Guilford A. Leavitt of Texas County, Missouri

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 prominent 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 Co., 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 merchandising. In his younger days he followed farming, which he continued 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 promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Before the time he began the study of law he followed farming, but since then he has practiced his profession with very satisfactory results. He at one time had an extensive 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 of Dr. White in 1884, with the intention of making stock farming 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.”