Person:Levi Kille (1)

LEVI KILLE owns and resides upon the farm where his birth occurred, June 1 3, 1836. This place is located in Section 36, Freedom Twp and was the home stead of his parents, John C and Caroline (Smith) Kille. His father was bo rn and reared in New jersey,}-and when a young man became one of the pione ers of northwestern OH. After their marriage they settled in Sandusky CO a nd in the early '30s came to Freedom Twp Wood CO where he purchased thir ty acres of land from Abraham Schell, who had entered the same in 1835, b ut had never improved it. On this farm Mr. Kille spent his entire life, dy ing in 1886, at the age of seventy-six. In the early days he lived in tr ue pioneer style, and was forced to cut his way through the forest and h ad to go to Fremont, sixteen miles, to mill. His wife passed away in 188 4, at the age of seventy-four, and was buried in-Bradner cemetery. In poli tics he was loyal to the interests of Democracy, but never sought offic e, prefering to devote his attention to his business interests, and the en joyment of his home, for he was a man of domestic tastes. In 1837 he enter ed forty acres of land adjoining his first premises, and there develop ed a good farm of seventy acres. Both he and his wife were consistent memb ers of the Disciples Church. Their children are: Charles, of MI; Harrie t, now the widow of G D Hathaway, of Bradner; Mary, who became the wi fe of Franklin Stiles, and died in MI; Levi, of this sketch; George, of Ot tawa CO OH; Peter, of MI; Priscilla, wife of Wm Hubbs; Jane, wife of Orvil le Hine, of Lucas CO OH; David, who died in Montgomery Twp; Huldah, wi fe of Wilson Shroyer, of Bradner OH; John; and Emery Bradford, who resid es in Sandusky.

Amid the wild scenes of frontier life Levi Kille was reared, and his educa tion was received in the primitive schools of the day, with their crude fu rnishings and simple methods of instruction; but experience and observati on have made him a wellinformed man. On May 3, 1857, he married Miss Rach el Vanguilder, who was born in Montgomery Twp May 8, 1838, and was rear ed from childhood by Freeborn Hathaway, of Scott Twp Sandusky CO.

The first land which Mr. Kille owned was a forty-acre tract in Grati ot CO MI., which he purchased for $75.00 when about twenty years of age. T his he traded to his father for twenty acres in Section 36, Freedom Twp a nd thereon he began his domestic life in a log cabin. Subsequently he so ld this and went to Sandusky CO living for three years in Madison Twp wh en he again disposed of his property, and returned to Freedom Twp in 187 0. Here he purchased fifty acres of the old homestead, and has since resid ed thereon. He has a good farm, well improved, and is recognized as o ne of the leading agriculturists of the community. There are two oil wel ls on the farm, which have been leased to the Johnson Oil CO

To Mr. and Mrs. Kille were born the following named children: Huldah C, w ho died October 3, 1871; Frank, of Bradner OH; Lyman C, of Bradner; Dea n, of Ceresco, Neb. ; Delmer, a twin brother of Dean, and a contract or of Freedom Twp (the Rig building being a specimen of his work); Edwin a nd John, twins, the former dying September 18, 1871, the latter on Septemb er 21, 1865; Winter, of Freedom Twp; Freeborn, of Bradner OH; and Ivy Ma y, who died October 25, 1881. The mother of these children died December 2 1, 1887, and was buried in Bradner cemetery. Mr. Kille has since married M rs. Lemon, widow of Leroy Lemon. Her maiden name was Ellen Allen, and s he was born in Ere CO OH, August 13, 1849, a daughter of Wells and Patty ( Paine) Allen. Her parents were natives of Vermont, the father born in 179 8, the mother in 1803. They had ten children, of whom

added by Jon Jay Shultz, December 6, 2003, http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Wood/WoodBio1019.htm