Erasmus Darwin Leavitt
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana ArchivesMay be copied for non-profit purposes.

Dr. Erasmus Darwin Leavitt, Butte City, Montana

Among the pioneer physicians of Montana is Dr. Erasmus Darwin 
Leavitt. In some respects unlike what is generallysupposed to 
be the usual type of that useful member of frontier society, 
we find him a man of unusual culture and refinement and one 
whose gentlemanly qualities would always afford him ready 
access to the best society in the land,and whose professional 
skill, wide general knowledge and practice place him in the 
front rank of physicians of the great Northwest. He is a 
native of the State of New Hampshire. His father, who was 
also a physician and a native of the same state, had acquired 
considerable local note in that profession and was of English 
ancestry. His mother's maiden name was Frances Mary Powers. 
She died shortly after his birth and was buried among the 
granite hills where she had been born. When he was quite 
young his father moved to Cayuga County in New York and 
for nearly ten years followed his profession in that 
locality. Subsequently he moved to Berkshire County 
Massachusetts.Dr. E.D. Leavitt must have carefully 
improved his early advantages for at the early age of 
sixteen years we find him a teacher in the common 
schools in Massachusetts. At that time under the 
inspiration of Horace Mann, the schools of that 
state began to assume the high reputation which 
has since been justly accorded them throughout the 
nation. For several years he followed this vocation 
during which time by private study and some academical 
advantages he so qualified himself as to be admitted 
to the sophomore class of the Wesleyan University at 
Middletown Connecticut and he would havebeen readily 
admitted to the junior year in that college but for 
the rigid rules regarding the age required for 
admission, his youth being his only disqualification. 
Here for three years he so faithfully devoted himself 
to the studyof its curriculum that soon after his 
graduation he was selected as the principal of the 
Great Barrington Academy, Massachusetts and among 
his duties were the teaching of Greek, Latin and 
higher mathematics. The reputation he maintained 
in that institution as its principal induced his 
alma mater, the Wesleyan University to confer upon 
him a few years later the degree of Master of Arts.
While occupying that position, the desire to follow 
the profession of his father rather than that of a 
teacher took strong possession of him and as time 
permitted he began the study of medicine. The first 
course of medical lectures which he attended was at 
the Albany Medical College, New York. Subsequently 
he attended lectures and enjoyed instruction in 
medicine in the medical department of Harvard 
University. While there, in the spring of 1859, 
the Pike's Peak gold excitement broke out. A 
friend in Iowa solicited him to join an expedition 
into the region now known as Colorado for the 
purpose of investigating its reputed wealth. 
There was no time for delay. The expedition 
must start in a few days. The questions was 
presented, should he wait a month, during 
which he should receive little instruction 
and accomplish little study and secure his 
diploma or should he join the proposed 
expedition and perhaps acquire in a day the 
wealth others sought for a lifetime of toil? 
The fabulous tales of gold discoveries were 
too alluring to be resisted. Hejoined with 
his friend, Dr. C.R. Bissell, an expedition 
which had inscribed upon its banner, "Pike's 
Peak or Bust,"and the summer of 1859 found 
him a gold miner delving into the canyons and 
ravines of the Rocky mountains for the 
promised wealth. But the dream of gold which 
lured so many of the first prospectors to 
Colorado was realized but bya very few and 
the accomplished young Doctor belonged to 
the majority upon whom fortune did not lavish 
any great favors. However, with that courage 
and energy which characterized his efforts, 
he followed the fortunes of that section, at 
times engaged in mining and at others pursuing 
his profession.In 1862 reports reached him that 
the coveted gold lay further to the northwest 
and in its quest in the fall of thatyear he 
reached what is now Bannack City, Montana, of 
which place he was one of the founders. It 
soon after became the first capital of the 
young Territory. Being among the first arrivals 
he secured some good mining claims and delved 
for the golden treasures with pick shovel and 
not without reward. Though some success crowned 
his labors he soon found that he had more 
reputation as a physician than as a miner and 
that there was greater profit in allowing 
someone else to wield his pick and shovel 
while he attended to his profession. In 1881 
he was married to Miss Annie Thralkeld, an 
accomplish and most agreeable young lady, a 
native of Kentucky. To them have been born 
three children, two sons and a daughter. The 
daughter, Frances Mary, alone remains to make 
glad their household.

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