AN OLD SETTLER LAID AWAY

Anna Maria Levan was the eldest of a large family of children born to Mathias and Anna M. Levan. She was born on the 11th day of October, 1840 and passed away in Manning, Iowa, October, 3rd, 1919.

From her birthplace in Trayes, in of the District of Trier, Russia, she came with her parents at the age of six years to America, settling in Johnstown, Penn., where they lived for eleven years, removing to a farm near Dixon, Ill., where she lived until 1880, coming then to this vicinity where she continued to live during the remainder of her life.
Near Dixon she spent the years of her young womanhood, practicing inherited habits of thrift and industry and frugality which gave her a competence in later years.

During the Civil War her efforts were directed along the lines of such auxiliary war work as was done by our Northern women at that time. Her education was not in books for schools were few in her childhood days and not readily accessible, but with all she was well read and well grounded in the domestic arts of weaving, spinning, knitting and household duties and became self taught and proficient in the practical talents of education.

Miss Levan's active participation in the church life of her home community began during her early young womanhood and continued uninterruptedly until her death. Her active membership in the Methodist Church in Dixon, Ill., and in Manning, Iowa, covered a part of more than sixty-one, years. She was an active worker in the church and Sunday School and a faithful attendant at divine services, devoting much time as teacher and worker to the taunt of the Master. In her younger days, she desired to become a foreign missionary but failing in this she educated a Chinese boy who became an active, worker and missionary among his native people.

For nearly forty years Miss Levan owned the farm adjoining Manning on the north, disposing of same in the spring of 1919. From her residence on this farm she saw Manning grow from nothing to a little city of nearly two thousand souls and property increase in value fifty fold.

Ann Levan, as she was commonly called, was a woman of deep character and, of many, virtues. She was rugged and strong like the oak, but sound and true and faithful in all things even unto death. She was a kind neighbor, a good citizen and a believer in the "Life Beyond."

Her passing was but an incident or her advanced years, nearly four scores the gathering of the ripened grain, the plucking of the sheaf made ready for the reaper by a lifetime of diligence and cultivation.

The funeral services were, conducted Monday afternoon at the Methodist church by the Rev. W. M. Meredith and her mortal remains laid to rest in the Manning Cemetery.
Truly may it he said that the Avalanche of Time has leveled one more of the land marks of our community.


Anna Levan is buried in the Manning City Cemetery.
Section C Row #21 north - south.