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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Levi Fay.

For over thirty years Levi Fay, the owner of the Pleasant Valley Farm, has been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Prussia township.  He was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, June 3, 1853, a son of Levi and Sarah Ann (Merrill) Fay, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and of Ohio.  The father, who devoted his life to farming, became a resident of Indiana in an early day in the history of that state and remained there until 1854, when, with his family, he went to Linn county, Iowa, whence he removed successively to Jasper county and to Adair county, where he rented land, which he operated the remainder of his life.  He passed away in July, 1900, but is survived by his widow, who resides at Washta, Cherokee county, this state.

Levi Fay was reared and educated in Adair county and remained with his parents until he became of age.  He then rented land which he operated for four years, after which he purchased eighty acres on section 1, Prussia township, to the cultivation of which he has since devoted his time.  The place, which is known as the Pleasant View Farm, is well improved and the land is in a high state of cultivation.  He also owns stock in the Farmers Lumber Company of Casey.

In February, 1879, occurred the marriage of Mr. Fay and Miss Margaret Shanklin, a daughter of Gordon and Hannah M. (Thurston) Shanklin.  The father, who was born in Kentucky, enlisted from that state in the Confederate army and served for two years during the Civil war.  On returning from the front he went to Mason county, Illinois, and farmed there for several years, after which he came to Adair county, Iowa, and for a long time rented land.  He finally retired and removed to Nebraska, where he resided for a number of years, although the last four years of his live were spent in Colorado.  He passed away July 12, 1913.  His wife, who was born in Indiana, died in February, 1877.  Mr. and Mrs. Fay have become the parents of eighty children:  Clarence, who lives in Arlington, Washington;  Frank, who is farming in Prussia township;  Arthur, who is following agricultural pursuits in Walnut township;  Goldie, who is the wife of Pearl Harris and resides in Prussia township;  Delbert, who is farming in this county;  Sylvia, who resides at home;  Fern, who gave her hand in marriage to James Porter and is living in Greenfield;  and Hattie, who married Eli Lundy and passed away in July, 1904, leaving a daughter, Pearl Leota, who makes her home with our subject.

Mr. Fay casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the democratic party and is now serving as school director.  His ability and integrity have gained him the respect of all who have come in contact with him, and there are many who are his warm personal friends.

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