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- From: History of Minnesota
Josiah Leavitt.
For a little more than thirty years, until his death a Minneapolis, January 4, 1895, Josiah Leavitt was one of the principal figures in the lumber and logging industry, associated with his son, Rensselaer C., and with his son-in-law, Augustus E. Horr, and with other notable pioneer lumbermen, including the Pillburys, Chases, the Havens and others. Josiah Leavitt was born in the State of Maine in 1808 and at the time of his death was eighty-seven years of age. He grew up in the Pine Tree State, and when he came to the Northwest as a pioneer brought with him long and successful experience as a Maine lumberman. He was married in 1831 to Miss Sallie Hill of Waterboro, Maine, and soon afterwards began his active operations as a logger and lumberman. His business operations in that field were continued for over thirty years. In 1864 Josiah Leavitt came to St. Anthony, Minnesota, to visit his son, R. C. Leavitt, and his daughter, Mrs. Augustus E. Horr, who had located here about a year before. So impressed was the veteran lumberman with St. Anthony that he soon returned East, wound up his business affairs there, and in 1865 began a residence and business activity in Minneapolis which were only terminated by his death. In connection with his son and Mr. Augustus E. Horr he engaged in the lumber business and bought the sawmill of Todd & Haven. Jonathan Chase was soon admitted to the firm, which went under the name of Leavitt, Chase & Company. In 1876 this partnership was dissolved and a new firm known as Chase, Pillsbury & Company was formed, with Mr. Leavitt, his son and son-in-law, as partners. Three years later was organized the still larger corporation, the Gulf River Lumber Company was formed, with Mr. Leavitt had a holding interest until his death. Mrs. Leavitt died in 1877 and his remaining years were spent with his children and grandchildren. At the time of his death there was a great-grandchild, a son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Backus, four years of age. Josiah Leavitt, though more than ordinarily successful as a business man, was devoted to his home, and was proud of his children and particularly of his little great-grandson. Almost until the last he retained the vigor of mind and body which had been his chief asset in the successful accomplishments of his business career. His is one of the name that will always deserve recognition among the pioneer business men of Minnesota.
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