Here's a mystery. Two CDVs of S. D. Leavitt, one taken in his young manhood by a Boston photographer and the other perhaps 15 or 20 years later by a Grass Valley, California photographer. I have some information on him, but not his full name or his family background. See image of the reverse of the 2 CDVs below.
According to several Censuses, he was born about 1826 in New Hampshire. In 1850, he was a miner at the South Fork of the American River, el Dorado, California. In 1860, he's listed as a brick mason in Grass Valley and in 1870 as a deputy sheriff in Nevada, California. I know that he sailed from Boston on the ship Regulus in 1849. I also found some references to his civic activities in Grass Valley; he was on the Fire Department, for example.
Each of the CDVs refers to a Mrs. Hobbs, Chelsea, Massachusetts, on the reverse; whether this is his mother, remarried, or a sister, do not know. In fact, there were a couple Hobbs men who also were 49ers, including one who died in California in 1850. Perhaps S. D. was related to or acquainted with this Mr. Hobbs. When trying to make a connection online, I noticed that the Leavitts and Hobbs families in New Hampshire intermarried.
This is not Samuel Deane Leavitt, who was Mayor of Eastport, Maine, at one time, though they could be related. I would appreciate any comments or hints you may have. Thanks, and enjoy!
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