Progressive Men of Minnesota

Minneapolis Journal 1897

LEVI H. McKUSICK is county attorney of Pine County, Minnesota, which office he has held since 1878. He is of Scotch ancestry on his father’s side and English on his mother’s. His father, Levi E. McKusick, was a farmer in moderate circumstances in Maine, and during his life time took an active part in local politics, at one time serving as a member of the legislature of that state. The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Fannie A. Marshall.

Levi H. was born at Baring, Maine March 31, 1854. His early education was received in the common schools of his native town, and in the academy at St. Stephens, New Brunswick, which he attended three terms. Later he took a course in the state normal school at Castine, Maine. In order to obtain sufficient funds, however, with which to pursue his studies, he had commenced teaching school, for a few months each year, when but seventeen years of age. This plan was pursued by Mr. McKusick for about six years. Having a desire, however, to make law his profession in life, during his leisure hours he took up its study in his brother’s office.

As soon as he had completed his law studies, deciding that the West would afford him better opportunities in his chosen profession, Mr. McKusick came to Minnesota, locating at Pine City in August, 1877. During that fall and the following winter he taught school at this place, at the same time devoting his spare time to the further study of law. The following spring he was admitted to the bar and immediately hung out his shingle in Pine City. The fall of the same year he was nominated for the office of county attorney of Pine County and elected His re-election to the same office every term since that time is an indication of the esteem in which he is held by the community in which he lives. He has also built up an extensive law practice.  Mr. McKusick’s political affiliations have always been with the Republican party, and he has always taken an active part in local affairs.  He was elected to the state legislature in 1883 and re-elected twice to the same office in 1885 and 1889. He served on the judiciary committee and was an earnest supporter of the bill for the taxation of unused railroad lands in the session of 1889, which bill, however, did not pass at that session. He is an attendant of the Methodist church. He is married and has a family consisting of wife and five children, Clinton L., Fred P, Alice H., William John and Marion Helen.