HISTORY OF FLAVILLA LUCY LEAVITT FARLIN LLOYD MESICK
 by Luna Joy S. Viehweg
June 2003

This history of Flavilla Lucy Leavitt is an outgrowth of a request made by Mr. Dixie Leavitt, President of the Western Association of Leavitt Families, to this writer to find living descendants of this great pioneer woman. The project has been dear to my heart because Flavilla is the younger sister of Roxana Leavitt, my second great grandmother. Many of the events in these sisters' lives, especially in their earlier years, form parallel experiences in which they shared many joys as well as hardships. Research is ongoing, so this account is most certainly a "work in progress". Much credit is given to Mrs. Jolene Passey, Genealogist and Research Director for the Leavitt organization, for her many contributions of important information regarding this branch of the Leavitt family.

Before entering into Flavilla's life, something must be said about the background of the Leavitt family. The great saga of the Leavitt families in America began when in 1628 John Leavitt, later known as Deacon John Leavitt, stepped off a ship which had brought him across the Atlantic Ocean from England. He embarked then on a fresh life in the New World, a life in the British Colonies of America. Hingham, Massachussets is where he settled. His descendants fought in the early wars in the colonies, including the American Revolution, and lived to tell of the battles which won our freedom from Great Britain. Eventually, some of the Leavitts moved to New Hampshire and Vermont and then on to Lower Canada, known today as Quebec.

In 1835 LDS missionaries journeyed to Hatley, Quebec and brought the news of the restored gospel to people in that area. Many of the Leavitts in that area accepted this "new" religion and plans were made by quite a number of them to join the members of the church in Kirtland, Ohio. Amazingly, 55 Leavitts left Hatley in the summer of 1837 in a large group, bidding their goodbyes to loved ones who were married and established and who had decided to stay in Canada. No doubt many tears were shed, especially since all of them knew that the chance of ever seeing these family members again was extremely slim. They were right. Distance and hardships made any reunion impossible.

The matriarch of this Leavitt group leaving Canada was Sarah Shannon Leavitt who was the widow of Jeremiah Leavitt. She had sons, daughters, and grandchildren with her as the wagons pulled out. Most of the group went to Kirtland, Ohio first and then went on to Twelve Mile Grove in Will County, Illinois where they bought farms. This place is not far from the city of Joliet. They needed to earn more money before traveling on, and they had heard of the troubles the Saints were having in Missouri.1

Flavilla's father, Nathaniel Leavitt was the second son of Jeremiah and Sarah Shannon Leavitt. His first wife was Deborah Delano, daughter of Moses Delano and Lydia Baker. She had passed away by the time the Leavitts left Canada. Their six children were:

Salena, born 1817 in New Grantham, New Hampshire or Irasburg, Vermont
Roxana, born 1818 in Irasburg, Vermont
Caroline Elizabeth, born 1819 in Irasburg, VT or Hatley, Canada, a place in Quebec just over the northern border of Vermont
Nathaniel, born 1823 in Hatley
Flavilla Lucy, born July 3, 1826 in Compton, Canada which is about six miles from Hatley (Compton also may have been the name of a larger land jurisdiction which included Hatley.)
John, born in 1827, also in Compton.

Of these six children, two stayed in Canada, those two being Salena and Caroline Elizabeth. Evidence of the tender love felt by these family members is shown by the fact that Salena in Canada named her first daughter Roxana in honor of her younger sister, and Roxana later in Nauvoo named her first daughter Salena. Great distances separated them, but the bonds of love were still very strong. Salena had married Joseph Kezar in 1834, and they were the parents of two small children when the Leavitts left Canada in 1837. Caroline Elizabeth was living in Vermont with her Delano grandparents.

Nathaniel had married again, this time to Betsy Bean. Three children were born to this union, Priscilla, Mary Jane, and Weir. When the Leavitts left Canada, Nathaniel had with him in his group, Betsy, their three children, and his three youngest children from his first marriage, namely, Nathaniel, Jr., Flavilla, and John.2 Also included in the group was Nathaniel's brother, Josiah, who was just two years younger. Roxana, age 18, had gone with other family members to Twelve Mile Grove.

The "Autobiography of Nathaniel Leavitt" (Jr.) states, "We traveled through the state of Vermont and New York. When we arrived in Buffalo my father took a notion to leave the company and cross Lake Erie to Detroit. The balance of the company going around the lake by way of Kirtland, Ohio. We hitched up again at Detroit and traveled west as far as Sturgess Prairie, St. Joseph County, Michigan. Here my father rented a farm for one year calculating to move on west and find the church".

