James Earl Leverich
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{{Short description|American politician (1891–1979)}} |
{{Short description|American politician (1891–1979)}} |
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{{infobox officeholder |
{{infobox officeholder |
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|name |
|name = Earl Leverich |
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|state |
|state = Wisconsin |
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|state_senate |
|state_senate = Wisconsin |
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|district |
|district = [[Wisconsin Senate, District 31|31st]] |
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|term_start = January 4, 1943 |
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|term_end = January 2, 1967 |
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|predecessor = [[Amrose B. Coller]] |
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|successor = [[Raymond C. Johnson]] |
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|term_start1 = January 7, 1935 |
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|term_end1 = January 2, 1939 |
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|predecessor1 = [[Orland Steen Loomis]] |
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|successor1 = [[Amrose B. Coller]] |
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|party |
|party = {{unbulleted list |
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| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] |
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] |
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| [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]] (1934–1946) |
| [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]] (1934–1946) |
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}} |
}} |
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|birth_date |
|birth_date = {{birth date|1891|12|6}} |
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|birth_place |
|birth_place = [[Angelo, Wisconsin]], U.S. |
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|death_date |
|death_date = {{death date and age|1979|12|27|1891|12|6}} |
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|death_place |
|death_place = [[Sparta, Wisconsin]], U.S. |
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|resting_place = Woodlawn Cemetery, {{nowrap|Sparta, Wisconsin}} |
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|spouse |
|spouse = {{marriage|Ada Bertha Birr|1919|1979}} |
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|children |
|children = Robert, James, Mary |
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}} |
}} |
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'''James Earl Leverich''' (December 6, 1891{{spaced ndash}}December 27, 1979) was an [[Americans|American]] [[dairy]] farmer, strawberry grower, and [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]] [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politician. He served 28 years in the [[Wisconsin State Senate]] (1935–1939, 1943–1967), and was chairman of the town of [[Angelo, Wisconsin]], for 40 years (1931–1971). He went by his middle name '''Earl''' throughout his public career. |
'''James Earl Leverich''' (December 6, 1891{{spaced ndash}}December 27, 1979) was an [[Americans|American]] [[dairy]] farmer, strawberry grower, and [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]] [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politician. He served 28 years in the [[Wisconsin State Senate]] (1935–1939, 1943–1967), and was chairman of the town of [[Angelo, Wisconsin]], for 40 years (1931–1971). He went by his middle name '''Earl''' throughout his public career. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Leverich was born, raised, and lived most of his life in the town of [[Angelo, Wisconsin|Angelo]] in [[Monroe County, Wisconsin]]. His father was a well-established farmer and prominent local leader, and Earl Leverich ultimately inherited the Leverich farm. He graduated from [[Sparta High School (Wisconsin)|Sparta High School]], in nearby [[Sparta, Wisconsin]], and [[Madison Business College|Madison College]], in [[Madison, Wisconsin]]. He also attended the agricultural short course at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]].{{cite web|url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS9826 |title= Leverich, James Earl |website= [[Wisconsin Historical Society]] |date= 8 August 2017 |accessdate= March 28, 2021 }} In addition to running his farm, Leverich organized the Sparta Co-op Exchange, to market his strawberries, and was president of the Sparta Cooperative [[Creamery]], which later became Hiawatha Valley Dairies, and now operates under Foremost Farms USA.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74539604/leverich-obit-lct/ |
