His wife and only son, Abner Withee, were at his bedside when the final summons came. He had been unable to speak or move since the stroke and only the cessation of respiration marked the departure of a generous spirit to the sphere supernal.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o’clock Friday afternoon from his late residence, 1205 Main street, Rev. J.S. Lowe, pastor of St. Paul’s Universalist church officiating.

Abner Withee, son of the former senator, was here in January, but left for his home at Watertown, Fla., because of the improved condition of his father, but was called home and arrived Monday night.

Mr. Withee had been in feeble health for about a year and a half. He was able to be about the city in good weather, but was always attended by his wife, son or some friend.

Levi Withee, fifth in a family of seven children, was born in a farm in Somerset county, Maine, October 26, 1834, the son of Zachariah and Polly Withee, both of whom were natives of the old Pine tree state. He came of staunch New England stock and was the scion of a family founded in the colonial era. Zachariah Withee served in the War of 1812.

Levi’s parents came with their sons to La Crosse in 1864 and here passed the remainder of their lives. The mother died in 1871 at the age of 74 years and the father passed away in 1876, at the venerable age of 82 years.

Levi Withee was reared on the old homestead farm in Maine and was afforded such advantages as were offered in the common schools of the locality and the period. In 1853, at the age of 19, he came to Wisconsin and numbered himself among the pioneers of La Crosse county, where he secured employment with a lumber firm.

In 1859 he engaged in the lumbering business on his own responsibility, in Clark county, and during all the long intervening years until his retirement he was closely identified with this line of industry - once the most important in the section.

Conservative methods, close application and keen business judgment enabled him to make a success of the various enterprises with which he applied himself, and he became a prime factor in the promoting and carrying forward of numerous important commercial and industrial undertakings, the while bearing himself as a progressive and public spirited citizen.

He was formerly a large stockholder of the Island Mill Lumber company, the La Crosse Abattoir company and the electric light and gas companies of La Crosse. For several years he was one of the principals of the firm of Bright and Withee, which did a large lumbering business, and of the La Crosse Farming company. At the time of his death he was interested in lumber operations in Florida and had extensive timber holdings in the state of Washington.

Mr. Withee had long been one of the leaders of the republican party in the county and state. In 1892 he was elected to represent this district in the state senate, where he made an admirable record. He served consecutively from 1893 until 1901.

For some years he had lived practically retired from active business, but retained his keen interest in politics. He was a staunch republican to whom halfway policies made no appeal and he was from the first openly and vigorously antagonistic to the political ambitions of Robert M. La Follette, and there was always a fight on in this county when Mr. La Follette attempted to get the delegation. As a political worker Mr. Withee was a host in himself. During campaigns he was a familiar figure at the corner of Fourth and Main streets, always prepared to defend his party in an argument with any adversary who might appear.

Senator Withee followed the Stephenson senatorial campaign very closely last winter and during the long deadlock was a frequent visitor to this office eager for the latest information from Madison. He was a strong supporter of Senator Stephenson and never lost confidence in the ultimate success of the Marinette lumberman.

Former Senator Withee was a man of sterling integrity and rugged manhood. He was known in the state senate as a man who could not be influenced to vote for anything if it was not right.

If Mr. Withee knew he was the only one to vote for a proposition and it was right he would not be swerved from casting his ballot for it.

Mr. Withee was state senator when the proposition to establish a state normal school in La Crosse was first made. The bill passed the assembly by a good majority but the big fight was in the senate. He figured the project would go through by one vote. His lieutenants stated with the 17th senator until 2 o’clock in the morning and saw him go to his room. On the floor of the senate the following day, when all the La Crosse champions were positive they had won the school, this senator got up and voted for Superior, which got the institution by one vote.

Senator Withee had a desire to wind up his political career by going to the national convention at Philadelphia in 1900 when McKinley was nominated. He had agreed to make no more campaigns. For the state senate and it was supposed here that the delegation to the district convention at Alma was solid for Withee for delegate. But on the train efforts were made to get votes for a Tomah man. This was the beginning of the La Follette fight in the republican party.

It was a unpromising situation that opened up on the arrival of the delegation at Alma. At a critical moment, a lumberman named Barber from Eau Claire voted four proxies for Mr. Withee and the day was won. Mr. Withee went to the national convention but not with the unanimous vote that had been expected.

Decedent was married June 3, 1868 to Miss Louisa H. Smith, daughter of Orange and Harriet Smith, then living in Illinois, although moving to La Crosse later. One son, Abner G., was born of the union. He is now engaged in business in the state of Florida.

LA CROSSE DAILY CHRONICLE, Thursday, 3 February 1910, p.5

The last page of an eventful life story was turned today when Levi Withee, former state senator and wealthy pioneer lumberman, was lowered into his grave in Oak Grove.

Friends from many cities in the state gathered to pay their last respects. Services were conducted at the home, 1205 Main street, at 2:30 this afternoon, by Rev. John S. Lowe of the First Universalist church. A quartet composed of Mrs. J.S. Lowe, Irma Candrian, Ruel Russell and John Utermoehl rendered two selections.

Mourners from out of the city were Mrs. Betts, Howley, N.D.; Hon. H.A. Bright and B.H. Bright, Black River Falls; Henry Withee, St. Paul; Henry Shepard, Blair; Mr. And Mrs. N.H. Withee, Minneapolis, and Mrs. John Delmater of Onalaska. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful.

The pall bearers were: Honorary, S.Y. Hyde, I.H. Moulton, J.S. Medary, N.D. Allen, F.A. Copeland, Alfred Harrison, H.A. Bright and Henry Shepard; active, J.W. Losey, Andrew Lees, Alex Paul, H.L. Colman, E.M. Wing, J.M. Hixon, J.M. Holley, Jr., and P.C. Cilley.

LA CROSSE TRIBUNE (La Crosse, Wisconsin), Friday, 4 February 1910, p.1