Source: Helm, History of Wabash County (1884), p. 295

LEVI J. NOFTZGER, hardware dealer, North Manchester, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 3, 1836. He is the son of Joseph and Amelia Noftzger, who removed with their family to this county in 1842. He was reared on a farm, and received a common school education. He also attended the Vinton Seminary at Vinton, Iowa. He was in Kosciusko County, Ind., for eight years, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising, but returned to Wabash County at the end of that period. In November, 1860, he married Miss Mary Bussard. They are the parents of six children, five of whom are now living, viz., Thomas, now a student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Edith, Samuel, Charles and Ruth. Mr. Noftzger came to North Manchester in 1869, and embarked in the dry goods trade, at which he continued until 1871. He then engaged in the hardware trade. He associated with him Mr. J.H. Bonner, but is now conducting the business alone. He carries an extensive stock, and his annual sales amount to $4,500.

Source: NMHS Newsletter Nov 1997

From Biographical Memoirs of Wabash County, Indiana - 1901

L. J. Noftzger

Levi J. Noftzger, hardware dealer and prominent business man of North Manchester, was born on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio, on September 3, 1836, but at the age of six emigrated to Wabash county Ind., where his parents settled on his farm in Pleasant township. Here young Levi grew to manhood amid the environments of the country, imbibing the strengthening influences of life on the farm.
At the age of twenty-four, having just been married, he moved to Kosciusko county, where he settled on a farm, remaining there for eight years. In 1869 he returned to Wabash county, engaging in the dry goods business in North Manchester, being a partner of the late G.W. Lawrence. At the same time he did a pretty extensive stock and grain business. He made such a success at this that he has continued following that vocation ever since, with the exception of two years. In 1871 he purchased an interest in a hardware store and has retained such interest up to this time, having had a number of partners. He owns one business block in North Manchester, which he erected, and he has always been very closely identified with the growth and development of the town and its enterprises. To him, possibly more than to any other one man, is due much of the advance that the town has made in the past decade.

A township trustee for many years, and also a justice of the peace in Jackson township , Mr. Noftzger has been at the forefront of all official matters in the history of the town for many years past. He superintended the building of the first graded school-house in North Manchester and, though he gave it a great deal of his personal attention, he got not one cent for his services. On November l5, 1860, Mr. Noftzger was married to Miss Mary C. Bussard, daughter of the late Samuel Bussard. Mrs. Noftzger was born in Pleasant township, Wabash county, September 2, 1840. To the union was born six children, two dying in infancy. The survivors are: Thomas A.; Edith, the wife of J. S. Lautzenheiser; Samuel A. and Charles F.