At White Pigeon, Michigan, which is just over the northern border of Illinois, Nathaniel and Josiah Leavitt died. The year was 1838. Frightened and in a desperate situation, Betsy decided to return to Canada where she would have the support of her family. One could only imagine how insecure she felt with her husband gone. She kindly offered to take with her Nathaniel, Jr., Flavilla, and John who were 14, 12, and 11 in age respectively. But Nathaniel wanted to stay so that he could try to find the Leavitts. He persuaded Flavilla and John to stay with him. This was a significant decision that the three siblings made. Betsy left them with people of the area and took her little ones back to Canada. The children were told by the local residents that all the Mormons had been killed and that they never would find any of them.3 It is difficult to conceive the thoughts that the children were thinking, but they were brave and hopeful that they could somehow find their older sister, Roxana, and the other Leavitt families.

Then a miraculous thing happened! Nathaniel's brother, Jeremiah Leavitt, and his wife, Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt, were traveling to join the Leavitts in Twelve Mile Grove. This Leavitt family had stayed behind in Mayfield, Ohio to earn money enough to continue their trek.4 As they made their way west, they happened to go to White Pigeon. And who did they see there? Their nephews and niece, Nathaniel, Flavilla, and John! Imagine the thrill and gratitude the children felt when they saw the faces of their uncle, aunt, and cousins! Flavilla was experiencing the budding of womanhood at age twelve. How she must have longed for a mother who could give her understanding and comfort! But Jeremiah and Sarah then took the three orphaned children along with them acting as surrogate parents while wending their way to join the others. This made a total of 11 children in that group.5 Sarah wrote, "We had a hard and tiresome journey. The roads were bad all the way. In one place there was a five mile pole bridge over a swamp without any gravel or dirt on it and the wagon jolted so it almost took our breath away".6

When they got to Twelve Mile Grove, this family was relieved to finally arrive and be among their relatives again. But they were shocked and greatly saddened to learn that Mother Sarah Shannon Leavitt had died.7 For so long they had set their hearts on seeing this stalwart woman who was so dear to them.

It must be said here that through the tenacious and selfless efforts of Dixie Leavitt and his wife, Ann, and numerous others, many of the descendants of Nathaniel Leavitt and Betsy Bean have now been found and are being "gathered in". Also, numerous descendants of other Leavitt relatives who stayed in Canada and northern New England are being discovered and welcomed into the Leavitt fold. The sense of belonging to a great family is nourishing to these people when they find out, not only about relatives in the western United States, but also about their early Leavitt heritage.

Now our narrative returns to Twelve Mile Grove, Illinois. Flavilla's sister, Roxana, married Benjamin Fletcher there in Will County in 1838.8 He had brought with him three small children from a former marriage. Their names were Jane, Joseph, and William Fletcher.9 Then, sadly, on April 21, 1840 Benjamin died, leaving Roxana a young widow.10 The 1840 U.S. Census of Rock Village Precinct in Will County shows Roxanna as the head of her household.11 The 1840 Census names only the household head. Other members of the family are shown only by marks showing the sex and general age groups of the individuals. It appears that Flavilla and John Leavitt were with Roxanna then along with the three little Fletcher children who were under 10 years of age. Nathaniel may have been with another of the Leavitt families. He was in his late teens and may have been on his own. Let us consider Flavilla's feelings in that situation. How grateful she must have felt to be with her sister, Roxana, who was eight years older. What assurance she must have felt to be in Roxana's home. Truly these were exceptionally strong people striving to make the best of a very trying situation. Flavilla was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the year 1839 which was when she was still in Twelve Mile Grove.12

The Leavitts sold their farms in Twelve Mile Grove and joined the Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois, possibly in the year of 1840.13 An 1842 list of Nauvoo Second Ward members shows that Flavilla was living with Roxana and John Huntsman, newlyweds who had recently married in 1841 in Nauvoo.14 It seems that circumstances with dire needs often dictate that decisions must be made quickly. Before her marriage to John Huntsman, Roxana was in Nauvoo with the three young Fletcher children whose names were found in the Nauvoo Second Ward Records.15 Where was her support? How did she live? John was living near her in the same ward. He had four of his children with him, Jackson, Washington, Charlotte and Sally Ann Huntsman. What were they to do without a mother? The solution was found in the marriage of Roxana and John. In the above-mentioned 1842 Nauvoo Second Ward records in another later section only the names of Roxana, John, Flavilla and also Almira Huntsman, another of John's daughters, were listed in the family. What happened to the four Huntsman children? And why were the Fletcher children not with Roxana? These questions must be solved by further research.