Leverich was born, raised, and lived most of his life in the town of [[Angelo, Wisconsin|Angelo]] in [[Monroe County, Wisconsin]]. His father was a well-established farmer and prominent local leader, and Earl Leverich ultimately inherited the Leverich farm. He graduated from [[Sparta High School (Wisconsin)|Sparta High School]], in nearby [[Sparta, Wisconsin]], and [[Madison Business College|Madison College]], in [[Madison, Wisconsin]]. He also attended the agricultural short course at the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]].{{cite web|url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS9826 |title= Leverich, James Earl |website= [[Wisconsin Historical Society]] |date= 8 August 2017 |accessdate= March 28, 2021 }} In addition to running his farm, Leverich organized the Sparta Co-op Exchange, to market his strawberries, and was president of the Sparta Cooperative [[Creamery]], which later became Hiawatha Valley Dairies, and now operates under Foremost Farms USA.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74539604/leverich-obit-lct/ |title= Sen. Earl Leverich: friend of the farmer |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= December 29, 1979 |page= 5 |accessdate= March 28, 2021 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}{{cite news|url= https://lacrossetribune.com/business/modern-sparta-plant-produces-milk-powders/article_68d8fd71-901b-5c28-bbc9-818c0cd2bee5.html |title =Modern Sparta plant produces milk powders |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= April 7, 2003 |first= Steve |last= Cahalan |accessdate= March 28, 2021 }} |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Leverich was a member of the Senate twice: first, during the 1935 and 1937 sessions, and second, from 1943 to 1965.{{cite book |editor=Lawrence S. Barish |year=2007 |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007-2008 |chapter=Those Who Served: Wisconsin Legislators 1848-2007 |page=108 |chapter-url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008/300_feature.pdf}} He was a member of the [[Republican Party of Wisconsin|Republican Party]] and of the [[Wisconsin Progressive Party]]. |
Leverich was a member of the Senate twice: first, during the 1935 and 1937 sessions, and second, from 1943 to 1965.{{cite book |editor=Lawrence S. Barish |year=2007 |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007-2008 |chapter=Those Who Served: Wisconsin Legislators 1848-2007 |page=108 |chapter-url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008/300_feature.pdf}} He was a member of the [[Republican Party of Wisconsin|Republican Party]] and of the [[Wisconsin Progressive Party]]. |
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Leverich was perhaps best known for his crusade against [[margarine]], which continued throughout his entire political career. Margarine was seen as a threat to Wisconsin's dairy industry and was fiercely opposed by Wisconsin farmers. In 1931, Leverich helped organize an anti-margarine protest in [[Madison, Wisconsin]].{{cite journal |url= http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/42227 |
Leverich was perhaps best known for his crusade against [[margarine]], which continued throughout his entire political career. Margarine was seen as a threat to Wisconsin's dairy industry and was fiercely opposed by Wisconsin farmers. In 1931, Leverich helped organize an anti-margarine protest in [[Madison, Wisconsin]].{{cite journal |url= http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/wmh/id/42227 |title= The 'Oleo Wars': Wisconsin's Fight over the Demon Spread |last= Strey |first= Gerry |journal= Wisconsin Magazine of History |volume= 85 |issue= 1 |date= Autumn 2001 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Historical Society]] |pages= 1–15 |accessdate= March 27, 2021 }} Six years later, as a member of the Senate, he worked to pass a ban on "colored" oleo, so that, in the state of Wisconsin, you could only purchase the pallid, uncolored oleomargarine, which resembled a lump of lard. As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, he maintained the ban on colored margarine until he left office. In the first year after he left office, the ban was repealed.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74538325/leverich-farm-legacy/ |title= Leverich: farmer's champion |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= December 28, 1979 |page= 38 |accessdate= March 28, 2021 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }} |
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Leverich was defeated in the Republican [[Partisan primary|primary]] in 1966. He had previously benefited from a state government apportionment practice which generally sacrificed equal representation for district compactness and strict adherence to county boundaries. In the 1964 court-ordered redistricting plan, the [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] radically split from the past adherence to county boundaries in an attempt to draw districts with more equitable population distribution.{{cite court |url= https://cite.case.law/wis-2d/23/606/ |litigants= State ex rel. Reynolds v. Zimmerman |court= [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] |date= May 14, 1964 |vol= 23 |reporter= Wis. 2d |opinion= 606 |accessdate= March 28, 2021 |via= [[Harvard Law School|Case Law Project]] }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The new 31st district added the more urban and populous [[Eau Claire County, Wisconsin|Eau Claire County]] to Leverich's previously mostly-rural district. In the new district, Eau Claire County represented about half of the votes, and Republican primary voters chose young Eau Claire attorney [[Raymond C. Johnson]] over the Monroe County farmer, Leverich.{{cite report|url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1968 |title |
