Levi B. Valentine was born March 25, 1821, in Clear Creek Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, the son of George and Elizabeth Knouff Valentine, both natives of Frederick County, Maryland. On April 11, 1841, in Clear Creek Township, he was married to Lydia Smith, daughter of Martin and Maria Smith. They were the parents of 8 children: William, Rebecca Ann, Isabella Elizabeth, Sarah Jane, Mary E., Catherine, Lydia and Barbara Ellen. The family settled in Shelby County, Illinois, where Levi and Lydia both passed away in December of 1897 (he on the 11th, she on the 13th), in Cowden. They are buried in Robinson Creek Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois.


Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958:

Groom's Name: Levi Valentine
Bride's Name: Lydia Smith
Marriage Date: 11 Apr 1841
Marriage Place: Fairfield County, Ohio
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M02273-7
System Origin: Ohio-EASy
Source Film Number: 295269


Fairfield County Marriages, 1840-1850:

"1, 160, #1910. Levi Valentine & Lydia Smith, April 11, 1841 by Henry King, M.G., Obtained by Jacob Valentine, sworn."


U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles:

Name:Levi B. Valentine
Residence:Shelbyville, Illinois
Enlistment Date:15 May 1864
Rank at enlistment:Private
State Served:Illinois
Survived the War?:Yes
Service Record:Enlisted in Company H, Illinois 7th Cavalry Regiment on 21 May 1864. Mustered out on 20 Sep 1865.
Sources:Illinois Roster of Officers and Enlisted Men


U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865:

Name:Levi B. Valentine
Side:Union
Regiment State:Illinois
Regiment Name:7th Regiment, Illinois Cavalry
Company:H
Rank In:Private
Rank Out:Private
Film Number:M539 roll 92


From the Civil War Pension Index:

Name:Levi B. Valentine
Service:Company H, 7th Illinois Cavalry
Date of File:June 2, 1879
Application #:289,519
Certificate #:205, 576


From the Illinois Death Certificate of Levi B. Valentine:

County: Shelby
Name: Levi B. Valentine
Sex: Male
Color: White
Age: 77 years
Occupation: Farmer
Date of Death: December 11, 1897
Marital Status: Married
Nationality: American
How long resident in State: 77 years
Place of Death: Cowden
Cause of Death: Pneumonia
Duration: 6 days
Place of Burial: Black Log
Date of Burial: December 13, 1897
Undertaker: W. W. Haner, Cowden
Physician: W. G. Turney, M.D., Cowden
Date: January 6, 1898


Obituary for Levi & Lydia Smith Valentine from the Shelbyville Democrat of December 23, 1897 page 3, 2nd column:

"Levi Valentine and Lydia Smith. Levi B. Valentine died December 11,1897, Lydia died December 13, 1897. Well Advanced In Years Levi and Mrs. Valentine Both Pass Away Inside of Two Days at Cowden, Illinois December 14th. Mr. and Mrs. Levi Valentine, an aged & widely known couple, died of lung fever at the home of their son-in-law Daniel Harlow at 1:00 am Dec 11th & 13th. Mr. Valentine age 77 was buried Sunday & Mrs. Valentine, 75, on Monday. Mr. Valentine was a veteran of the late war and a member of the Grand Army Post at Tower Hill. Wm. Valentine, a son, who assisted in the care of his parents was also taken seriously ill, but is better at this time. Levi Valentine died at the home of his son-in-law, D. Harlow, near Cowden, the 11th and was buried Sunday. His widow died on the 13th Monday. Both died of lung fever and were aged 77 and 75 respectively."


From the Shelbyville Newspaper of September 2, 1937:

"Levi Valentine was born March 25, 1821, in Fairfield County, Ohio. He married Lydia Smith, who was born April 25, 1822, in the same county. They came to Illinois April 17, 1857 and located at Rocky Branch. They made the trip in covered wagons and during the 18 days during which they were on the road, they had only two bright days. The remainder of the time, they were harassed by rain, sleet and snow. Levi and his son, William, served in the Civil War. Levi was a blacksmith in the army, and William served in the 7th Cavalry. During the war, the girls of the family took care of the fields. The family lived in a one-room log house and slept in old fashion cord and trundle beds. Wild turkeys and wild deer were found in abundance, and wolves came into the yard and picked up bones and scraps that were thrown away. Clothes were woven of wool and cotton, and canning unheard of. All fruit that was preserved was dried, and the vegetables were buried. Fences were few and stock was marked and turned on the prairie to graze. The Big Four was the only railroad and was powered with engines using wood for fuel. The Sears Mill in Shelbyville was located where the present Bolinger's Store now stands. Levi Valentine and his wife, who were both Pennsylvania Dutch, died in 1897, one day apart. They deeded the property for the site of the present Rocky Branch School."