Levi Baker Vilas

Madison's 4^th Mayor 1861–62

Lived: Feb 25, 1811 - Feb 6, 1879

One of the first residents of Mansion Hill

UW Regent 1853–65

Former Vilas Home

Father of William Freeman Vilas

Levi was the first president of the Dane County Bank. He took $50,000 worth of gold to Washington, D.C., in 1863 to prove the bank had assets. He came back with a national charter. Dane County Bank, which opened its doors in 1854, then became the First National Bank of Madison, the first of several name changes over the years that included First Wisconsin National Bank, Firstar Bank, and U.S. Bank.