Hi Listers.. An index to the biographies in the History of Barron County, 1922, and those previously submitted are available at the following: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/wi/barron/bios.htm Transcribed by Peg Lamkin, brinwood@chibardun.net. Edited and submitted by Victor Gulickson. Levi H. Giddings, jeweler and optometrist, and one of the leading business men of Barron city, was born in Leavett Township, Oceana County, Mich., March 11, 1873, son of Henry and Mary and (Spafford) Giddings. The parents were American born. The father, Henry Giddings, settled in Oceana County, Michigan, when it was a wilderness, his land being far away from a road, and the nearest railway station being 18 miles distant. He died in the spring of 1879, being survived many years by his wife, who passed away on the home farm in 1907. Levi H. was their only child. He acquired a common school education and remained at home with his mother until arriving at the age of sixteen, when he began industrial life. After working for a short time in Michigan, he went to Vermont to live with a grandfather and an uncle on his mother's side, and during his first winter there he attended school. In that state he remained about four years, or until 1893, when he visited the World's Fair at Chicago. After his visit he spent a short time at his old home in Oceana County, Michigan. In the fall of 1893 he went to LaPorte, Ind. where he attended the Hutchins school of technical watch-making and studied optical work, under Dr. Meyer. In March, 1906, he came to Wisconsin and took a position with T. J. Thompson, a jeweler of Barron. A month later Mr. Thompson sent him to Bruce, Rusk County, to take charge of his branch store there. After remaining in Mr. Thompson's employ for four years, he bought the latter's interest in the Bruce store, of which he was subsequently the proprietor until 1918. In that year Mr. Giddings moved his stock to Barron and formed a partnership with his former employer, Mr. Thompson, under the style of Thompson & Giddings. This association was continued until the spring of 1920 when Mr. Giddings bought Mr. Thompson's interest in the Barron store, which he has since operated alone. He has added to the business and optical department with a complete outfit and a fine and well appointed room for his fitting and grinding. His stock of jewelry is of a general character and is well selected, and he enjoys a lucrative trade. Mr. Giddings is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, No. 316, at Bruce, and Lodge No. 38, I. O. O. F., of Barron, and has passed through the chairs of both lodges. Politically he is a Republican with independent tendencies. Mr. Giddings was first married Nov. 8, 1896, to Emma Anderson, of Oceana County, Mich., who died Jan. 21, 1910, leaving one child, Leo, born Oct. 8, 1898. On June 25, 1914, Mr. Giddings married Lottie A. Nye, who was born in Nora, Wis., Dec. 16, 1882. Two children are the fruit of this union: Allen Nye, born Oct. 10, 1916, and Jesse Hill, born Nov. 15, 1917. Mr. Giddings owns a good residence on LaSalle street, Barron. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 103.