Levi Savage Jr. facts for kids

Levi Savage Jr. (born March 23, 1820 – died December 13, 1910) was an important person in the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was one of the first missionaries from the Church to travel to Asia. He also helped lead a group of pioneers known as the Willie Handcart Company.

Early Life and Adventures

Levi Savage Jr. was born in Greenfield, Ohio, and was the second of 15 children. He grew up on a farm in southern Michigan and went to school there.

During his life, Levi worked as a teamster (someone who drives wagons), a soldier, a teacher, and a farmer. He also traveled far away as a missionary to India and Burma. For the last part of his life, he was a farmer in southern Utah. Levi kept a detailed journal from 1852 to 1903, writing down many of his experiences.

Becoming a Pioneer

In the early 1840s, Levi's parents joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His family moved from Michigan to Nauvoo, Illinois. Later, they became pioneers and traveled to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.

During the journey from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City, Levi joined the U.S. Army. He was part of a group called the Mormon Battalion. He joined in July 1846. The battalion marched 1,400 miles from Council Bluffs, Iowa, all the way to San Diego, California.

Levi's family traveled to Utah in a wagon train in June 1847. Sadly, his mother, Polly, died during this long journey. Levi found out about her death after he finished his time with the Mormon Battalion. He arrived in Salt Lake City on October 16, 1847.

Levi married Jane Mathers on January 23, 1848. Jane had been the cook for Levi's parents during their journey. They had one child, Levi Mathers Savage, born in 1851. Jane passed away in 1852, leaving Levi Jr. to raise their baby son.

The Willie Handcart Company

On July 10, 1856, Levi Savage Jr. was in Iowa City, Iowa. He joined the Willie handcart company, a group traveling to Salt Lake City. He was made a sub-captain in the company.

At a meeting in Florence, Nebraska, on August 13, 1856, Levi shared his strong opinion. He believed it was too late in the year to start the journey west. He warned that it would be very dangerous.

Even though he was told to be quiet, Levi reportedly said, "What I have said I know to be true. But since you are going forward, I will go with you. I will help all I can. I will work with you, rest with you, and if needed, die with you. May God bless and protect us."

William Woodward, another captain, later wrote that Levi Savage was "the best help we had." He said Levi was "resolute & determined" and truly cared about saving the company.

Sadly, over one-fifth of the group died from freezing and hunger. They finally arrived in Salt Lake City on November 9, 1856.

After returning to Salt Lake City, Levi married Ann Brummel Cooper. She was also a member of the Willie handcart company that he helped rescue.

Missionary Journeys

In October 1852, Levi Savage Jr. went on a mission for the Church to Siam. He left his 21-month-old son with his sister, Hannah Maria Savage Eldridge. He served this mission for four years in the Far East.

He left for Siam on October 21, 1852. He traveled through Las Vegas, Nevada, to Los Angeles, California. From there, he took a boat to San Francisco. On January 30, 1853, Levi left San Francisco for Siam.

During the boat trip, Levi got smallpox, but he survived. He arrived in Calcutta, India, on April 25, 1853. Then he went to Rangoon, Burma. He also tried to preach in Maulmain, Burma, but was stopped by the local British commander.

Because Siam was in a civil war, Levi never actually reached there. He served for two and a half years in the Far East. He started his journey home to Utah on October 12, 1855.

He traveled from Calcutta, India, to Boston, Massachusetts, by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. He arrived in Boston on February 28, 1856. He then visited family in Ohio and Michigan. In his journal, Levi wrote on June 19, 1856, "I have circled the globe." His entire journey took four years.

Life as a Settler

When he returned to Utah, Levi Savage worked as a teacher. He also served with the Nauvoo Legion during the Utah War. In 1858, he moved to Lehi, Utah. There, he worked as a supplier for the U.S. army at Camp Floyd.

After seven years, he moved to Toquerville, Utah. He lived there for the last 45 years of his life.

One of Levi's last journal entries was in February 1903. He wrote, "This date shows that I have neglected to note daily occurrences in my journal for some time past; however, it is better late than never."

Levi Savage Jr. passed away on December 13, 1910, in Toquerville, Washington County, Utah. He is buried in the Toquerville cemetery.

Accomplishments

• He was part of the first groups of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to move west to Utah.
• He was a member of one of the 1847 pioneer companies traveling to Utah.
• He was one of 500 members of the Mormon Battalion who helped the U.S. Army in the Mexican–American War from 1846 to 1848.
• He was an early missionary for the Church in Burma and India in the Far East.
• He traveled around the world between 1852 and 1856 when he was 33 years old.
• He was a leader and survivor of the difficult 1856 Willie handcart company, which faced winter storms in Wyoming.
• He wrote a personal journal from 1852 to 1903. This journal is often used as a source for information about early pioneer life and the western migration of the Church.

Portrayals

Levi Savage Jr. is the main character in the T. C. Christensen film 17 Miracles. An actor named Jasen Wade played him in the movie. The film shows the true events of Levi's efforts to help the Willie Handcart Company. It also highlights the miracles he and other travelers said happened during their journey in 1856.