Byler, Levi (1894-1931)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1931 Sep 23 p. 1

Birth date: 1894 Feb 13

text of obituary:

Michigan Man Killed by Lightning.

Levi Byler, formerly of Belleville, Pa., was instantly killed on the farm of his brother Jess, near Pigeon, Michigan, during an electric storm about 10 o'clock Tuesday morning, Sept. 8.

Jess with his brother was standing under a tree in a field when a bold of lightning struck the tree and instantly killed Levi.

Jess, who just a moment before was standing on the same spot moved forward, when his brother took his place. Jess was knocked to the ground, but a few minutes later regained consciousness and saw his brother still standing up against the tree, but a corpse.

A horse standing nearby was also felled, but later recovered.

Levi had been visiting his brother and sister for five weeks, going there from Illinois, where he spent several years.

He was a son of A. D. Byler, deceased, of Belleville. He was born Feb. 13, 1894.

He is survived by three brothers and four sisters, Jess and Anna (Mrs. Ezra Mayer) of Pigeon, Mich., Mary and Ella of Grantsville, M. Rufus of Alabama, and David and Barbara of Belleville. Also his aunts and uncles and severela [sic] nephews and nieces survive.

Funeral services were held at the Pigeon River Mennonite Church on Friday morning, conducted by the home ministers, also Bro. Ben Swartzentruber of California.