My Genealogy Hound

AARON T. LEVERING, farmer; P. O. Piqua; was born in Pennsylvania Nov. 23, 1829; is son of Fleeson and Elizabeth (Smith) Levering who were natives of Pennsylvania; the grandfather, Thomas, was born in the same State; the parents, Fleeson and Elizabeth, came to Ohio, June, 1835, and located upon the farm where Mr. Levering now lives; they opened out and cleared up most of the farm, there being but little done before their arrival, and lived and died upon this farm. They were parents of nine children, viz., William S., Thomas C., Amanda, dying in infancy, Aaron T., one without name dying in infancy, Dyer N., living in Darke Co., Benjamin Franklin, Robert C. and Howard. Mr. Levering, our subject, has always remained upon the home place; he was united in marriage Aug. 10, 1853, with Caroline E., daughter of William and Mary (Wallace) Hunter, who were both born in Pennsylvania; her parents, William and Mary, came to Ohio in 1811, and located in Washington Township, Miami Co.; here he bought 160 acres of land all in the woods, where he had to commence in pioneer style by cutting out the timber and constructing a log cabin; in the purchase of the land, he had quite a struggle in obtaining it; he was short of means to make a complete payment, and was working to make the balance of money sufficient to pay for it, when a man appeared upon the ground wanting the same piece of land; he had money ready to pay for it and started for the land office on horseback to make the purchase; Mr. Hunter saw that if he procured the land he must act immediately, so he started out and borrowed enough money to complete the purchase, at once proceeded to the land office (which was then at Chillicothe) on foot, traveled night and day, made the distance and purchased before the man on horseback arrived. Thus, through an iron will and constitution he accomplished his object; he continued to live on the same farm through his life, opening out the forests and making improvements, built a good brick house, fine barn and other buildings for comfort and convenience, finally buying and adding to his first purchase, so that he became owner of 320 acres of as good land as is in this portion of the county, all of which he accomplished by pure industry, diligence and economy; in April, 1850, he desired to visit California and see something of the world, especially of the mining regions; he arranged the care of his family and farm, and with James, a younger brother, on above date started for California by the overland route with ox teams; he remained there about two years working in the mines most of the time, after which he returned to his family and farm, where he remained till his death, Dec. 14, 1879, being 74 years of age. Mr. Levering and wife, by their union, have had six children, viz., William F., married to Mary Multz, and living on the old Hunter farm; Edward C., Mary Ellen, now Mrs. Marion McMaken; Julia C. Joseph W. and Ward S.