SIDWELL, Levi - Putnam

Levi SIDWELL is a retired business man of Rockville, Parke County.  He was long engaged in the dry goods business, but has been retired nearly all the time since 1867.  Our subject was born in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio March 25, 1813.  His father, Levi Sidwell, was born January 2, 1774 in Pennsylvania, and there married Miss Margaret PERRY, soon after which event he removed to Mason County, Kentucky, where he entered land of the Government.  His wife was born September 5, 1774, in Maryland.  Our subject's father settled on land which he entered in Kentucky and resided there about two years, after which he removed to Ross County, Ohio, engaging in making brick in Chillicothe, which business he followed during the remainder of his life.  He had 9 children, of whom our subject is the 8th in order of birth and is now the only one living.  The following of his brothers and sisters grew to maturity; Rebecca, wife of Andrew S. ALDEN, a carpenter and farmer of Parke County; Lemuel, who died before completing his medical studies; Nancy, who departed this life at age 20; and Sally Ann, wife of James PERRY, a farmer and merchant of Mason County, Kentucky.  Our subject's father died March 5, 1815, but his wife, Margaret, survived until January 11, 1853, her demise taking place at the home of our subject.  Levi Sidwell, of this sketch, after passing his youth at the place of his birth went to Delphi, Indiana, where he engaged in the mercantile business for about one year.  He next went to May's Lick, Kentucky, where he also engaged in merchandising, but returned to Indiana a year later, locating at Rockville, where he pursued his former avocation and went into partnership with William Rosebrough.  At the end of two years the latter's interest was purchased by James DePew, and together our subject and that gentleman were successful in conducting the business for six years, when the firm was dissolved and each of the parties embarked in a similar undertaking alone.  When 3 years passed by, Mr. Sidwell took into partnership James McEwen and David Kirkpatrick, which connection existed for 4 years. From that time until 1867 Mr. Sidwell ran the business alone and then retired, having secured a competence.  At one time, however, in the early 70s he operated a tile factory for about 4 years.  The marriage of Mr. Sidwell with Miss Sarah K., daughter of Samuel McNutt, a Presbyterian minister, was celebrated June 29, 1842.  By that union were born two children, one of whom  died in infancy, and the other, Samuel, was called from this life February 23, 1863, in Rockville, at the age of 23.  The mother of these children died April 18, 1846.  Her son, Samuel enlisted in Capt. Vance's company, which went out from Rockville during the late war.  On the 8th of May 1855  Miss Margaret A, daughter of Isaac Rice, became the wife of our subject. Mrs. Sidwell was born near Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana March 17 1832, and acquired her education in Waveland Academy, where she afterward taught for six months.  the following children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sidwell: William P, a banker in Frankfort, Indiana, Chauncey, born October 29, 1858, died when six years of age; Nannie, born May 24, 1861, who was married to Charles N. STEVENSON June 16, 1881; and Montague Rice, born June 1, 1873, now identified with the bank of this city.  From 1855 until 1857 Mr. Sidwell represented Parke County in the General Assembly of Indiana as a Whig, and he is now a Republican.  He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, which he joined in 1843, and of which his wife is also a member.  Prior to the war he was in command of a company of Home Guards at Rockville.  - kbz