Biography - Levi T. Whiteside
HON. LEVI T. WHITESIDE was born in St. Louis county, Mo., August 4, 1811. He
is the third child of James H. and Sarah Whiteside, who had a family of six
children, five sons and one daughter, of whom three only are now living;
viz.: Davis B., and Levi T., both residing in Greene county; and Catherine
E., present wife of Wm. Campbell, of Schuyler county, Illinois. James H.
Whiteside, father of the above, was a native of Rutherford county, N. C.;
his wife, Sarah Tanzey, was of French descent and a native of South
Carolina. He settled in St. Louis county before it was acquired by purchase
and became a portion of the United States. He was by trade a saddle and
harness maker, but in the latter part of his life his occupation was
farming. He first settled in Illinois in the spring of 1820, about four
miles north-west of the present site of Jerseyville, where he remained about
three years, when he removed to Morgan county (now Scott county) and settled
near the present site of Geneva, where he remained till the spring of 1831,
when he removed to Apple Creek Prairie, and settled about four miles
south-west of the present site of Whitehall. Here he resided until his
death, which occurred May 13, 1863, in the eight-first year of his age. His
aged wife is still living with her daughter Catherine, in Schuyler county,
Illinois. Mr. Whiteside's leading characteristics were patriotism and large
benevolence. He was highly esteemed as a friend, and prized for his public
spirit as a citizen. In the social circle, and as a husband and parent, he
was kind and affectionate. He was a cousin of the distinguished Gen. Samuel
Whiteside, and he too bears a military record, having been actively engaged
in the war of 1812.
Levi T. Whiteside received his early education in the common schools of
Morgan and Green counties. He was married August 13, 1837, to Miss Jane
Smith, daughter of Jacob and Rachel Smith, of Morgan county. They have had
two children, Cordelia, deceased, and Henrietta J., present wife of S. N.
Griswold, residing in Whitehall. Merchandising has been the principle
business of Judge Whiteside's active life, he having been engaged over
twenty years in that business in Greene county. He is now residing on his
farm near Whitehall, having retired from the active labors of life. He has
been called to fill several offices of trust and responsibility, which he
has discharged with fidelity. He was postmaster of Breese post office,
Greene county, for several years. He was called to the bench of the county
court as associate judge, which position he filled with credit for one term.
He has been an acting justice of the peace for a series of years, and at the
present time is the member-elect in his district on the state board of
equalization. By his unswerving integrity, sound judgment, and energy, he
has been successful as a business man, in his deportment, plain and frank,
and gains the esteem of his fellow-citizens by the respect he inspires in
them for the good qualities of his character.
Extracted 11 Jul 2018 by Norma Hass from Atlas Map of Greene County Illinois, 1873, page 43
