Dudley Leavitt facts for kids
Dudley Leavitt (born August 31, 1830 – died October 15, 1908) was an important early leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was also a Mormon pioneer who helped settle southern Utah.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Family History
Dudley Leavitt was born in Hatley, Quebec, Canada. Even though he was born in Canada, his family had lived in New England for many generations. He was named after his ancestor, Thomas Dudley, who helped start Cambridge, Massachusetts. Thomas Dudley was also the second colonial governor of Massachusetts. Another ancestor, John Leavitt, was a deacon at the Old Ship Church in Hingham, Massachusetts, way back in the 1600s.
Journey to Utah
As a young man, Dudley Leavitt traveled across the Great Plains on the Mormon Trail. This was a long and difficult journey. He was part of a group called the Milo Andrus Company in 1850. They left Iowa on June 3 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on August 30, 1850. He is known for helping to establish some of the first towns in Washington County, Utah.
Historical Events and Family Research
Dudley Leavitt's name has come up in discussions about a sad historical event called the Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857. However, Leavitt himself never spoke much about it. He once said, "I thank God that these old hands have never been stained by human blood." This suggests he was not involved in any violence.
His granddaughter, Juanita Brooks, later studied this event very deeply. She wrote an important book about it called The Mountain Meadows Massacre. Juanita Brooks also wrote a book about her grandfather's life, called On the Ragged Edge: The Life and Times of Dudley Leavitt.
Working with Native American Tribes
Later in his life, Dudley Leavitt played a key role in working with the Native American tribes in southern Utah. He helped the Mormon settlers and the tribes get along. Juanita Brooks gave him credit for stepping in and preventing attacks on non-Mormon settlers by Native American groups.
Family and Challenges
Dudley Leavitt had a large family. He lived during a time when some members of his church practiced having more than one wife. This practice later became against the law in the United States. Because of this, he faced challenges and difficulties due to the changing laws of the time.
Dudley Leavitt passed away in Bunkerville, Nevada, near Mesquite, in 1908. Even though the practice of having multiple wives was no longer allowed, historians say he always supported his families.
Notable Descendants
- Juanita Brooks
- Mike Leavitt
- David O. Leavitt
- Cliven Bundy
Images for kids
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Jeanette Smith Leavitt, one of Dudley Leavitt's wives, around 1860.
