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22. Levina Mettler (Alvina Mettler) (Levina Medler)(Levinia Mettler)(Lavina Medlar)(Albinia Mettler): (Married John Thatcher (#21) in 1844). (Source of purple is The Association of the Descendents of Henry Mershon).(Source of tourquoise: Columbus, Ohio 1899 Death Records). [Note: This date and spelling of her name in brown above is verified by Hocking County Records. Click here to see record.]

Born: 18 (11)(11) December 1824 of Francis Mettler (#43) & Hannah Mashon (Meshon) (Mershon) (#44) in New Jersey. [Note: December 18, 1824 is inscribed on her tombstone. A photograh of her tombstone is at the bottom of this page.]

Died: 17 May 1899. She is buried with John Thatcher (#21) at Morris United Methodist Church Cemetery, Pickaway County. (GPS: 39° 33.858 ' N; 82° 53.501' W). Her tombstone states that she was 74 years 4 months and 29 days. Her listing in Columbus, Ohio 1899 Death Records states 74 years 5 months and 1 day.

[Her siblings included 14 in number according to A Standard History of Ross County Ohio Vol. II, 1987, p. 854-855, Ohio Historical Society. Thirteen are listed below:

a) Aaron Mettler: Born:11 December 1824 in New Jersey; Died:1825 in New Jersey. [Note: This was likely Levina's twin].

b) Harriett Mettler: Born: 5 October 1826 in New Jersey; Died:1904.

c) Francis Mettler: Born:1827; Died:?.

d) Eliza Mettler: Born:18 February 1828; Died:1848

e) Peter Mettler: Born:about 1830, 21 November 1829 in New Jersey; Died:1905 [Source: A Standard History of Ross County Ohio Vol. II, 1987, p. 854] [Source: 1850 Census of Hocking County, Ohio.];

f) Sarah Mettler: (Married: James R. Bushee (a blacksmith) on 9 November 1851) Born: 4 October 1831 in New Jersey, who came to Hocking County at about 9 years of age. [The source of this information is History of Hocking County, Chicago Inter-State Publishing Co. 1883, p. 1113.] [Source: 1850 Census confirms Sarah was 19 and would have been born in 1831. ] Died: 1904

g) Mary Mettler: Born: about 1833, 16 January 1833 in New Jersey; Died:? [Source: 1850 Census of Hocking County, Ohio.];

h) Bartlett Mettler: Born: about 1835, 18 December 1836 in New Jersey; Died: 19 November 1871 [Source: 1850 Census of Hocking County, Ohio.];

i) Emilene Mettler: Born: 10 February 1838 in New Jersey; Died: 1850

j) Andrew B. Mettler: (Married: Mary Jane Liggett on 12 December 1863; Mary was born: 25 May 1845 and died 13 October 1938) Born: 7 May 1840 in Laurelville Township, Hocking County, Ohio. [Source: 1850 Census confirms Andrew was 10 and would have been born in 1840. ]; Died: 5 October 1921 in Laurelville, Hocking, Ohio and is buried at Belleview Cemetery, (Herbie, Claud, Edith, and Ella M., children of Andrew and Mary are also buried at Belleview Cemetery); (Source of pink: Donna Patterson, Great Great Great Grandaughter of Francis Mettler and Hannah Mashon and Great Great Granddaughter of Andrew Mettler and Mary Liggett.) [For photographs of Andrew and Mary and their Bible records, click here.]

k) Samuel Mettler: Born: about 1843, 16 May 1844 in Hocking County, Ohio Died: 1916 [Source: 1850 Census of Hocking County, Ohio.];

l) Amanda Mettler: Born: about 1846, 1846 in Hocking County, Ohio, Died: ?

m) James Mettler: Born: 1853, Died: ?] [Source: 1850 Census of Hocking County, Ohio.]] [Source: Ancestry.com (Rick Ratliff family tree)]

Miscellaneous:

Levina was christened by Reverend Hunt of Washington, Warren County, New Jersey. She moved to Ohio with her family sometime prior to 19 May, 1839. Her father is listed as owning 84.2 acres of land in Laurel Township in Hocking County on a section map on that date. [Note: She would have been ~15 1/2 years old at the time.] Sarah, her sister moved to Ohio at 9 years of age. [The source of this information is History of Hocking County, Chicago Inter-State Publishing Co. 1883, p. 1113.] [ Note: In the 1850 Census, Sarah was 19 and born in New Jersey. Andrew, Levina's brother, was 10 and born in Ohio. This information also confirms that Levina's family moved to Ohio ~10 years earlier than the 1850 census.]

