Notes |
- Lee enlisted in Co. B, 12 IN Vol Inf. in 1861. After his discharge from the army in 1863, Lee Olvey went west about the time the Union Pacific railroad was being started and he was present at Promontory Summit, UT in 1869, when the Golden Spike was driven linking the first transcontinental railroad. He secured a contract providing corssties for the railroad and contributed materially to its construction. While in the west, he suffered many hardships. At one time he almost froze to death, having pitched a camp on the plains in the dead of winter. The cold was so intense that his feet were frozen. Doctors wanted to amputate his legs but he refused and eventually recovered. He returned to IN and farming, first to Boone Co. and later in Hancock Co.
In the 1870 census Levi was listed in his father's household as Leander Olvey, age 30. There was also a Levi Alvey enum. in Kankakee, Manteno, IL, age 30 born in IN, p. 32
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