Henry Levens

When Henry Levens came to the Horse Prairie Settlement about 1800, he brought a large family of sons and daughters. Though they were good and substantial citizens, they might have been forgotten long ago had they not been in one way a most unusual group. Most of his sons and daughters, as well as the father were accomplished violinists. The Levens place became noted as a hospitable and cheerful one where music and laughter were the rule instead of the exception. In 1800 Levens was operating a gristmill and sawmill. Most of the timbers for early day flat boats built in the Kaskaskia region came from his mill. He left for Missouri in 1818.