There is almost nothing known, and absolutely nothing concrete about the early life of Levi Schnell (as he was known). As a matter of fact, we're not even 100% certain what his given birth name was. Records seem to point to his full German birth name being Christoph Levin Schnell. We do know that by his death he was legally know as Christopher Levin Schnell^{1, E}, that he had signed his name Levin Schnell as early as 1837² and on his Last Will and Testament he signed his name "Christoph Levin Schnell". His birth name was most likely Christoph (the German version of Christopher) and yet it should be noted that an old family history on his wife's side seems to believe his name was Ludwig.^{3, K}

Regardless, his headstone states that Levi was born on 22 July 1806 in what is now Germany.⁴ The exact location of his birth remains a mystery, as do his parents. Levi's immigration manifest says that he was from the country of Hannover.^{5, A} However, Hannover was a large region and we never get any more identifying information than that.

The first mention of his life I can find has Levi, a Joiner,^B departing from the port of Bremen^C on the 10 Aug 1836 aboard the brig Neptune. He arrived in New York, New York on the 23 Aug 1836 under the name Christoph Levi Schnell.⁵

Levi would make his way from New York to Ohio, where the following year, on the 23 May 1837, Levi married Maria "Mary" Richardson, a fellow German, in Cuyahoga County.⁶

Over the next 7 years they would have 4 children together, starting with son Lewis in 1838, followed by Mary in 1840, Elizabeth in 1842, and ending with son William in 1844.

It's not known where they initially lived after their marriage but it's most likely a place they rented. They may have started out in or around the city of Cleveland, but we do know the Schnell family eventually moved out to Medina County. On the 2nd Sept 1843, Levi purchased 30 acres of land in Liverpool Township, Medina County from Gottlieb & Maria Mack of Cleveland for $300.00. The land was officially known as the southern-middle part of lot 1, section 19. At some point, whether a clerical error on purchase acreage or through other acquisitions, Levi would own 43 acres in total.

The family was still living in Liverpool Township in Medina, Ohio by the time the 1850 census rolled around. This is where we get our first look at the Schnell family. Levi was listed under the name Levi Snell with his wife Mary, two daughters: Mary, 10, and Elizabeth, 8, two sons: Lewis, 12, and William, 6. Levi's occupation still mirrors his immigration manifest and says he's a cabinet maker with real estate valued at $800.⁷

The Agricultural Census that year also provided a snapshot of his property and depicted not only a man in the trade of cabinetry, but a skilled farmer as well. Levi owned 44 acres, 30 of which had been cleared for use. His farm was valued at $900 and his machinery at $80. His farm cared for 2 horses, 3 milk cows, 5 other cattle, 7 sheep and 2 pigs valued at $240. In the previous season's harvest the farm had produced 75 bushels of wheat, 50 bushels of Indian corn, 14 bushels of oats, 38 lbs. of wool, 15 bushels of Irish potatoes, 50 lobs. of butter, and 8 tons of hay. The animals sent to slaughter totaled $10.

The exact date is unknown but, sometime between the 1850 census and 1852, Levi's wife Mary passed away from causes also unknown. Neither a record nor a headstone have been found to document her death.

On the 02 Nov 1852, Levi applied for a license to marry Catherine Rauch in Medina County, Ohio.⁸ The wedding went forward five days later on the 07 Nov 1852 when they were married by John Sutz.⁹

Catherine gave birth to their first child, Samuel Solon Schnell on 22 Apr 1854 in what Samuel's obituary states is Valley City, a small town in Liverpool Township.¹⁰ Following Samuel are his four siblings, sisters Priscilla in 1856 and Phebe in 1859, and brothers Leonard in 1860 and Charles in 1866.

In 1856, wife Catherine's parents headed west to Linn County, Iowa^{11, 12} and eldest son Lewis (from his first marriage) joined them, he would take up residence with step-aunt Mary Anna (Rauch) and her husband Andrew Steinagle.¹³

By 1860, we lose track of the Levi's daughters from his first marriage, however the family is still living in Liverpool Township¹⁴ and joining them is son William, working as a farmhand on the family farm with his step-siblings. (I believe the girls relocated to Iowa with the Rauch family, like brother Lewis, but I have been unable to locate any proof to this.)

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Lewis took up arms in Iowa, enlisting on the 20 Sept 1861 in Iowa's 12th Infantry Co. D.¹⁵ Brother William followed suit in Ohio on the 13 Aug 1862 when he joined the 107th OVI, Co. D.¹⁶ William fared far better than Lewis, who died in July, one month before William registered for war. It's believed Lewis died while being held as a prisoner of war at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. His regiment listed him as missing and taken prisoner at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee after his company surrendered following a lengthy fight.^{17, 18, G}

After the war ended William moved back home and worked as a farmhand around town¹⁹ before moving out to Denver, Colorado.^I

Levi's Will from 1872 allows us to finally locate his daughters from his first marriage. The will states that his daughter Mary's name was now Mary Ellingsworth and was widowed, while daughter Frances Elizabeth was not married. We can track both "Frances E" & "Mary Ellingsworth" to the Denver area in 1880. Mary remarries a Frank Green in Glenwood Springs in 1886 and settles down there.

On 1st Apr 1865, Levi sold his land in Liverpool Township and the Schnell family relocated to Beebetown^F, a small village along the borders of Medina, Lorain, and Cuyahoga Counties at the intersection of Boston and Marks Roads. The Levi owned the property at the northwest corner of this intersection (the northwest corner falls within the jurisdiction of Columbia Township in Lorain County). At this time Levi is now primarily listed as a farmer, owning property worth $6400 and personal property worth $1600.^{20, 21}

Levi died on 27 Feb 1881 in Beebetown. He was buried in the Beebetown Cemetery at 77 years, 7 months, 5 days old. His cause of death was not reported.^{22, 23}

In the early 1900's a legal notice is in the local paper with a third party serving notice to the living Schnell family claiming rights of ownership to Levi's land (among others).¹ I'm not certain how this played out, but I know that part of the Schnell property along Boston Road went to Pheobe & husband Samuel McConaughy and the bulk of the property along Marks Road went to Leonard & remained in the family through the 1940's. By the 1950's a large portion of what the family owned was eventually sold off by Levi's grandsons to a developer with intentions to build on the land, but for whatever reason the land still sits mostly undeveloped to this day.^H