- C. LEVER, a representative citizen and farmer of Plymouth
Township, whose home is on section
- 32, is a native of Norway, and was born in November 1832.
In 1841 he came with his parents to America, the family locating
on a farm on section 30 and 31, in the town of Plymouth.
- The primary education of our subject was received in his
native land, his school life being finished
- after the emigration of the family to this country. After
arriving at man's estate, he was united in marriage with Miss
I. C. LARSON, who was also born in Norway, and came with her
parents to America when six years of age. The young couple began
their domestic life upon a farm, and six children, yet living,
grace their union. Gurine Maria, who is now twenty-seven years
of age, became the wife of Nicholas LARSON, a native of Norway,
though their marriage was celebrated in Rock County. They now
reside in Beloit Township, and have a family of four children;
Lew Antonious, who is twenty-three years of age, and is engaged
in farming on the old homestead, wedded Julia DIXON, who is of
Norwegian descent, and they have one child; Levi Julius is now
engaged in farming in Minnesota, and is twenty-five years of
age; Clara Juliana, Charles Henry and Nellie Alvina, the three
youngest children, are aged respectively twenty, eighteen and
sixteen years. The children have all received excellent educational
advantages, fitting them for useful and responsible positions
in life, and Charles gradated form the commercial college, of
Decorah, Iowa, on the 11th day of March, 1889, and is now assisting
his father at home.
- Mr. LEVER is numbered among the honored pioneers of the county,
and has been participant of
- the trials and inconveniences incident to life on the frontier.
The nearest market place during the early days of his first settlement,
was Milwaukee. At one time, being obliged to go to that city,
he hired two men, paying each fifty cents per day, secured two
teams of two yoke of oxen, and loading seventy-five bushels of
wheat into his wagons, started on the journey. The mud was deep,
and it rained every day, while one night they were out in a storm,
but at length reached Milwaukee, where he disposed of his wheat,
receiving only twenty-five cents per bushel. During those early
days, Mrs. LARSON, the mother-in-law of our subject, once made
a trip to Janesville on foot, carrying a pail of eggs, and returned
the same day, having walked a distance of twenty-nine miles.
She was then fifty-five years of age. At another time, accompanied
by Mrs. LEVER, who was then in her sixteenth year, she walked
to Wiota, forty miles distant in one day. Though the trials of
pioneer life were many, they were not unmixed with pleasure.
Mr. LEVER has always taken great interest in the affairs of the
community, and has borne no inconsiderable part in the advancement
of its interests. He was present at the erection of the first
building ever put up in Orfordville, which was raised on Christmas
Day, 1846. His life work has been that of farming, and he has
resided at this present home for the past thirty years. His first
purchase of land consisted of 165 acres, but at different times
he has added to it, until now 320 broad acres pay tribute to
the care and cultivation which he bestows upon it. In politics,
Mr. LEVER advocates the principles of the Republican party, and
has served as Pathmaster. His family are members of the Lutheran
Church and hold a high position in the social world. Mr. LEVER's
home is situated on a natural building spot, surrounded with
ornamental and shade trees. His wife, who has shared his joys
and sorrows, has been truly a helpmate to him. Their home is
a pleasant one, and one feels at ease while enjoying their hospitality.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 457-458.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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