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Leiter, Levi Z.

Levi Leiter was a Chicago wholesaler.  He purchased a tract of land from Franklin Cossitt, the primary successful real estate developer of the La Grange area.  Levi teamed up with Marshall Field in 1865 and bought Potter Palmer's dry goods business.  For many years Field & Leiter was Chicago's premier department store.  Leiter sold his share of the business to Field in 1881 and the store was renamed, Marshall Field's.  Leiter owned considerable real estate in the Chicago area and was involved in local philanthropies.  He donated property in La Grange for the Suburban Club, the First Congregational Church and paid for the bell in the high school tower.

Numerous sources were used in the compilation of these entries including but not limited to:

• Images of America -- La Grange and La Grange Park, Illinois by RoseAnna and Robert Mueller, Arcadia Publishing
• La Grange Centennial History 1879-1979, William J Cromie, Editor, La Grange Area Historical Society, 1979

Last Modified:  04/22/2003