WITHEE, Levi, state senator from the Thirty-second district, and a resident of La Crosse, is of Irish and English descent, and was born in Norridgewock, Maine, on the 26th of October, 1834, the son of Zachariah and Polly Longly Withee. The elder Withee was a farmer in a small way in Maine, and very poor. Levi Withee attended the common school in his native town only about two months in each year until he was fifteen years old, and this was all the schooling he had. He worked at farming after leaving school for four years, when he came to Wisconsin and settled in La Crosse. He began at common work in the lumber camps in winter, and in the summer was engaged in rafting logs to the mills and lumber to the markets. By hard work, industry and economy, he gradually accumulated capital enough to enable him to go into the lumber business for himself, and, in partnership with his brother and other, he has continued the business to the present time. In 1866 he formed a partnership with H. A. Bright of Black River Falls, for the purchase of pine lands and the cutting and marketing of the timber therefrom, and this partnership continued until January, 1893. In 1882, he, with others, organized the Island Mill Lumber company of La Crosse, which is still in existence, although no longer manufacturing lumber. He was also an organizer and president of the La Crosse Farming company, which is doing a logging and farming business. He is interested in the Batavian bank, one of the solid institutions of La Crosse, the Edison Light company, the Brush Electric Light company, and other business corporations of the city. Politically he is a Republican, but was never active in politics and never held an office until 1892, when he was elected state senator. He was re-elected in 1896. A man of affairs, it follows that he is a conservative and safe legislator. He is a member of the Elks and of the La Crosse club, and a number of other organizations. He is not a member of any religious denomination, but usually attends the Universalist church. On the 3rd of May, 1868, he was married to Lovisa Smith, and they have one child, Abner G. Withee, who is now at school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

MEN OF PROGRESS. Wisconsin., p.131. A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin.