Leavitt, John - 1874

First Fourth
The first celebration of the Fourth of July was had in 1800, on the place of Ephraim Quinby.  The twin brothers, Elam and Eli Blair, the one a fifer and the other a drummer, made their own instruments; the fife from an elder and the drum from a block of pepperidge, having heads of deerskin, he snares being made from a set of plow-lines belonging to Meshach Case.

It does not appear that any oration was delivered, though an excellent dinner was served up in an arbor, which toasts were honored with the usual stimulus and firing of guns.  John Leavitt acted as Militia Captain.

A number of guests were present from abroad, among whom were John Young and Calvin Austin, of Youngstown, General Paine and Judge Eliphalet Austin, from the Lake Shore, with others from other points.

~ Combination Atlas Map of Trumbull County, Ohio - Compiled, Drawn and Published From Personal Examinations and Surveys by L. H. Everts, Chicago, ILL. 1874, Reprinted 1974 by The Bookmark, P. O. Box 74, Knightstown, Ind. and sponsored by the Trumbull County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society - Page 13

You can visit the memorial page for John Leavitt, Sr.