Leverich was defeated in the Republican [[Partisan primary|primary]] in 1966. He had previously benefited from a state government apportionment practice which generally sacrificed equal representation for district compactness and strict adherence to county boundaries. In the 1964 court-ordered redistricting plan, the [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] radically split from the past adherence to county boundaries in an attempt to draw districts with more equitable population distribution.{{cite court |url= https://cite.case.law/wis-2d/23/606/ |litigants= State ex rel. Reynolds v. Zimmerman |court= [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] |date= May 14, 1964 |vol= 23 |reporter= Wis. 2d |opinion= 606 |accessdate= March 28, 2021 |via= [[Harvard Law School|Case Law Project]] }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The new 31st district added the more urban and populous [[Eau Claire County, Wisconsin|Eau Claire County]] to Leverich's previously mostly-rural district. In the new district, Eau Claire County represented about half of the votes, and Republican primary voters chose young Eau Claire attorney [[Raymond C. Johnson]] over the Monroe County farmer, Leverich.{{cite report|url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1968 |title =The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1968 |publisher= State of Wisconsin |year= 1968 |editor1-last= Theobald |editor1-first= H. Rupert |editor2-last= Robbins |editor2-first= Patricia V. |chapter-url= https://images.library.wisc.edu/WI/EFacs/WIBlueBks/BlueBks/WIBlueBk1968/reference/wi.wibluebk1968.i0014.pdf |chapter= Elections |pages= 710, 723 |accessdate= March 28, 2021 }} |
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Leverich retired from local government a few years later, turning over his seat as chairman of the Angelo Town Board to his son, Tom, in 1971. Although Leverich was not a pilot, he was interested in aviation, and for many years offered to sell a tract of his property for the creation of a small municipal airport. The city of Sparta eventually purchased that land and created [[Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport]].{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74573422/sparta-leverich-airport/ |title= Sparta Council Acts to Improve Airport |
Leverich retired from local government a few years later, turning over his seat as chairman of the Angelo Town Board to his son, Tom, in 1971. Although Leverich was not a pilot, he was interested in aviation, and for many years offered to sell a tract of his property for the creation of a small municipal airport. The city of Sparta eventually purchased that land and created [[Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport]].{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74573422/sparta-leverich-airport/ |title= Sparta Council Acts to Improve Airport |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= December 13, 1962 |page= 25 |accessdate= March 28, 2021 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }} |
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==Personal life and family== |
==Personal life and family== |
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Leverich was the son of James Woodhull "J.W." Leverich, who was a prominent farmer in the town of Angelo. James Leverich was also involved in local politics, he served 44 years on the Monroe County Board of Supervisors and was chairman of the county board for 10 years.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74536124/j-w-leverich-obit/ |
Leverich was the son of James Woodhull "J.W." Leverich, who was a prominent farmer in the town of Angelo. James Leverich was also involved in local politics, he served 44 years on the Monroe County Board of Supervisors and was chairman of the county board for 10 years.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74536124/j-w-leverich-obit/ |title= James W. Leverich |newspaper= [[Eau Claire Leader-Telegram]] |date= July 18, 1931 |page= 6 |accessdate= March 27, 2021 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }} He was also chairman of the Angelo town board from 1899 until his death in 1931. |
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Earl Leverich married Ada Bertha Birr, of [[Watertown, Wisconsin]], on September 3, 1919. Ada Leverich was a teacher in Angelo and [[Warrens, Wisconsin]]. Earl and Ada Leverich had two sons and one daughter. Ada died in 1983, at the time of her death, they had 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74536886/obituary-for-ada-b-leverich-aged-94/ |title= Ada B. Leverich |
Earl Leverich married Ada Bertha Birr, of [[Watertown, Wisconsin]], on September 3, 1919. Ada Leverich was a teacher in Angelo and [[Warrens, Wisconsin]]. Earl and Ada Leverich had two sons and one daughter. Ada died in 1983, at the time of her death, they had 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74536886/obituary-for-ada-b-leverich-aged-94/ |title= Ada B. Leverich |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= September 24, 1983 |page= 2 |accessdate= March 27, 2021 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }} |
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Following his death, Earl was succeeded as town chair by his son, Robert "Tom" Leverich. When Tom retired in 2013, he ended a 124 year streak of the Leverich family governing as chairmen of Angelo, Wisconsin. His son, Jim, still serves on the town board, though, and maintains the family farm.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74537958/leverich-angelo-board/ |
Following his death, Earl was succeeded as town chair by his son, Robert "Tom" Leverich. When Tom retired in 2013, he ended a 124 year streak of the Leverich family governing as chairmen of Angelo, Wisconsin. His son, Jim, still serves on the town board, though, and maintains the family farm.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74537958/leverich-angelo-board/ |title= Leverich family has led Monroe County town board since 1889. |newspaper= The Country Today |date= May 8, 2013 |page= N2 |accessdate= March 27, 2021 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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