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When her husband Jeremiah Leavitt died, he left Sarah with ten childrenbound to join the westward migration of Latter-day Saints in their migrationto the Salt Lake Valley. Three of those children died before they reachedtheir destination. The remaining seven, along with their mother, were amongthose sent to tame the southern reaches of the territory. The three sisters inthe band are remembered for the medical attention they gave in a land wheredoctors were scarce. As midwives, together they delivered more than 1000babies over an80-year period.
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The family of Jeremiah and Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt eventually spread outas they participated in settling the West. They reached settlements in Canada,southern Nevada, eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. But their mettle wasfirst tried, and their pioneering skills honed, at Santa Clara, Gunlock andHebron, Utah.
On Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt's 200th birthday, September 5, 1998, theWestern Association of Leavitt Families unveiled a life-sized statue of Sarahby artist L'Deane Trueblood on Santa Clara's Main Street. Now, ten yearslater, seven bronze busts will be unveiled, dedicated and presented to SantaClara City to grace the park adjacent to the new city complex. The bustsportray each of the four sons and three daughters of Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt,who formed the first settlements along the Santa Clara River. Each smallmonument will include a brief history.
The busts, sculpted by Arizona artist Tyson Snow, are likenesses ofJeremiah Leavitt III, Lemuel Leavitt, Dudley Leavitt, Mary Amelia LeavittHamblin, wife of William Haynes ("Gunlock Bill") Hamblin, Thomas RowellLeavitt, Betsy Jane Leavitt Hamblin, wife of Bill Hamblin and PriscillaLeavitt Hamblin, wife of Jacob Hamblin.
The unveiling ceremony will be held Saturday, August 30. The maingathering will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Tabernacle in St. George, Utah. Theprogram will include music and short vignettes of each of those honored.Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, will be thefeatured speaker. Leavitt is a descendant from two of the sons, Lemuel andDudley.
At 7 p.m. the dedication program will begin at the monument site, next tothe new Santa Clara Office complex. A reception and informal gathering willfollow the program.
The Western Association of Leavitt Families extends a cordial invitationto the afternoon and evening events to all interested persons. A specialeffort is being made to reach the vast numbers of Leavitt descendants, urgingthem to participate. More information about this event can be found athttp://www.leavittfamilies.org.
SOURCE The Western Association of Leavitt Families
