Jefferson Levy

From Cvillepedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Jefflevydrip.jpeg

Jefferson Monroe Levy (April 16, 1852 - March 6, 1924) was a Jewish-American Congressman, lawyer, and businessman. He was the nephew of Uriah P. Levy and longtime owner of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Albemarle County.

Biography

Levy was born in New York City, to a large Sephardic Jewish family that had been in the United States since the mid-17th century.[1] He graduated from the New York University Law School in 1873 and went on to become a successful lawyer and businessman in New York.

After Uriah P. Levy died in 1862, his will gave Monticello to the US government, but the Confederate government seized it at the outbreak of the Civil War. A series of legal battles followed, with Uriah's widow pushing for the family to take control of the property[2]. The government rejected the gift, meaning the lawsuits mostly surrounded who in the Levy family should be considered the owner. It took until 1879, seventeen years after Uriah's death, for George Carr to successfully auction off the property to Jefferson Levy for $10,500. On May 1, 1882, Levy became the official owner.

Since Uriah Levy's death, the home had fallen into disrepair, largely thanks to the actions of the cantankerous overseer Joel Wheeler. Eventually, Levy forced him out and hired Thomas L. Rhodes to take over. Rhodes was dedicated to the restoration of Monticello, and it was the combination of his skills and Levy's wealth that led to the successful renovations. Levy purchased several Jeffersonian artifacts from auctions in Europe, though interior decorating was a matter impacted by the fact that he lived at Monticello for about four months a year. He was incredibly dedicated to his uncle, and placed a huge painting of Uriah Levy in the home's entryway.[2]

Levy's sister, Amelia Mayhoff, at Monticello

Levy served multiple terms as a Congressman from New York, where he was known as a powerful politician and real estate agent.[1] His political sway at times came into conflict with his ownership of Monticello, as the petitioning of Maud Littleton led to Congressional hearings on the matter of whether Uriah Levy's will should be respected and the federal government take control of the property. Levy was noted in a 1911 hearing to have said he would sell Monticello when the White House was put on the market.[2]

Littleton took to attacking Levy personally, claiming that he was selfishly withholding Monticello from the American public - despite the fact that the routinely allowed visitors to the estate. Fortunately for Levy, the American public at the time was not exactly thrilled at the idea of the federal government spending money to buy a man's private home, so there was no nationwide push for Levy to sell.[2]

Following the election of Woodrow Wilson as President in 1912, the Senate threatened to seize the home via eminent domain, so Levy agreed to sell the estate for $500,000 in 1914. However, the outbreak of World War I halted discussions. The war also decimated Levy's finances, leaving him with not enough money to maintain the estate.

In 1923, the newly established Thomas Jefferson Foundation purchased Monticello from Levy for $500,000 to maintain it and create a public display of Jefferson's life and work.

Unfortunately, Jefferson Levy died just one year later in New York City, having returned to his law practice there. He was buried near his uncle Uriah in Cypress Hill Cemetery, a largely Sephardic Jewish burial ground.[3]

References