CISNE, LEVI M., farmer, P.O. Cisne. Prominently identified among the substantial and respected citizens of Wayne County is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, the necessary brevity of which compels us to note but a few of his many genial and worthy qualities. He came from Monroe County, Ohio (his native county), where he was born December 28, 1830.
He is the eldest child of Emanuel and Sarah (Garrett) Cisne, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a miller by occupation in early life, but gave his attention more to farming pursuits in later years. During his life, he took active interest in political affairs, and enterprises calculated for the public good, and was for many years a General in the old State militia. and was thereafter popularly known as Gen. Cisne. He served also in an Ohio regiment during the late war. His venerable partner in life survives him, and is still living in Ohio, at the good old age of seventy four. Their wedded life was blessed with nine children. all of whom were raised to manhood and womanhood, and six are now living—
Levi M. Cisne, the subject of these lines, obtained what little education was afforded by the old-fashioned subscription schools of his native State, and he remained there, engaged principally in farming, and occasionally in steam-boating, until removing to this county in December, 1854.
In 1860, the people elected him, as a Republican, member of the County Board from Bedford Township, and he served as such with great ability through-out seven consecutive years. Having the welfare of the people at heart, all enterprises which promised beneficial returns, and those calculated for the lasting good of the masses at large, found in him an able and stubborn advocate, and at the time when the proposition requesting the assistance of the citizens of Wayne County in the building of the proposed southeast division of the O. & M. R. R. was under consideration, he wielded a powerful influence in its favor, and the ultimate building of the road was largely due to his commendable efforts in its behalf, and the village of Cisne now bears his name, in recognition of the valuable services he rendered.
During the war, Mr. Cisne took a census of the township, preparatory to a draft, ascertaining thereby the names of those eligible for war service. He also canvassed part of the county. soliciting names to a petition requesting the Governor of the State to exert his influence in favor of some plan to secure the soldiers' vote at Lincoln's second election. Mr. Cisne has also given a good deal of attention to church debts, and has within his life been many times instrumental in raising them to the extent of several thousands of dollars.
He has for many years been a member of the A., F. & A. M., and, with his wife, of the Christian Church.
He was married, January 18, 1855, to Jane Ray, born November 8, 1833, a daughter of Maj. B. and Mary (Martin) Ray. The union has been blessed with nine children, of whom there are eight living, as follows:
Mr. Cisne has a farm of 320 acres, which is devoted to farming in its various branches, but a specialty is made of red top grass, the seed of which Mr. Cisne has annually sold in such large quantities as to give him the name of "Grass Seed Cisne." The presence of such men in any community tends to its higher advancement, and to their enterprising efforts is largely if not altogether due the material growth and prosperity of our Western country.
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