Levi Cammack Obituary, Salem, Henry County, Iowa


Levi Cammack obituary, Salem newspaper 1887

The death angel has once more invaded the ranks of the Pioneers of Henry
County. On Sunday evening, Levi Cammack, one of the earliest settlers and one
of the best known of men in south eastern Iowa passed suddenly away.  He was
born in Highland County, Ohio, 3rd day of 11th month, 1815.  When a youth he
removed to Indiana, and in 1837 came to the territory of Iowa, where he had
lived for 58 years.  He had very nearly reached the 80th mile stone of a very
busy and energetic life.

On the 17th day of 3rd month, 1833 he was married to Elizabeth Frazier, of
Wayne County, Ind. This union was seperated by the death of his wife, which
occurred on 9th day of 1st month, 1865. On the 9th day of 9th month, 1865 he
was married to Anna Wilcoxson of Lee County, Iowa.  He was the father of
eleven children, nine of whom, with his wife, are living.

Mr. Cammack was widely and favorably known.  Few men have lived in
southeastern Iowa, who have had a larger circle of acquaintances than he.  He
had had business relation with very nearly all the men in a radius of twenty
miles around his home.  One prominent characteristic of his business life was
the maintenance of a high standard of business integrity.
His familiar face will be missed at the meetings of "Old Settlers" at Salem,
which gathering grew more interesting to him as he advanced in years.  Having
filled up the measure of a useful and honest life, he has gone to dwell where
men cease to grow old.                     T.S.P.

>From a sketch of the life of Levi Cammack, published in a history of this
county, issued some years ago, we take much of the following:

After describing his experiences as a pioneeer in Indiana, and his removal to
this state in June 1837, that he built a cabin in Salem on a lot donated by
Aaron Street. "The last seventy-five cents owned by Levi purchased corn meal,
and again he was even with the world.  He was furnished with money by the
neighbors, and started back to Illinois with his oxen for meal.  He made two
trips for meal and one for bacon during the fall.  He then went to Adams
County, Ill., for hogs, in company with Henry Johnson.  They drove them home,
but their trip made in three days was a terrible  one.  Over night the wolves
would fight with them and a continuous squealing was kept up.  His boots were
carried on his arm, and the long frozen prairie grass cut the woolen stockings
from his feet as he trudged over the frozen ground, but he persevered and
brought in the stock.  He paid $12 for a bushel of salt to cure his meat and
that winter salt was $60 per barrel.  He turned his cattle on brush along
Skunk river during the winter and spring, and in the spring of 1838 bought a
claim on a half section where he now resides, upon which he built a cabin.
That fall the land came into marker, and Mr. Cammack and other men in the
neighborhood went to Burlington to attend the land sale.  Scarcely any of them
had a dollar, but they intended getting money of brokers at Burlington, paying
fifty per cent, but by good luck Mr. Cammack's uncle Reuben arrived at the
same time with $100 belonging to Levi, who, by borrowing $100 belonging to
James Richey at fifty per cent, entered one and one-fourth sections.  He became
a very proserous man, and during his business life was one of the largest
stock dealers in southeastern Iowa.  He has owned thirteen 80-acre tracts of
land during his residence here, and has put under fence and cultivation since
coming, 15,000 acres, building four good houses, and at one time owned 640
acres in one body.  His kindness of heart has, however, caused him the loss of
almost his entire fortune. Security debts by the thousands of dollars melted
it away like snow before a summer's sun. For one man he paid $20,000 and for
others larger amounts.

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