Finally, with their preparations complete, the Leavitt family left Hatley on July 20, 1837. Juanita Brooks reports that the train of seven wagons pulled out in good order; all agreed that they might not stay together long. This was really a tremendously difficult undertaking. The trip would take them from Quebec, Canada, through the states of Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and then to Twelve Mile Grove, Illinois. A distance of about 650 miles to Kirtland, Ohio, and an additional 350 miles to Twelve-Mile Grove. They determined that each would manage as best they could and strive to gather as a family at their final destination.
The first wagon included Rebecca Leavitt and her husband, Frank Chamberlain, and their family. Mother Sarah Shannon Leavitt rode in this wagon because it was the best outfit on the road. The second held Betsey Leavitt and her husband, James Adams, and their children. The third wagon contained Hannah Leavitt and her husband, Horace Fish, and their family. The fourth belonged to John Leavitt and his wife, Lucy Rowell, and their family. The fifth wagon included Nathaniel Leavitt and his wife, Deborah Delano, and their family. The sixth wagon had Jeremiah II and his wife, Sarah Sturtevant, and their family. The seventh wagon belonged to Weare Leavitt and his family. Weare was the eldest son in the Sarah Shannon Leavitt family. He was now fifty-two years old. Weare's family consisted of his three older children from his first marriage, Jeremiah now twenty one, Charlotte now nineteen, and Anna almost seventeen. (Anna's situation at this time is not clearly known. She was reported to have married Nathan Rowell. She was not identified as accompanying her parents.) Weare's second wife, Phoebe Cowles, now forty one, and their four living children, Charles, now eleven, George, now eight, Emeline, now five, and two-year old Louisa were included in Weare's wagon. In all the wagon train included about fifty Leavitt family members.
The Leavitt Family traveled together during this first leg of their journey and arrived in Kirtland, Ohio, probably in August or early September, 1837. Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt reports that she had had no opportunity to be baptized as yet. She and her husband, Jeremiah II, and their family were baptized while the family was at Kirtland. One of their children's baptismal date was reported to have occurred on August 22, 1837. There may have been others in the Leavitt family who were also baptized at this time.
Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt reports that they stayed in Kirtland only about a week and heard the Prophet Joseph Smith speak in the Kirtland Temple. This unique temple is still standing and was constructed in response to a command f rom God. It was constructed by members of the church at great sacrifice and represents their overwhelming testimonies and faith in the Prophet Joseph Smith and the restored gospel. This temple was the scene of an overwhelming outpouring of spiritual events during its construction and particularly during its dedication on March 27, 1836. Hundreds reported that they heard the voices of heavenly hosts, and angels appeared to many. The temple seemed to shine throughout the night in a marvelous manifestation of Heavenly Father's spirit. The Prophet Joseph Smith received a number of key revelations in this temple including heavenly visits f rom Jesus Christ, Moses, Elias and Elijah. The family's visit to this temple eighteen months after its dedication must have been very impressive.
Sarah also reports that the family was allowed to visit the upper rooms in the temple and saw the Egyptian mummies and the scrolls that were translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith into the Book of Abraham. Weare's oldest daughter, Charlotte, also reports that her family gathered with the saints at Kirtland, Ohio. Betsey Leavitt Adams' daughter, Sallie, reports that during their stay in Kirtland they visited with the mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith. She indicates that it was then perilous times for Joseph and his people and that he was in hiding. However, while they were there, he appeared and preached to the assembled saints on Sunday.
At this time in Kirtland, members of the church were under tremendous persecution and much of it was directed at the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was being hounded by mobs and finally had to leave Kirtland for his own safety. He left in January 1838 for Mormon communities in western Missouri. Charlotte also reports that the persecutions of the saints in Kirtland had become unbearable so the Leavitt family left and went into the eastern part of Illinois. This would seem to indicate that their desire was to remain in Kirtland but persecutions against members of the church changed their minds. By 1840, in response to this persecution most faithful members of the church left Kirtland to join other Mormon communities in the west.
As the Leavitt family left Kirtland, circumstances demanded that they separate in order to care for their individual needs. Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt reports that her family's resources were all spent and they had to settle about ten miles from Kirtland for about a year while most of the family continued on to Twelve-Mile Grove. Nathaniel Leavitt and his family stopped near Lake Michigan in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Unfortunately, Nathaniel grew ill and died while there, and his wife and younger children returned to Canada. Nathaniel's three older children from his first marriage had also become ill and were left in the care of neighbors. These older children were eventually reunited with the family when Jeremiah II and his family continued their westward trek in 1838. Weare and Phoebeand their children, along with the rest of the Leavitt families continued their westward trek and arrived at Twelve-Mile Grove in the fall of 1837. This stop was evidently intended be temporary on their journey to join with the community of other members of the church.
Since 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith had designated Independence, Missouri, as a gathering place for members of the church. Missouri and the border town of Independence was on the edge of the western frontier of the United States. As Mormon communities in Missouri began to grow and flourish, troubles erupted between old settlers and the emigrating Mormons. There were many reasons for this conflict, but they centered around economic, political, and religious differences. By 1834, Mormon families living near Independence were driven from their homes by mobs. They eventually settled in the sparsely inhabited neighboring countiesof Caldwell and Daviess. Their main headquarters was established in Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. Far West and the surrounding area became a major gathering place for Mormons during the mid-1830s. As many as 10,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints eventually settled in this and surrounding areas. The Leavitt families were probably heading for this gathering place as well.
Unfortunately, by 1837/38, the Mormons in and around Far West were under tremendous persecution by mobs intent on driving them out of the state. In October, 1838, false accusation by members of the mob to Missouri's Governor Boggs instigated his infamous order that the Mormons "Be driven from the state or face extermination." By the fall of 1839, members of the church in these Mormon communities were driven from Missouri. Most fled to Illinois where they valiantly established their next gathering place at Nauvoo, Illinois.
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