Biographical Sketch of Guilford A. Leavitt, Texas County, MO

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas,
Pulaski, Phelps & Dent Counties, Missouri, from Earliest Times to the
Present" Published by Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1889.

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Guilford A. Leavitt.  In every community and among all classes there 
are always some men who become leaders in whatever they do, whether 
of a professional, agricultural or commercial nature; and these same
men are the ones who, perhaps unconsciously, take an active and prom-
inent interest in promoting any movements which may be thought capable
of tending to the welfare of the city or vicinity where they reside.
Such a man is Mr. Leavitt, who was born in Conneaut, Ashtabula County,
Ohio, June 8, 1844, the son of James and Jerusha (Bliss) Leavitt,
natives of Ashtabula County, Ohio and Massachusetts, respectively.
The father is now a resident of Houston, MO., and is engaged in mer-
chandising.  In his younger days he followed farming, which he contin-
ued until about 1876, when he came to Missouri and located at Houston.
He served in the Seventh Michigan Infantry one year, was lieutenant,
and was in the battles of Balls Bluff and Winchester.  He is a member
of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. Lodges.  He has been a Republican
since the Whig party became defunct.  His son, Guilford A. Leavitt,
received his education in the common schools of Michigan, and in 1867
he graduated from the Law School at Ann Arbor.  In 1868 he came to
Houston, MO., where he has since been engaged in the practice of his
profession, general country practice.  In the fall of 1864 he enlisted
in Company C, Twenty-ninth Michigan Infantry, and served until the 
fall of 1865.  He was with the Army of the Cumberland, was in the
battles of Decatur and Murfreesboro and many skirmishes.  He was pro-
moted to the rank of lieutenant.  Before the time he began the study
of law he followed farming, but since then he has practiced his pro-
fession with very satisfactory results.  He at one time had an exten-
sive criminal practice, but of late years has confined himself to
office practice.  In March, 1871, he married Miss Julia W. White,
daughter of Dr. Thomas G. White.  To this marriage were born these
children:  Albert W., Serene F., Amelia and James B.  Mr. Leavitt is
a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has represented Houston Lodge
in the Grand Lodge.  He is also a member of the G. A. R., and is a
decided Republican in his political principles.  In 1888 he attended
the State convention that nominated Kimball.  Mr. Leavitt is the
owner of the noted Glenwood Stock Ranch, consisting of 280 acres of
land, adjoining the comparative lines of Houston.  He purchased this
place from Dr. White in 1884, with the intention of making stock farm-
ing his chief occupation.  Since then he has built one of the finest
barns in the State of Missouri.  This is fitted up with all the 
latest improvements, with machinery for cutting and grinding feed, 
and he expects soon to add a system for preserving his feed in a 
green state.  He also expects to make other additions, fish ponds,
etc.  Mr. Leavitt deserves great credit for being the first and only
man to bring good stock to Texas County, and is now the only man in
the county extensively engaged in this enterprise.  He has a herd of
Short-horn cattle; also some very fine horses, which are of the same
stock as "Jay Eye See" and "Maud S".

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