Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Whetstone, Levi H.   
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Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003


LEVI H. WHETSTONE, a successful farmer and stock-raiser of 
Colerain township, was born December 4, 1849, in Snake 
Spring, Pa., a son of Aaron and Catherine (Shafer) 
Whetstone.
  The homestead which he now owns and occupies has been in 
the Whetstone family four generations, the original owner 
having been Henry Whetstone, the great- grandfather of Levi 
H.  The entire two hundred and fourteen acres of land now 
included in the farm was an almost pathless wilderness when 
it came into the possession of the pioneer, and required 
heroic labor to make it yield a comfortable living for 
himself and family.  His son Samuel, the next in line of 
descent, succeeded to the ownership of the farm, on which he 
added many improvements, including the clearing of several 
acres.
  Aaron Whetstone, son of Samuel, was born at the homestead. 
 Somewhat over twenty years of his active life he spent in 
the neighboring town of Snake Spring.  With that exception 
he was a resident of Colerain township.  He was quite active 
in public matters as a leading Democrat, and while in Snake 
Spring filled various township offices, including that of 
School Director.  He was a valued member of the Lutheran 
church.  He died on November 18, 1876.  Of his union with 
Catherine Shafer, of Bedford County, four children survive, 
namely: Margaret E., wife of A. J. Diehl, of Colerain, Pa.; 
Levi H., the special subject of this sketch; John S., of 
Snake Spring, Pa.; and Mary A.; wife of George W. Lutz, of 
Colerain, Pa.
  Levi H. Whetstone was reared and educated in Snake Spring 
township, where he lived until 1872.  Trained to habits of 
industry and thrift, he has been a hard worker from the days 
of his youth; and through years of experience has acquired a 
thorough knowledge of agriculture in all of its branches.  
Since taking possession of the ancestral homestead in 1872, 
he has carried on general husbandry, including 
stock-raising, with profitable results, and is considered 
one of the most intelligent and skilful farmers of this 
section of the county.  He has cleared a good deal of land, 
placing many additional acres under cultivation, thereby 
greatly enhancing the value of the estate.  Taking a keen 
interest in public matters, he has often been called upon to 
fill offices of trust in the community, having been township 
Auditor one term and for three years School Director, one 
year of the time being president of the board and one year 
its treasurer.  An active member of the Lutheran church, he 
has served as Deacon six years, and for seven years was 
treasurer of that organization.
  Mr. Whetstone has been twice married.  His first wife, 
Lydia Sollenberger, of Colerain, Pa., died in early 
womanhood, leaving two children, namely: Mary C. and David 
F., both of whom live at home.  For his second wife Mr. 
Whetstone married Mrs. Rebecca Diehl, widow of the late Adam 
K. Diehl, of Colerain township.


Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa