Levi Dean (April 11, 1814 - December 28, 1887): Ninth son of Samuel F. Dean and Martha Kemp. He was born in Addison Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He married Rachel Wright in1833; she was born February 14, 1815, in Addison Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The daughter of James Wright and Elisabeth White of the same County.

The following are the 11 children from Levi's first marriage:
1. Elisha (July 28, 1834 - August 21, 1854) Never married
2. Hezekiah Levi (January 24, 1836 – October 7, 1921) m. Frances Elvira Jacobs
3. Nancy Agnes (August 1838 - October 23, 1925) m. Richard S. Brooke
4. Martha (October 3, 1840 - May 23, 1912) m. William Frey Mitchell
5. Sarah A (1843 – after 1880) Living with her mother in 1880 census.
6. Samuel Andrew (March 29, 1846 - January 5, 1910) m. Isabelle Florence McConaughey
7. Levi (October 14, 1847 - December 24, 1850)
8. Nathaniel A. (January 29, 1850 - March 31, 1928) m. Belinda Heller
9. Nicholas M. (April 5, 1851 - February 2, 1920) m. Kate G. Hamel
10. James Wright (June 2, 1853 - October 21, 1943) m. Elizabeth Hannon
11. Lemuel Howard Dean (October 26, 1855 - September 13, 1918) m. Mary Elisabeth Mathews

Levi and Rachel Dean moved to Little Crossings, Allegany County, Maryland after the birth of their second child Hezekiah Levi Dean. Little Crossings now in Garrett County Maryland was formed from the western triangular section of Allegany County in 1872. The next six children were born there in Little Crossing. The last three were born in Pennsylvania. The family returned to Addison Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania where their son Nicholas M Dean was born in 1851. Levi's oldest son, Elisha, drown in Youghiogheny River below Sumerfield Town while bathing on August 21, 1854.
It appears that Levi's marriage ended in a separation not a divorce. His wife recorded in the 1870 and 1880 Somerset County censuses that she was still married. In 1870 Rachel was living with her older son Hezikiah Levi Dean and in 1880 with her son Samuel. Levi Dean migrated to York County, Nebraska in the spring of 1864 from either Illinois or his home in Pennsylvania. In York, Nebraska. Levi married Sarah Jane Sanders, the daughter of Rufus Sanders and Mary Ann Booth in April of 1870.

The age difference in this couple was nearly 36 years. In this marriage, he became the father of 7 more children, two of which were born out of wedlock:
1. Effie A. (October 14, 1865 – Dec 8, 1865)
2. Effie A. (September 1869 – before 1880)
3. Mary Ann (February 1871 – 1910) m. Charles Andrew Vance
4. Stephen Frank (October 20, 1873 – After 1920) m. Margaret (Maggie) Sarah Vance
5. Charlotte M. (May 6,1876 – January 9, 1960) m. William A. Sisk & Clarence H. Bauer
6. Levi (December 21, 1877 – July 10, 1959) m. Matilda T. Zeerott
7. Daniel (February 24, 1885 – October 1938) m. Nettie Bird Betts

His wife, Sarah Jane Sanders, was 14 years old when she moved to Nebraska with her family from Jackson County, Indiana. Her father Rufus personal worth was $350.00 according to the 1870 census in Swan City, Saline County, Nebraska. Levi Dean, on the other hand, was a wealthy man according to the 1870 York County, Nebraska census: Value of Real Estate: $3000.00, Personal Estate $500.00. Levi Dean had improved and farmed 160 acres located in [Town 9 north Range 2 West, section 12] in York County about 36 miles' northeast from Swan City 5 years earlier. The land he obtained was by the Homestead Act, a law signed by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. The Homestead Acts were several United States federal laws that gave an applicant ownership of land, typically called a "homestead", at little or no cost. It gave new settlers 160 acres (65 hectares) after five years improving the property. Levi Dean was granted his patent for his 160 acres one month after he married Sarah Jane Sanders on May 26, 1871, at the Lincoln Nebraska land office. Her father, Rufus Sanders, moved to 80 acres [Town 10 north Range 1 West, section 36] soon after his daughter's marriage. The land was located on the east ½ of the south-east ¼ of section 36. He patented it in Lincoln land office on November 22, 1877. I'm sure Rufus had some help from his son-in-law with the purchase price. Each Town or Township was 6 square miles with 36 sections: section one starting on top left corner and 36 on the bottom right corner.

