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Biography - Levi Onstott

LEVI ONSTOTT, farmer, P. O. Xenia, born in Washington County, Ind., June 4, 1847, and is the son of Maj. John Onstott by his first wife. Our subject was brought to this county in 1828, and has since resided here. When first coming, the Indians were camped on his present farm, and he often played with the Indian boys and they would stay all night with him at his father's but he was afraid to return the visits in the like manners. His was the experience of a frontier boy, going along to Saline, Ill., for salt when there was only a trail to follow, and the wolves would howl around him and when they had to go to Lebanon, Ill., to mill a distant of about sixty-five miles, etc. He attended his first Circuit Court held in the county at Maysville when it took all to form the jury, etc. He was first married in 1838, to Miss Elizabeth Holtsclaw, of Jefferson county, Ill. Soon after this, he settled on his present farm, of which now contains about 200 acres of land. By this marriage he had eleven children, eight of whom are now living, viz., Martha A., Margaret E., Maria D., Rhoda S., Malinda C., Mary A., John J., and Henry J. Mrs. Onstott died December 29, 1873, and he was married November 18, 1875, to Miss Martha King, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of William H. and Susan King. They had moved to this county in 1852, when Mrs. Onstott was about two years old. They are now residents of Oskaloosa Township, Clay County. By this marriage, Mr. Onstott has two children, viz., William H. and Susan. In politics, he is Democratic.

Source: 1884 History of Wayne and Clay Counties, Illinois, Part IV, page 163.


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