MARX LEVY
Marx Levy, b 1846 in
Poland,
d 1924 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in the
Jewish Cemetery on South Second Street in Waco, McLennan County, Texas-was a son
of Nathan and Chirly Levy, natives of Poland. Nathan Levy was born in 1818, d
1891, and was a successful grain dealer in Poland; while his wife was still
living in Poland in 1892. Nathan and Chirly Levy had three children: Marx Levy;
Rebecca Levy, who remained in Poland and resided with her mother; and Moses
Levy, who was brought about 1870 to Marlin, Texas, by his older brother, Marx.
Marx Levy immigrated to the United States in 1863, landing at New
Orleans, Louisiana, moving thence to Arkansas, and then to Texas, where he first
lived in Calvert, relocated in Bremond, and then subsequently settled
permanently in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, where he began an extensive
mercantile business following the arrival of the railroad in 1871, and
continuing in that business until about 1904, with his brother, Moses, joining
him in 1885 in the enterprise until about 1900. When Marx Levy first arrived in
America, he engaged in "pack peddling," traveling throughout Louisiana,
Arkansas, and Texas - with New Orleans as his headquarters. When he first
established his business in Marlin in 1871, he was in partnership with Mr.
Rosenthal. When that partnership business ended in January 1880, Mr. Levy
continued alone for five years, and then being joined by his brother, Moses
Levy, under the name of Levy Brothers. Mr. Levy can truly be called a "self-made
man." His educational opportunities were limited, and he was only eleven years
of age when he was thrown upon his own resources. Landing in Louisiana in 1863 -
in the midst of the Civil War - he managed to save $3,000 as a "pack peddler,"
which enabled him to establish himself later. He increased his financial
holdings from the meager beginning to a substantial for- tune, and proved himself to have a natural
business ability. He invested his profits in more and better stock, and in real
estate - carrying the mortgages for many Falls County farmers and ranchers, and
buying a great deal of their land. By 1892, Mr. Levy owned over 3,000 acres of
land in Falls County, with lands owned in other counties bringing his land
holdings to more than 20,000 acres. He established a large cattle ranch, which
carried more than 3,000 head of stock, including sixty mules. In addition, he
bought consider- able town property in Marlin.
In 1872, Marx Levy was married to Sarah Pisa, b 1853 in New Orleans, died
in Houston, Texas, and was buried there in Hebrew Rest Cemetery - a daughter of
Samuel and Caroline Pisa, natives of Germany and France, respectively. Samuel
Pisa died in New Orleans, in 1888.
Marx and Sarah (Pisa) Levy were the parents of seven children:
Etta Levy, who attended Waco Female College; Moses Levy, who attended
Davis College in Winston, North Carolina; Joseph Levy; Albert Levy; Fannie Levy;
Rosa Levy; and Samuel Levy. When Mr. Levy died, he was survived by his widow,
and only four of his children: Moses L. Levy, Samuel Levy, Mrs. R. J. Numan, and
Mrs. Joe Brower. After his death, his body remained at the family residence in
Marlin throughout the day, and was put that night on the H.&T.C. train for
transport to Waco early Sunday morning, where burial followed.
Mr. Marx Levy had been a member of the I.O.O.F., the Knights of Honor,
and the Knights of Pythias; and when he died, it was reported in his obituary
that he was "one of Marlin's most liberal citizens," and "it was due to his
enterprise and public spiritedness that as much as to any other man, that Marlin
was developed as a health resort."
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of
these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 280 column 1 and 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.