According to Mike Thatcher, a great-great grandson of John, and a great grandson of Alonso (John M. Thatcher (#11)'s brother) in his letters to Russell Leach (#3) on July 29, 1985 and January 9, 1986, John followed his sweetheart Alvina Mettler (Levina Medler) from New Jersey to Ohio when her father moved there. John worked for his father-in-law, Francis Mettler Jr., as a farm hand. Also according to Mike Thatcher, John and his wife had 14-15 children, he lived in a large log cabin at a town called Thatcher’s Post Office. They operated a blacksmith shop, saloon, and a grocery and post office. The town is located four miles east of Circleville on the crossroads of Route 56 and the Circleville-Tarleton Road.

Levina married John Thatcher when she was 20 years old.

According to Russell Leach (#3)'s research, John and Levina's 14 children included: Willilam P. (Wilbur), Mary Ellen, Francis Orlando (Doc), Hannah Loretta (Lo), Elijah A. (Lij), Harriett Lozetta (Hat), John M.(#11), Alonza Carlton, Margaret Samantha (Mag), Albert Maywood, Rosemma Almeda (Rose), Arey Alice, Amanda (Mandy), and Samuel. [Note: Samuel was the last born according to Leach's research. Born in 1869, he died before the 1870 census. Levina would have been ~46 and John ~50 when Samuel was born. Another source:(Ancestry.com (Rick Ratliff family tree) says there was a 15th child, Herbert. Herbert died the day he was born 29 August 1885. John would have been ~ 66 years old and Levina would have been ~ 60 when she gave birth].

The 1850 Census for Laurel Township, Hocking County, Ohio shows that Alvina's husband, John (age 31), is a shoemaker, and the couple lives next door to her father, Francis Mettler (#43). Alvina is 24, son William is 4, daughter Mary is 3, son Francis is 2, daughter Hannah is 5/12. A person named _______ Miller is 12. [Note: It is unknown who _____ Miller was.]

The 1860 census for Benton Township, Hocking County, Ohio (Post Office: South Bloomingville) shows Alvina's father (Francis Medler- age 63)) is the head of his household. Living with him are Levina's mother (Hannah Medler-age 56) and three of Levina's siblings. On the same census page, with just one family listed between them, is Levina's family at the time: Levina, John, and their 10 children. John is 40; Alvina is 35. Their oldest child, William is 14 years old and their youngest (Albert) is just 2 months old.

The 1870 census for Scioto Township, Ross County, Ohio lists John (age 50) as a farmer. Living with him is his wife Alvina (#22) (age 45). Their daughters Harriett (age 17) and Margaret Thatcher (age 12) are helping their mother. Sons Elijah (age 19), John (#11) (age 16), Olonzo (age 14), and Albert (age 9) are working on the farm. The younger children Rosemey (age 8), Amanda (age 5), and Samuel (age 6 months) are at home.

The 1880 census for Washington Township, Pickaway County, Ohio lists John (age 61) as a farmer. Living with him is Alvina (age 56), a housekeeper. Sons Elijah (age 28), Alonzo (age 24), and Albert (age 20) are living with them and are helping farm. Daughter Rosa (age 18) is helping with housekeeping, and daughter Amanda (age 14) is at school.

To see maps indicating where John Levina lived from when they were young until 1880, click here.

On 6 March 1886, Alvina's husband died. Thirteen years later (in 1899), Alvina was listed in the Columbus, Ohio City Directory as: "Thatcher Alvina (wid John), b 777 City Park av." On 11 May 1899, Alvina died.

Below: John’s and Levina’s tombstone (full view and close-up) at Morris United Methodist Church Cemetery. The stone shows considerable weathering and is difficult to read; but, after the stone was cleaned and blue chalk was applied on 25 September 2005, most of it could be read, as is shown in the transcription.

JOHN THATCHER BORN FEB. 9, 1819 DIED MAR. 6, 1886 AGED 67 yrs, 27ds ALVINA THATCHER BORN DEC. 18, 1824 DIED MAY 17, 1899 74 yrs. 4 ms 29 ds

 

 

As can be seen in the first photograph above, the tombstone is shaped like a tree with the top cut off. This type of monument is called a “treestone” and it represents a chopped off family tree or perhaps that life has been cut off. (This type of tombstone was popular during the Victorian Age and could be purchased through a Sear's catalogue). In this monument, the severed tree is resting on a base that looks like stacked rocks. There are fern leaves carved into the base of the tree. Fern at the stone’s base illustrates humility and sincerity.

 

Lifetime Events Summary for Alvina Mettler:

Event	Date	Alvina's age
Birth	18 December 1824	0
Migrated from NJ to OH	~ 1839	15 1/2
Marriage to John Thatcher	5 February 1844	20
Children's births	1845 - 1885	21 - 60
John M. Thatcher (#11)s birth	1854	30
Civil War	1861-1865	37 - 41
Death of her Father	1875	51
Death of her Husband	6 March 1886	61
Death of her Mother	21 December 1895	71
Death	17 May 1899	74

 

The webmaster's DNA has matched no less than 8 other members in a Levina (Alvina) Mettler (Medler) DNA Circle in ancestry.com.

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Contact person for this website is Susan Snyder: susanleachsnyder@gmail.com