“Pit bulls used to be a terrific breed.”
Bert Colby LEADBETTER was born on 20 JAN 1907 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. He died on 2 FEB 1909 at Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts.
The next information I have is on the tragic death of this young boy at the age of two...
Elizabeth had a brother John P. Colby who lived at 21 Franklin St., Newburyport, MA. Apparently on February 2, 1909 while visiting at the home of John P. Colby, 2 year old Burt Colby Leadbetter was attacked and killed by one of Mr. Colby’s bulldogs when the toddler apparently got out into the dog kennel and picked up a dog bone and was attacked by the dog who snapped the child’s neck.
John P. Colby is the guy most responsible in the US for developing the pit bull breed (some will tell you they aren’t a breed) Even today “Colby” pit bulls fetch a premium. Google Colby pit bull and see what comes up. Colby bred them and raised them to fight other dogs. In 1935 or so he wrote what is probably the Dog Fighting Bible.
30 years ago, my behind.
Massachusetts? It figures. :-)