The Levi Dean's farm and the Rufus Sanders' farm were 6 miles from one another in south-east York County Nebraska. Nathaniel A. Dean, son of Levi, from his marriage in Pennsylvania appears to be the only child who came to York County, Nebraska and came to be quite prominent in the community. He became recorder of deeds and is the signer of many of the death certificates of families.
The following was taken from the "History of Your County Nebraska" pages 135-137:
Levi Dean.
"Christmas, 1866, was a great event in the pioneer home. No doubt memories of by-gone days, with far away, friends, made the people lonely, and somewhat homesick. But the children must have their pleasures, and the (136) Christmas dinner must be prepared. A fowl for the festive occasion seemed an absolute necessity, but the chickens who had made the journey from Illinois, in coops fastened on the hind part of the wagon, must not be sacrificed, so they were dependent on the wild turkey for the Christmas dinner.
Levi Dean, (Father of Mr. N. A. Dean of York), had come west during the summer and was making his home with Elias Gilmore, he was an expert marksman, having learned to shoot game among the hills of old Somerset County, Pa., and to him the family looked for the Christmas turkey. Early on the morning of December 24, he took his gun, an old-fashioned rifle, and started in pursuit of his game. Soon finding a large flock of turkeys, he shot and killed two birds with one bullet; we mention this fact because we think it has never been excelled, and rarely equaled in the county, even by the modern sportsmen with their improved guns. Thus, the Christmas feast was a success. Other delicacies may have been absent, but the turkeys were the one important factor. The old dugout decorated with wild berries gathered from the timber; with the bright fire in the huge fireplace, took on quite a festive air. The candy brought from Nebraska City, for the children supplemented by taffy made from the sorghum that had been brought from Illinois, made the children happy, and the families of J. H. and EIias Gilmore remember this "First Christmas in Nebraska" as a happy one.
Mr. Dean did not lose his reputation as a hunter after that Christmas feat was accomplished and shortly afterwards, he killed a wild cat, the only one the writer ever saw, and perhaps the only one ever killed in York County. It was a magnificent animal, symmetrical in form, and beautiful in coloring. Christmas time also brings to us a memory of the first Indians we ever saw. Soon after the holidays a band of Indians camped west of the house; the coming of the Red Men had been the event most dreaded by the children. We had heard Indian stories, gazed on Indian pictures until even our dreams were colored by visits from them. Father had gone to Nebraska City for supplies thus adding new terror to the situation. "There comes an Indian, crossing the river on the ice," someone (137) said, mother with a pale serious face went to the door, determined to show hospitality even to an Indian. Even now, in thought, we can see our youngest brother, W. C. Gilmore, and his chubby form disappeared under the bed, while we were trying to decide if it would be better or safer to hold on to our mother's dress skirt or follow our brother, but finally decided that the dress skirt or mother's presence offered the most protection. The Indian proved to be an intelligent squaw who could talk English fairly well, and our fear of the Red Men was overcome to such an extent that we enjoyed their frequent visits thereafter. Although their custom of entering the house unannounced often frightened the women folks. In the absence of J. R. Gilmore at one time during that winter, his wife and two small children and Mary Gilmore, now Mrs. A. G. Corey of Fairfield, Nebr., were alone, suddenly the window was darkened, and a big warrior Chief was calmly looking into the room seeing that he was observed he opened the door, walled in and sat down by the fire. Noticing a butcher knife on the table he asked for it -- of course his request was granted -- then he took out a whetstone and began carefully to sharpen the knife. The women were badly frightened, but knew it was best to remain in the house. After getting the knife in a satisfactory condition he went to the mirror and proceeded to cut the whiskers from his face. This was his way of shaving."
Levi's first wife Rachel died in Petersburgh, Somerset County, Pennsylvania on March 9, 1893. Levi Dean died, at the age of 73, less than two years after the birth of his last son Daniel on December 28, 1887. Levi's second wife, Sarah Jane, out lived him by 38 years and died on March 5, 1925. Levi was buried at Holoch Cemetery, York County, Nebraska, and Sarah Jane was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, York, York County, Nebraska.
Ellsworth Thompson was a hired hand on the farm of Sarah Sanders Dean and Levi Dean. Very shortly after Levi's death on December 28, 1887, Ellsworth and Sarah Jane married. Sarah had six children with her first husband Levi Dean. Ellsworth and Sarah had two children:
1. Harry Harrison Thompson (July 31, 1889 - August 20, 1965) m. Viola Marie Bartlett
2. Emily A. Thompson (April 11, 1892 - February 10, 1947) m. Joseph Frederick Rogers