Mayor Moses Herner Levagood

1845 - 1907  (62 years)

• Name	Moses Herner Levagood
  Prefix	Mayor
  Born	2 Feb 1845	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	story, politics
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-77668
  Died	29 Apr 1907	Elyria, Lorain, Ohio, United States
  Person ID	I77668	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Father	George Levagood,   b. 1796, , Pennsylvania, USA ,   d. 12 Jan 1874, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 78 years)
  Mother	Sophia E. Herner,   b. 18 Jul 1802, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 4 Jun 1887, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 84 years)
  Family ID	F20375	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Moses Herner Levagood

  
  

• Notes

  MOSES HERNER LEVAGOOD.- Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of Elyria than its esteemed mayor, Mr. Levagood. He has been an important factor in business circles, and his popularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags. He is public-spirited and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of Elyria; and his genial manner and sincere interest in his fellow-men have won him hosts of warm friends. Mr. Levagood is of Canadian nativity, but is descended from four different nationalities, - the English, Prussian, French and Holland, - while in his character is an intermixture of some of the strongest elements that mark those different peoples. He has the versatility of the English, the perseverance of the Prussian, the geniality of the French and the determination of the Hollander. His father was George Levagood, whose ancestors located about 1686 in the vicinity of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After arriving at years of maturity he married Miss Sophia E. Herner, a native of the Empire state, where her ancestors, emigrating from Holland, had located about the year 1716. George Levagood removed with his family to Canada, and in Wilmot, Ontario, on the 2d of February, 1845, occurred the birth of our subject. When he had arrived at a sufficient age he entered the public schools, there pursuing his studies until thirteen years of age, when he removed to Michigan and engaged in lumbering for some time. He entered the Detroit Business University, of Detroit, Michigan, and was graduated on the 15th of April, 1869. His work was now to put to the practical test the knowledge he had acquired, for the duties of business life lay before him. Mr. Levagood went to Adrian, Michigan, where he accepted the position of professor of the science of accounts and mathematics in Evans Business College, of that city. For a year and a half he was engaged in teaching, after which he returned to Detroit and became bookkeeper for B. P, Howe, the great pioneer sewing-machine manufacturer. Subsequently he was transferred to Cleveland and given charge of the western correspondence of the company, the territory embracing the entire region from the Alleghanies to the Pacific coast. For a year and a half he performed the important duties of this position. He had studied closely the methods and means followed by the successful business men and formulated a policy which has brought to him prosperity. Honor, justice and diligence are the salient features of this; and steady application has won him a place among the leaders in industrial activity in Ohio. It was in 1872 that Mr. Levagood became identified with the enterprise which now claims the greater part of his attention. He purchased an interest in what was then known as the Cleveland Screw & Tap Company. This investment was destined to largely affect his future successful career. Soon after becoming a stockholder he was elected secretary of the company, and from that time has been largely instrumental in producing the enviable results which have followed his management. At the time he became a partner the plant of the company was small, comprising only four screw machines. More than four hundred are now operated, and the business has grown to magnificent proportions. In 1874 the entire plant was removed to Elyria, and ten years later the name of the company was changed to the Western Automatic Machine Screw Company. Under the present management the business growth has been such as to make the factory the second largest of its kind in America, employment being furnished to one hundred and sixty skilled workmen. Screws, milled pieces, etc., are made in endless variety and size for almost every conceivable use, requiring the most delicate workmanship. The variation in size is from those so small that fifteen thousand are required to weigh a pound to where a single screw weighs several pounds. The power to operate the machinery is furnished by three engines, aggregating three-hundred-and-twenty-five-horse power, and three boilers, aggregating five-hundred-horse power. The equipments of the plant are most complete and perfect, and the superiority of the work turned out enables the company to command an excellent trade and has been the means of bringing to them the splendid success which has crowned their efforts. For a quarter of a century Mr. Levagood has been a stockholder in the enterprise, and, indeed, has been one of the leading spirits, his energy, perseverance and executive ability enthusing the work, as it were, with life, and drawing to it a deserved prosperity. With the exception of two years he has continuously served as secretary and financial manager. He is also vice-president and director in the Elyria Savings & Loan Company. Mr. Levagood is a man of domestic tastes and finds his greatest pleasure in the midst of his family and friends, dispensing the hospitality of his own fire side. He was married on the 4th of December, 1866, in Greenwood, Michigan, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary J. Nichols, a native of Ontario, Canada, and a daughter of Henry B. and Mary (Ayers) Nichols, both of New York. Twenty-five years passed by and Mr. Levagood and his wife celebrated their silver wed ding at their home in Elyria, the occasion being honored by a large and enthusiastic gathering of life-time friends and acquaintances. The hours of celebration were most happily passed and many beautiful presents were given to the worthy couple in token of the love and esteem in which they are universally held. Theirs is one of the most hospitable homes in Elyria, and they have the happy faculty of holding closer and closer to their hearts their many friends as the years pass by. Mr. Levagood is a valued member of various social organizations, belonging to the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Honor, Royal Arcanum and the American Legion of Honor. He has served as dele gate at different times to the state lodges or counsels of all the fraternities. He has served the American Legion of Honor as grand trustee, grand treasurer, and grand commander, and is now past grand commander, while recently he was elected as representative to the supreme council of the American Legion of Honor. He is president of the Elyria Aid Society, of which he was the organizer and chief promoter, the society being formed of the employees of the Western Automatic Machine Screw Company for mutual benefit in case of accident or illness on the part of its members. Mr. Levagood is a man of kindly and generous impulses and his beneficence has benefited many; but in his giving he is entirely void of ostentation and frequently none know of his gifts save the donor and recipient. In the Congregational church he holds membership, and for several years has been trustee of the society in Elyria. In his political views Mr. Levagood is an ardent Republican, advocating the party which has ever been for progress and reform, looking to the betterment of the general condition of the majority of American citizens. He has given of his time, means and influence to further its work and secure the adoption of its principles; and though he has never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking, he has been loyal to his duties of citizenship in the performance of the duties of the local offices to which his fellow-towns men have called him. He was for a short time deputy county clerk at Adrian, Michigan, and since hi residence in Elyria has served for seven years as * member of the city council, acting as its president for two years. He has served on various occasions as a delegate to county, judicial and congressional Republican conventions and was presiding officer at the Republican county convention held March 14, 1896. In the spring of 1895 he was elected mayor of Elyria, and in the spring of 1897 was re-elected by an increased majority, running ahead of the Republican ticket in every ward and receiving a larger majority than any other man on the ticket. His administration of the city government has been most commendable and efficient. A public-spirited man, he has labored earnestly for the welfare of the city, giving his support to all measures calculated to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of Elyria, and many voters of both parties have expressed great satisfaction at his able service in the mayoralty. Mr. Levagood is a man of unimpeachable integrity, respected by his employees, esteemed by his business associates in Elyria, and held in earnest regard by many friends. The lives of all humanity are checkered by happiness and sorrow, and his has been no exception to the rule, but through all he has maintained a sunshiny, genial disposition, and his pleasant face is welcomed by all whom he meets upon the streets of his adopted city. History of the Republican party in Ohio v.2 by Smith, Joseph Patterson, Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co., 1898

  
  

• Sources

  [S134] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - 1851, Div 2 Pg 7.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 2 Feb 1845 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 29 Apr 1907 - Elyria, Lorain, Ohio, United States  = Link to Google Earth