Levi Stewart facts for kids
Levi Stewart (born April 28, 1812 – died June 14, 1878) was an important pioneer in the Mormon faith. He helped settle new areas and was a founder of Kanab, Utah.
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Early Life
Levi Stewart was born on April 28, 1812, in West Edwardsville, Illinois. His parents were William and Elizabeth Stewart. He had four brothers. Levi passed away on June 14, 1878, when he was 66 years old.
In 1833, Levi married Melinda Howard. They soon moved to Vandalia, Illinois.
Becoming a Pioneer and Moving West
In 1837, missionaries from the Latter Day Saint movement visited Levi and Melinda. Melinda quickly joined the faith. Levi traveled to Far West, Missouri to learn more and was baptized there.
Stewart and his family moved to Ambrosia, Missouri, in 1838. Later that year, the governor of Missouri ordered Mormons to leave the state. The Stewarts returned to Illinois in early 1839.
From April to October 1839, Stewart served a mission with John D. Lee. They taught people in Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Many people joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of their work.
Stewart moved his family to Nauvoo, Illinois, in early 1840. There, he was part of the Nauvoo Legion, a local militia. He also helped build the Nauvoo Temple. He became friends with Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.
In 1843, Stewart served another mission in Gallatin County, Illinois. In 1844, he was a missionary again in Illinois. He also worked to get people to vote for Joseph Smith for President of the United States. Sadly, Smith was killed that June.
A few months later, mobs forced the Stewarts from their home. They moved to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. They stayed there for two years. During this time, Levi delivered mail between the Mormon camps and Nauvoo.
In the spring of 1848, the Stewart family traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah. They were part of the Brigham Young Company and arrived in September 1848.
Life in the Salt Lake Area
In Salt Lake City, Stewart received a good plot of land in the city center. He built a home and started a successful business selling goods.
Levi's first wife, Melinda, passed away in 1853 after giving birth to twins.
In 1865, at the request of Brigham Young, Levi moved to Mills Creek. There, he set up a paper mill.
In 1868, he took on a big project. He was hired to grade a section of the Union Pacific Railroad. This section became part of the First transcontinental railroad a year later. He hired 100 men to help him with this important task.
Founding Kanab
In the winter of 1869, Levi Stewart traveled with Brigham Young to southern Utah. They were looking for places to start new Mormon settlements. In 1870, Young asked him to establish a settlement at an old outpost called Kanab, Utah. Stewart arrived in June. He led many families to the area.
Levi Stewart became the first Mormon Bishop of Kanab, Utah, in September 1870. Over the next few years, he managed the building of dams and roads. He also helped create good relationships with the local Native American tribes.
On December 14, 1870, a tragic fire occurred. His wife, Margery, and five of his children died in the blaze. Brigham Young traveled to Kanab to offer his support to Stewart.
John Wesley Powell and other explorers visited Kanab in 1872. Stewart provided them with food and supplies for their journey. His daughter, Eliza, sent news of the expedition to Washington, D.C., by telegraph.
The last of Stewart's 29 children was born in April 1878. A few months later, Stewart died of a stroke. He was traveling to Salt Lake City to buy supplies for his business when he passed away in Johnson Canyon. Both Mormons and Native Americans mourned his death.
Legacy
Today, a statue of Levi Stewart stands in central Kanab. It is located at the site of the fort fire where his wife and children died.
Many of his family members have become important figures:
- William Thomas Stewart: His son, who was mayor of Kanab and served in the Utah Territorial Legislature.
- Eliza Luella Stewart: His daughter, who was the first telegraph operator in Arizona.
- Levi Stewart Udall: His grandson, who became Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court.
- Ivy Stewart (Houtz) Woolley: His great-granddaughter, who was a delegate to the 1932 Republican National Convention.
- Stewart Udall: His great-grandson, who served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior and in the U.S. Congress from Arizona.
- Mo Udall: His great-grandson, who was a professional basketball player, a U.S. Presidential candidate, and served in the U.S. Congress from Arizona.
- Mark Udall: His great-great-grandson, who served in the U.S. Congress from Colorado.
- Thomas Stewart Udall: His great-great-grandson, who served in the U.S. Congress from New Mexico.
