Hiram Leavitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hiram L. Leavitt
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|---|---|
| Born |
Hiram Lewis Leavitt
1824 |
| Died | 1901 |
| Known for | Early settler, innkeeper, and judge |
Hiram Leavitt (1824–1901) was an important person in the early days of Mono County, California. This area is in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. He was an early settler, meaning he was one of the first people to build a home and live there. He also ran an inn and served as a judge. Many places in the area are named after him, like Leavitt Peak, Leavitt Meadow, Leavitt Creek, and Leavitt Lake.
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Hiram Leavitt's California Adventure
From New Hampshire to the Gold Rush
Hiram Lewis Leavitt was born in Grantham, New Hampshire, on April 2, 1824. When he was in his late 20s, he heard exciting news. The California Gold Rush was happening! Hiram decided to travel west to San Francisco to seek his fortune.
His wife, Eliza, and their baby daughter stayed in Boston for a while. Hiram returned for them in 1856. They gathered their things and made the long sea journey back to California together.
Building a Life in Bridgeport
After the Gold Rush ended, the Leavitt family moved to the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains in northeastern California. Hiram built a home in a place then called Indian Valley. Today, this town is known as Bridgeport. It is not far from the Nevada border.
Many famous explorers and pioneers passed through Bridgeport Valley. These included Jedediah Smith, John C. Frémont, and Kit Carson. In 1861, the California Legislature officially created Mono County. Bridgeport became the main town, or county seat, of Mono County. The beautiful Victorian Bridgeport Courthouse, built in 1881, shows the style of many early settlers from places like New England. Hiram Leavitt was one of these settlers from New Hampshire.
A Judge and Innkeeper
Bridgeport was a growing town. Hiram Leavitt ran a business called Leavitt Station, which was a stop for stagecoaches. Later, he opened an inn. He also became a judge, helping to make important decisions for the community.
In 1863, people realized that Aurora, which was then the county seat of Mono County, was actually in Nevada, not California! So, Bridgeport officially became the county seat of Mono County. That same year, Hiram built his inn at the east end of Sonora Pass. This inn helped travelers, mostly miners, who were going between Sonora and what is now Aurora, Nevada.
By 1867, Leavitt was living in Sonora, California. Later, he moved to the road that connected Sonora with Mono County.
His Legacy in the Sierra Nevada
By the end of the 1800s, Hiram Leavitt's name was on California maps. You could find Leavitt Peak, Leavitt Meadow, Leavitt Creek, and Leavitt Lake. Hiram and his wife Eliza lived in their family home until Hiram passed away in 1901 at 77 years old. He had hired a builder named Sam Hopkins to construct their home. Today, the old Leavitt House is known as the Bridgeport Inn.
