Levi Withee
Engraving by F. G. Kernan
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 32nd district
In office
January 2, 1893 – January 7, 1901
Preceded byHugh H. Price
Succeeded byJohn C. Gaveney
Personal details
Born(1834-10-26)October 26, 1834
Somerset County, Maine, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 1910(1910-02-02) (aged 75)
La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeOak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Lovisa Smith
​
(m. 1868)​
Children
  • Abner G. Withee
  • (b. 1880; died 1954)
RelativesNiram Withee (brother)

Levi Withee (October 26, 1834 – February 2, 1910) was an American lumberman, businessman, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served eight years in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing La Crosse County.

Biography

Withee was born on October 26, 1834, in Somerset County, Maine.[1] He was raised on his father's farm and received a common school education.[2] Upon reaching adulthood, he was tempted by the opportunities in the new western states and moved to Wisconsin. He arrived in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1853 and went to work in the lumber industry.[3] By 1859, he had enough earnings to begin his own business further north, in Clark County, Wisconsin.[3]

He was an owner or shareholder in many lumber companies in western Wisconsin, but was principally involved in the company Bright & Withee. He was also invested in the Electric Light Plant, the Gas Light Company, and the La Crosse Farming Company.[3]

Withee was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate on the Republican ticket in 1892 and was re-elected in 1896, serving from 1893 to 1901.[2] He did not run for a third term in 1900, but was a delegate that year to the 1900 Republican National Convention. He was a stalwart Republican, always opposed to Robert La Follette's Progressive Republicans, and endorsed a primary challenge against La Follete in his 1902 gubernatorial re-election campaign.[4][5]

Withee died from a stroke in 1910.[1]

Personal life and family

Levi Withee was a son of Zachariah Withee and his wife Polly (née Longley). Zachariah Withee was a veteran of the War of 1812 and received land as a reward for his service. Levi Withee was the fifth of seven children.[3] His older brother Niram Withee also worked as a lumberman in the La Crosse area and was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature.

On June 3, 1868, he married Louisa H. Smith.[1] They had one son, Abner, who was also active in the lumber business in Wisconsin and Florida, and was appointed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Florida.[6]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate, 32nd District Election, 1892[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 1892
Republican Levi Withee 5,802 49.27% -5.01%
Democratic George Y. Freeman 5,293 44.94% +3.20%
Populist John N. Jones 644 5.47%
Prohibition C. H. Van Wormer 38 0.32% -3.66%
Plurality 509 4.32% -8.22%
Total votes 11,777 100.0% -4.05%
Republican hold
Wisconsin Senate, 32nd District Election, 1896[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 3, 1896
Republican Levi Withee (incumbent) 9,545 66.82% +17.56%
Democratic Herman E. Simpson 4,739 33.18% -11.77%
Plurality 4,806 33.65% +29.32%
Total votes 14,284 100.0% +21.29%
Republican hold

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Former Senator Withee No More". La Crosse Tribune. February 2, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved January 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Froehlich, William H., ed. (1899). "Biographical" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 761. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company. 1892. pp. 189–190. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  4. ↑ "About La Follette". Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. June 24, 1900. p. 9. Retrieved January 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Call on Whitehead to Enter Contest". The Weekly Telegram. January 16, 1902. p. 5. Retrieved January 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Abner G. Withee, 74". Tampa Bay Times. April 10, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved January 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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