Levi Baker Vilas

Levi Baker Vilas (February 25, 1811 – February 6, 1879) was an American lawyer and politician. He was the 4th Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, and served three non-consecutive years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Dane County. Before moving to Wisconsin, he served in the Vermont Senate and House of Representatives.[1]

Levi B. Vilas
4th Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin
In office April 1861 – April 1862
Preceded by	George Baldwin Smith
Succeeded by	William T. Leitch
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 2nd district
In office January 1, 1873 – January 1, 1874
Preceded by	John D. Gurnee
Succeeded by	Philo Dunning
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 5th district
In office January 1, 1868 – January 1, 1869
Preceded by	Eleazer Wakeley
Succeeded by	George Baldwin Smith
In office January 1, 1855 – January 1, 1856
Preceded by	Harlow S. Orton
Succeeded by	Augustus A. Bird
Member of the Vermont Senate
In office January 1, 1845 – January 1, 1847
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office January 1, 1840 – January 1, 1843
Constituency	Orange County
In office January 1, 1836 – January 1, 1838
Constituency	Lamoille County
Personal details
Born	Levi Baker Vilas February 25, 1811 Lamoille County, Vermont
Died	February 6, 1879 (aged 67) Madison, Wisconsin
Cause of death	Pneumonia
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery Madison, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Esther Green Smilie (died 1892)
Children	William Freeman Vilas ^(b. 1840; died 1908) Levi Madison Vilas ^(b. 1844; died 1889) Charles Harrison Vilas ^(b. 1846; died 1920) Edward P. Vilas ^(b. 1852; died 1912) Ira Hill Vilas ^(b. 1863; died 1863) Esther Vilas ^(b. 1865; died 1885)
Mother	Mercy (Flint) Vilas
Father	Moses Vilas
Profession	lawyer, politician

Biography

Vilas was born in Randolph, Vermont, the son of Mercy (Flint) and Moses Vilas.[2] Vilas was admitted to the Vermont bar in 1833, and practiced law. He was a member of the 1835 Vermont Constitutional Convention. In 1836, he served in the Vermont House of Representatives and in 1840 was elected to the Vermont State Senate. He was also elected probate judge.[3]

In 1851, Vilas and his family moved to Madison, Wisconsin. There, Vilas was elected Mayor of the city. He started a law practice in Wisconsin from which the present day law firm of Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. draws its roots.[4] Vilas also served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1855, 1868, and 1873. During the American Civil War, Vilas was a draft commissioner. He was one of the regents of the University of Wisconsin system and the Wisconsin Historical Society.[5] His son was William Freeman Vilas, who served in the United States Senate.[6]

His former home in Madison is located in what is now the Langdon Street Historic District.

Notes

1. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Vila to Vincell". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
2. "Levi Baker Vilas 1811-1879 - Ancestry". records.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
3. 'Norwich University, 1819-1911, her story, her graduates, her roll of honor,' edited by William Arba Ellis, 1911, vol. 2, pg.18-19
4. Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. About Our Firm.
5. Wisconsin Historical Society, Levi Baker Vilas
6. Wisconsin Historical Society, William Freeman Vilas