville.  Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have had 7 children: Alice, born January 15, 1853 and married tin 1878 to James Gilty of Ripley Township; Howard who was born in 1855, married Miss Lula Derwall, and die din 1890 from the effects of a gunshot wound; Hannah, who was born January 11, 1859 and married Joseph Taylor of this township; Mary who was born April 6, 1861 and is the wife of William Clark of Crawfordsville; Oscar who was born May 1, 1863 married Julia Holman and died February 13, 1891; Dora who was born July 5, 1865 and is the wife of Charles Meeker, a commercial traveler and resident of LaFayette; and Laura, who is the wife of Charles Watterbury, a commercial traveler, residing in Crawfordsville.    Mr. Wilcox is a man of good habits and character and he and his estimable wife are worthy of the esteem accorded to them.  He gives cheerfully of his means in support of the church and all good objects that are brought under his notice.  Politically, he is found with the Democrats.  Since the above was written, Mrs. Wilcox has been called hence, her death occurring October 25, 1892. - kbz