Levi Fetters (November 3, 1831 – August 1893) was an American politician from Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing Chester County from 1883 to 1886.

Levi Fetters
Drawing of Fetters in an 1881 publication
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the Chester County district
In office
1883–1886
Preceded byJohn A. Reynolds, Theodore K. Stubbs, John T. Potts, William Wayne
Succeeded byLewis H. Evans, William W. McConnell, John W. Hickman, D. Smith Talbot
Personal details
Born(1831-11-03)November 3, 1831
East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 1893(1893-08-00) (aged 61)
West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeFairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Glenmoore, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Mary King
(m. 1869)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • educator
  • merchant
  • farmer
Signature

Early life

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Levi Fetters was born on November 3, 1831, in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, to Elizabeth (née Acker) and Abraham Fetters. His father was a commissioned officer under John G. Wersler's company. His grandfather George Fetters served in the Revolutionary War. Fetters attended two years of schooling at Miss Elizabeth Jones's school and two winters of schooling at Howard Academy in Rockville, Chester County.[1][2]

From 1854 to the outbreak of the Civil War, Fetters taught school in the winters. In 1859, he traveled to Europe for six months and wrote for the Chester County Times.[2]

Career

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In 1862, Fetters served as first lieutenant of the 21st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. From 1862 to 1863, he was captain of Company C of the 175th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. He served in North Carolina and Virginia.[1][2] In 1863, he was professor of infantry tactics and army regulations for the United States Colored Troops at the Free Military School at 1210 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.[1][2][3] In 1866, he moved to Florida to work in the cotton business.[2]

Fetters worked as a farmer and teacher. He lived in Barneston, West Nantmeal Township, Pennsylvania, and worked as a ticket and freight agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He was an agent for the Adams Express Company. In 1872, he engaged in Barneston in a mercantile business. He was a dry goods and grocery merchant. He was director of the Phoenixville Fire Insurance Company and a school director. In 1872, he became postmaster of West Nantmeal Township.[1][2]

Fetters was a Republican. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing Chester County from 1883 to 1886.[1][4]

Fetters was director of the Phoenixville National Bank. He owned six farms in Upper Uwchlan Township.[5]

Personal life

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In 1869, Fetters married Mary King, daughter of Isaac King, of East Whiteland.[2]

Fetters died by suicide by hanging on August 24 or 25, 1893, at his home in West Chester. He was interred at Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Glenmoore.[1][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Levi Fetters". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Futhey, J. Smith; Cope, Gilbert (1881). History of Chester County, Pennsylvania with Genealogical and Biographical Sketches. Louis H. Everts. p. 546. Retrieved December 23, 2023 – via Archive.org. 
  3. ^ Williams, George W. (1883). History of the Negro Race in America, from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2. G. P. Putnam's Sons. p. 297. Retrieved December 23, 2023 – via Archive.org. 
  4. ^ Thomson, W. W., ed. (1898). Chester County and Its People. The Union History Company. p. 441. Retrieved December 23, 2023 – via Archive.org. 
  5. ^ a b "Suicide of a Well-Known Man". Evening Journal. August 25, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved December 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
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