•• Levi Daniel Eiland was born in Hancock, Georgia nearly 199 years ago on March 22nd, 1822 to his Father Levi Daniel Eiland Sr. and Mother, Catherine "Katie" Shaw.
•• Lydia Ann Stanley was also born in March of 1822 @ the Palmetto State of South Carolina to her Father, Cullen Edward Stanley and Mother, Nancy Williams.
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Levi Daniel and Lydia "Lydie" Ann's birth year of 1822 included.
• On January 7th, 1822 the first group of freed slaves from the United States arrive to the West coast of Africa, founding the Country of Liberia
• In March of 1822 abolitionist, political activist, founder of the Underground Railroad, and escaped slave, Harriet Tubman is born Araminta Ross @ Dorchester county, Maryland.
• On March 19th, 1822 Boston, Massachusetts is incorporated as a city.
• On August 22nd, 1822 English ship Orion lands at Yerba Buena, now named San Francisco, under the command of William A. Richardson.
• On September 27th, 1822 French scholar Jean-François Champollion announces he has deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics using the Rosetta Stone.
• On November 9th, 1822 the USS Alligator engages three pirate schooners off Cuba, as part of the West Indies anti-piracy operations of the United States.
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Levi Daniel was the eigth of thirteen children born to his Mother and Father. Chronologically his elder siblings were John Daniel, Oliver Abner, Washington,
Isaiah William, Lucinda "Lucy", Rebecca, and Josephus. His younger Brothers and Sisters were John crawford, Nancy Ann, Stephen, Alexander, and Sarah Eiland.
** Eiland Patriarch, Levi Daniel the senior was successful as a farmer, stock-raiser, builder, millwright, and school teacher. While in his late twenties his Father, Absalom Eiland a Veteran of the Revolutionary War gave him several slaves to help with his many endeavors. He was a Justice of the Peace from 1819 until 1850, served as the county's tax collector prior to the Civil War and was an active member of the Methodist Church in Coffee County, Alabama.
At the age of nineteen Levi Daniel marries fellow Yellow Hammer State native, sixteen year old Polly Ann Pippet. Together the couple have four children during the course of their marriage. Chronologically they welcome James Abner, Emily, Neri Daniel, and Mary Elizabeth Eiland. Sadly, Eiland Matriarch Polly Ann would lose her life in and around the year 1852 leaving behind four young children and her grieved Husband to mourn her loss.
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Lydia Ann was the eldest of five children born to her Mother and Father. Chronologically her younger siblings were Garrett, Mary Jane, William Joshua, and Sarah Stanley.
** Stanley Patriarch, Cullen Edward like many men of his time supports his family in the field of farming.
By the mid-1820s the Stanley family would relocate to the state of Alabama.
** It is not entirely clear as to when Lydia Ann married her first Husband, but at some point she wed a Mr. Whatley with whom we believe she had at least three children. This is based on Census records from the year1900. Although records are spotty it appears as though her first Husband loses his life in 1853.
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Later in 1853 Levi Daniel would find love once again when he marries this evening's second honoree, widow Lydia "Lydie" Ann Stanley Whatley. Together the couple have six children of their own during the course of their marriage. Chronologically they welcome Josephus, Stephen, Cullen, Sarah, Mary, and William Eiland.
** Youngest child William would be the only child of Levi Daniel and Lydia Ann to outlive his parents when he passes away at the age of 49 in 1914.
Levi Daniel was a lifelong farmer in both Alabama and later Florida which was the primary occupation in which he supported his family.
By 1856 Levi Daniel and Lydie Ann had amassed 80 acres of farmland in the "Union Community" which bordered Covington and Coffee Counties in Alabama
** In 1860 Lydia Ann would lose her Father, Cullen Edward at the age of 63. Five short years later, her Mother Nancy Williams Stanley joins him in eternal rest when she too passes away at the age of sixty eight.
On the 4th of July in the year 1861 Levi Daniel would join the Confederate State Armies Co. A 18th Alabama Infantry "Bullock Guards" during the American Civil War. Engagements in which they took part included
the Battle of Shiloh, the Battle of Chickamauga, the Battle of Jonesboro, and the Battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee
In 1873 Levi Daniel relocates his family too to Pasco County, in the Sunshine State of Florida where he settled in the newly formed town of Fort Dade. Once there he would construct two Grist Mills in 1874 and 1875 which greatly aided the community
** As recalled in the Dade City Gazetter business directory records in 1886 and 1887 Levi Daniel was listed as a blacksmith which was a secondary occupation for him to farming.
** According to Florida Census records from 1900 Lydia Ann had given birth to nine children but by this time only one ( William ) was still living.
For reasons we know not, Eiland Matriarch Lydie Ann passes away on September 26th, 1903. She was eighty one.
** On December 14th, 1909 Levi Daniel was appointed postmaster of the town of Elfers in Pasco County, Florida.
** In an article from 1911 which we will share below Levi Daniel was still farming and had a successful experiment by growing watermelons at the age of 89 !!
After an incredibly full life filled with triumphant tragedy he would join his Wife in eternal rest on Sunday May 12th, 1912. He was ninety
Levi Daniel and Lydie Ann Eiland... Beloved Husband, Wife, Pioneers, Veteran of the American Civil War.