Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/391

 LEAVENWORTH

LEAVITT

1824, A.M., 1827. He studied law at the Litch- field Law school, 1825-27 ; settled in practice at Syracuse, N.Y., in N(jvember, 1827; and retired from the profession in 1850. He was married, June 21, 1833, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Joshua and Margaret P. (Alexander) Forman, of Onondaga, N.Y. He was commander of the 7th brigade of artillery, N.Y.S.M., and resigned the commission in 1841. He was a member of the state assembly in 1850 and 1857 ; secretary of the state of New York, 1854r-55 ; a member of the quarantine commission in 1860, and a commis- sioner for the United States, under the conven- tion with New Grenada, at Washington, D.C., 1861-62. He was a member of the Republican state convention, I860; of the state constitutional convention of 1872 ; a Republican representative from the twenty-fifth New York district in the 44th congress, 1875-77, and a commissioner with Henry R. Pierson and Cliauncey M. Depew to establish and define the boundaries between New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, 1879-87. He was a regent of the University of the State of New York, 1861-87, and a trustee of tlie state asylum for idiots, 1865-87. He is the autliorof: Genealogy of the Leavenicorth Family (lbT3). He died in Syracuse, N.Y., Nov. 25, 1887.

LEAVENWORTH, Henry, soldier, was born in New Haven, Conn., Dec. 10, 1783 ; son of Col. Jesse and Eunice (Sperry) Leavenworth ; grand- son of Mark and Sarah (Hull) Leavenworth ; great-grandson of Dr. Thomas and Mary (Jenkins) Leavenworth, and great-^grandson of Thomas and Grace Leavenworth, the immigrants. In early childhood he I'emoved to Danville, Vt., with his father, and later studied law with Gen. Erastus Root, in Delhi, N.Y., and practised with his preceptor, 1804-12. He was commissioned captain, 25th U.S. infantry, April 25, 1812, and major, 9th U.S. infantrj^ Aug. 15, 1812. He com- manded his regiment at the battle of Chippewa, July 5, 1814, being brevetted lieutenant-colonel in August. 1814, and at Niagara where he was wounded, July 25, 1814, and was brevetted col- lonel in November. 1814. He was a member of tlie New York state assembly, 1816, and became Indian agent for the northwestern territory with headquarters at Prairie du Chien in 1817. His wife and daughter were said to be the first white women to travel through the wilderness to this remote station. He was promoted lieutenant- colonel in the 5th U.S. infantry, Feb. 10, 1818, and for a time had charge of the school for infantry practice at Jefferson barracks, and built several military posts, including Cantonment Leavenworth on the Missouri river. He was brevetted brigadier general, July 25. 1824. for ten years' faithful service, was promoted colonel of the 3d infantry, Dec. 16, 1825, and brigadier-

general, U.S.A., in 1833. He was stationed at Fort Jessup, and died while on an expedition against the Pawnee and Camanche Indians. His regiment erected a monument to his memory. He died at Cross Timbers, Ind. Ty., July 21, 1834. LEAVITT, Humphrey Howe, jurist, was born in Suffield, Conn., June 18, 1796 ; son of Capt. John

and (Fitch) Leavitt, and a descendant of

John Leavitt, who was born in Hingham, Eng- land, 1608, came to Boston, 1628, settled in Hing- ham, Mass., 1635, and died there, 1691. Capt. John Leavitt removed from Connecticut to the North- west Territory in 1800, and settled in what be- came Trumbull county, Ohio. Humphrey Howe Leavitt received a classical education from a Dartmouth graduate, and was admitted to the bar in 1817. He was married Dec. 25, 1821. to Maria Antoinette, daughter of Dr. John McDowell of Steubenville, Ohio. He practised law, first in Cadiz, removing in a short time to Steubenville. He was a Democratic representative in the state legislature, 1825-26, state senator, 1827-29, and a representative from the eleventh district of Ohio in the 21st, 22d, and 23d congresses, 1829-34. re- signing July 10, 1834, to accept the office of judge of the U.S. district court from Pi'esident Jack- son, which office he held iintil March 31, 1871. when he resigned. He presided over the Vallan- digham trial in 18G3. He was a delegate to the Presbyterian general assembly during eleven sessions. He wrote all the opinions in " Bond's Reports " and many in " McLean's Reports.*' He dieil in Springfield. Ohio, Jlarch 15, 1873.

LEAVITT, John ricDowell, educator and au- thor, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, May 10, 1824 ; son of Judge Humphrey Howe and ]\Iaria Antoinette (McDowell) Leavitt ; grandson of Dr. John McDowell, a physician, and great grandson of the Rev. Alexander McDow- ell, a Scotch Pres- byterian clerg}-man. He was graduated at Jefl'erson college, Pa., A.B., 1841, A.M., 1844. He studied law with his father and with Judge Swayne, and prac- tised in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1845-48, but deciding to enter the ^ lAv^W^. W^ Iasw^^Jv^ ministry of the

Methodist Episcopal church, he served as a preacher and professor from 1848 to 1861. He was married in 1848 to Bithia, daughter of Moses Brooks. He was professor of mathematics in Ohio universit}-, 1854-55; professor ot languiiges.