"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 370.
 
LEVIN NELSON ENGLISH

     To be successful in business, one must have, as a rule, an occupation that
is congenial. The truth of this proposition finds an illustration in the
agricultural undertakings of Levin Nelson English, who owns and occupies a
finely cultivated farm near Sublimity. He is not only one of the most prosperous
farmers in Marion county, but also one of the most ambitious and advanced in his
ideas. He thoroughly enjoys his vocation, takes advantage of all innovations
which, in his opinion, will prove beneficial, and is constantly looking for ways
and means to render more contented and happy those intrusted to his care. His
farm consists of four hundred acres, the greater part of which is under
cultivation, and its improvements include three fine cattle barns, recently
constructed. A general air of neatness and thrift in evidence everywhere
bespeaks the careful and painstaking farmer.
     A native of Macoupin county, ILL, Mr. English was born September 17, 1832,
a son of Levin N. and Mary (Tucker) English, respectively of Kentucky and
Maryland. When his son and namesake was three years of age the father moved to a
farm near Burlington, Iowa. From there he went to Davis county, that state, his
family in the meantime being increased to four sons and three daughters. In 1845
he made arrangements to cross the plains, and laid in a large supply of
provisions, besides loose cattle and the requisite number of oxen. The long
journey was accomplished in six months' time. Upon their arrival of the Cascade
Mountains they crossed the range on pack animals, driving their cattle before
them. Their wagons were left at The Dalles, in order to facilitate the journey
westward from that point.  At that time all the members were in fairly good
health, and felt they had reason to congratulate themselves on their escape from
Indian depredations and other disasters. But the family were saddened at this
point by the death of one of the children, William, and a lonely grave was left
to mark the last resting place of one who had counted much on making his way in
this country of wonderful resources.
     The family spent the first winter in Oregon City. In the spring of 1846 the
father bought a right to six hundred and forty acres of land located seven miles
east of Salem, in Marion county, upon which a small log cabin had already been
erected. Into this the family moved and resided until prosperity permitted the
erection of a more commodious residence. He then returned to Marion county,
located on a farm, and operated it for two years, at the expiration of that time
removing to Salem, where he died in 1880 at the age of eighty-five years.
     Mr. English was a man of strong personality and marked characteristics. He
always exhibited a keen interest in current events, and had strong convictions
as to the righteousness of the policy pursued by those intrusted with the
administration of the affairs of the government. In politics a stanch Democrat,
he was honored by election to the Oregon State Legislature and in turn honored
his county by the faithful performance of the duties intrusted to him. For many
years he also served as a justice of the peace. Fraternally he was identified
with the Masons.
     Of the children born of his first marriage, Melinda married Joseph Foss, of
Howell Prairie; William died while crossing the plains, as noted; Hiram is
deceased; Mary A., deceased, was twice married, her first husband being Jeremiah
Morris, after whose death she became the wife of Coleman Burnett; Rebecca was
the wife of Preston Smith; Delilah is the widow of William Hendricks, and
resides at Chehalis, Wash.; Levin N. is the subject of this sketch; and Robert
is deceased. For a second wife Mr. English chose Mrs. Mary Daley, a native of
Missouri. Of this union the following children were born: Francis, deceased;
Thomas ; Mahalla ; LaFayette; Elizabeth; Nancy, and Lewis.
     When the memorable journey across the plains was undertaken Levin Nelson
English. Jr., was thirteen years of age. At the age of fifteen he enlisted with
the Oregon troops for service in the Cayuse Indian war with his father and
brother Hiram, and during the three months' campaign in which they were actively
engaged they had some very trying and exciting experiences. For twenty-seven
days they were without bread of any kind, and besides being exposed constantly
to the menaces of the Indians, they suffered at times from most inclement
weather. After the massacre at Whitman's Station they fought their way through
their savage enemies, following them through to the Snake river, where a
fiercely contested battle took place. The elder English raised his own company,
drilled it, and throughout the entire campaign served as its captain. After the
thrilling experiences of the three members of this family they were glad to
return to their home.
     Until his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Riggs, which took place in February,
1853, the subject of this memoir remained at home assisting his father in the
operation of the farm. His wife, who is a native of Scotland county, Mo., is a
daughter of Jonathan and  Mary (Burton) Riggs, and crossed the plains from Iowa
in 1852. They settled on a donation claim four miles south of Eugene, and later
removed to Umatilla county, where Mr. Riggs died, at the age of eighty-five
years. His wife passed away in that county at the age of eighty-three.  After
his marriage Mr. English resided for a time on Howell's Prairie. In 1853 he took
up a claim of five hundred acres in the foothills, where he erected a log cabin
and remained for four years. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy
acres on Howell Prairie, which he operated successfully for ten years. This
property he sold at the end of that period and went to California, spending two
years at Los Angeles and San Diego. Upon his return he rented a farm for a year.
In 1870 he purchased his present farm of four hundred acres, which is
unquestionably one of the finest and most productive in the Willamette valley.
     Unto Mr. English and his estimable wife four children have been born.
Robert N. is deceased; William H. now has charge of the home place; Alice is the
wife of Byron Denney, of Marion county, and has one daughter, Florence; John A.
is engaged in farming near Sublimity, and has a family of two children, Clarence
and Mildred. 
     It will be seen from a reference to this brief outline of the career of Mr.
English that he is doubly entitled to a permanent place in the annals of the
representative families of the Willamette valley. He is not only a descendant of
one of the earliest pioneers of the state and a pioneer himself, but during the
long years of his residence in Oregon has been closely associated with the best
interests of the home of his adoption in various ways. He is highly esteemed by
his fellow-citizens as a man of probity, ever willing to assist in every way in
his power in fostering and developing the resources of the state, in securing
the best possible educational facilities for the rising generation, in
inculcating in the minds of the young a healthy moral tone, and in aiding
materially all projects of a worthy character. His spirit is an unselfish one,
broad and liberal. That he has attained more than the ordinary measure of
success in his chosen field of endeavor is a fact that can be attributed solely
to his own energy, perseverance and praiseworthy ambition. The record of his
career, which is here preserved for the inspiration,of future generations, will
do much to promote in the minds and hearts of those to come, a worthy ambition
to emulate the principles which have guided his life and crowned it with the
success which is his just due.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2009 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.