Storms of persecution were brooding, and many of the Saints endured the ravages of the mobs. The Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were killed by mob action in Carthage, Illinois in 1844. This was a horrendous blow to the people of the Church. Finally, the people in Nauvoo were forced in the winter of 1846 to leave their beautiful city where their homes and beloved temple were. They suffered untold privations. After the Saints were driven from Nauvoo in 1846, Flavilla married Orrin Day Farlin in Wapello, Iowa on Mar. 7, 1847.16 She was just 20 years old. Orrin was a Pennsylvanian who had been born 9 Nov 1821 in Rockford, Crawford County of that state.17 The Farlins were living in Pottawattamie County, Iowa in1850 next to Roxana and her two small daughters, Salena and Ellen Orliva.18 John Huntsman had been killed by an Indian and died on the Mississippi River according to a nephew, Peter Huntsman.19 This left Roxana a widow for the second time in her young life. She must have felt devastated. Living in close proximity to Flavilla and Orrin had to be a great comfort to her.

It was here in Pottawattamie County that Orrin's and Flavilla's first child, little Orliva, was born in July1850. This child's name in the 1850 U.S. Census of Pottawattamie County, Iowa was listed as Orrilla, a clever combination of her parents' first names. The family was living at Council Point which is near Council Bluffs. Later LDS branch records of Council Point, Pottawattamie County, Iowa record the little girl's name as Orliva in two places, one being her blessing on July 13th 1851 and the other in a list of members.20 That the name Orliva was also part of the name of Roxana's daughter, Ellen Orliva, shows the closeness that these cousins and sisters enjoyed with each other. Research shows that this infant died at Council Point, Iowa on Feb. 8, 1852 at the age 19 months. Her obituary notice was published in the Frontier Guardian, a newspaper published in Kanesville, Iowa (now Council Bluffs).21 How Flavilla and Orrin must have sorrowed over this great loss! Roxana's two small daughters, ages 8 and 3 by then, surely must have mourned and grieved, not understanding how their little playmate could have been taken from them.

In the Spring of 1852 there was excitement in the community of Council Point. Plans were being made for a wagon train to be formed so that many could cross the plains to Utah. Orrin, Flavilla and Roxana were enthusiastic about going west. Orrin D.Farlin was shown in a journal kept of the Emigration Company of Council Point, Iowa as having had in the previous November 1 wagon, 1 horse, 2 oxen, 4 cows, 4 sheep, 4 hogs, and 4 young stock.22 John Tidwell was the captain of the group, and in February of 1852 suggested "that some writing paper be found to prepare a book for the company".23 This was fortuitous inspiration, since it resulted in a detailed day-by-day record of the preparations and trail experiences of this journey to Utah. The clerk was George Bowering, whose work in relating the progress of these courageous people, has enriched our knowledge of the determination, ingenuity and faith of these pioneers who gave so much.

To show the economic situation, but, at the same time, the generosity of the Saints in this area, the following is quoted from an April 1852 date in the above-mentioned journal: "The following are those who have subscribed to the assisting Ezra T. Benson one of the Apostles to the Salt Lake Valley. Enoch Crowel 50 cts., Daniel Shearer 75 cts. in whiplashes, John Tidwell 50 cts.., Charles Lapworth 50 cts., Lydia Coulson 1 pair of gloves, Henry Rodgers $1.00, Edson King 50 cts., Telemachus Rogers $2.00 in blacksmithing or store pay. Oren D. Farlin 75 cts groceries, Jeremiah Leivett 50 cts., in corn or potatoes, Franklin J. Daves $1.00 in corn or potatoes, Eleazer King Junr 50 cts. in corn. David Adams 50 cts. Andrew Whitlock 50 cts."24

This also demonstrates the willing spirit of church leaders to travel back and forth helping the people to organize wagon trains and to find their way to Zion while at the same time having no means of earning money or supporting themselves in any significant way and being dependent on the kindness of others. The strength of faith in action was surely evident here.

As early as April of that year those families willing to make the trip to Utah were divided into four groups of ten. In the Second Ten led by Captain Jonathan McKee were the Orrin D. Farlin and Jeremiah Leavitt families.25 Jeremiah Leavitt was a cousin of Flavilla's, the son of Jeremiah and Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt. The spelling of surnames and given names of individuals varies in the journal. In most cases this history will show the correct spellings as we know them today, except in the case of direct quotes.. By June the total number of families had grown, so the groups of ten were rearranged. Now the Orrin D. Farlin and Jeremiah Leavitt families were in the Fifth Ten captained by Henry Garfield. The Farlin family were shown to have 5 people in his group [Orrin, Flavilla, Roxana, Salena, and Ellen Orliva], 1 wagon, 4 oxen, and 2 cows and 1 man "fit for duty". The totals of the whole company were 319 people, 61 wagons, 217 oxen, 164 cows, 25 sheep, 14 horses, and 77 men fit for duty.26 No mention was made of women "fit for duty!" Seriously, the "fit for duty" term had to mean fit for guard duty, hunting, herding cattle, etc.

After the officers of the group were nominated by Elder Ezra T. Benson and then carried unanimously, some instructions were read to the group by Elder Benson. "The Rules:

First. Prayers to be observed night and morning.
Second. Meeting to be held on the Sabbath.
Third. No swearing to be allowed.
Fourth. Every one to be prepared to tie up their cattle.
Fifth. A Guard to be kept every night and the word cried every half hour.
Sixth. Horses put into the correll [sic]for safty [sic] every night.
Seventh. No cattle to be put in the correll [sic], but to be kept...outside and a guard kept round them.
Eighth. No man permitted to leave the Camp without the consent of the Captain.
Nineth. Every man to have a good gun and ammunition.
Tenth. No gun to be put in the wagon with a cap on to avoid accident, and put a piece of leather over the tube.
Eleventh. Treat your animals with utmost kindness.
Twelfth. A Captain of fifty to be appointed."27

The group left June 4th with the two Farlins and three Huntsmans forming a family group.28 Traveling was relatively easy, as covered wagon travel went, except for the fact that Flavilla was expecting another child. The difficulties of pregnancy were most certainly further complicated by the bumpy riding in a springless wagon and by a rough trail for walking.

Along the way across the plains the wagon train had various difficulties such as deaths, one elderly woman falling from a wagon and being run over, smallpox breaking out, cholera taking lives, lack of fresh meat, wagons breaking down, cattle being stampeded and then found, some people deserting the company, an overturned wagon in a creek, etc. Quoting again from the journal:

"And just before sun down Captain T. Roger and William Clark came rolling into camp with their horses loaded down with Bafallo beef. Captain Roger first shot it then W. Clark, also shot it, and between them they killed it and brought what they could with them, but before they had done they were surrounded with wolves and had enough to do to keep them off until they could get away."29

On Sept. 5th, a Sunday, the journal records this: "Went about five or six miles and came to Fort Bridger at noon where we stayed for dinner. At half past 1 o'clock a.m. we were met by a young man named John Leivett, whose friends is in our company. He gives an excellent report of the state of things in the valley".30

Who could this John Leveitt [sic] be but the younger brother of Roxanna and Flavilla? Any further description of this person is lacking in the report, but what a reunion it must have been for three of the orphaned children of Nathaniel and Deborah Delano Leavitt, John, Flavilla, and Roxana, to be reunited. John undoubtedly had preceded his sisters in making the trek to Utah, probably with other Leavitt families who had taken him in as one of their own. This was probably also the case with the older brother, Nathaniel.

Another interesting reference in the journal is to Dudley Leavitt: "....had to go round a sideling place where the wagon...George...Goddard gave out in one of the hind wheels been smashed....one of the splendid wagons from St. Louis. he made some arrangements for his goods to be hauled and sold his wagon unto Dudley Leveitt, one of the Salt Lake boys, for about two hundred weight of flour, When they arrived in the city".31

Would this have been Flavilla's cousing, the son of Jeremiah and Sarah Sturdevant Leavitt, the Dudley Leavitt who later settled in Southern Utah?

An explanation for the disjointed arrangement of words in the above quotation is that the journal had words written all the way to the edge of the pages and some of the words had been obliterated by water and stains.

Great anticipation infused the whole company as these trail-worn people neared the Great Salt Lake Valley. George Bowering wrote on Wednesday, Sept. 15th: "We passed through the mouth of the canyon and rolled into the city in full rig and in good health and spirits, rejoicing in the Lord God our Savior whose hand and mercy has been over us up the .....present time and moment, through all our ups and downs. And from our hearts we say unto his name be the praise the honor the glory, pwoer might and majisty both now and forever and ever Amen and Amen".32

Arriving in this John Tidwell Company were:

"Orren [sic] Day Farlin, 30, with 5 in his group, 2 wagons, 4 oxen, and 1 young stock
Faleclia [sic] Farlen [sic], 26
Roxene [sic] Huntsman, 32
Selena Huntsman, 5
Ellen Huntsman 4"33

At the end of the account of John Tidwell's Company, George Bowering made this final statement: "As our journey has now come to an end and I have thus far fulled [sic] the clerkship I have done it for the Honor thereof and also found most of the materials such as pens ink and paper out of my own pocket which thing I rejoice in. I will here say one word concerning John Tidwell, our Captain. What I have seen of him with my own eyes I believe him to be a first rate good man., a man that has tried with all his might to do the best he could of the whole company. And it is my prayer that the blessings of heaven may rest upon him and every member in said company".34

Orrin and Flavilla settled in the Salt Lake City 16th LDS Ward.. Their son, William, was born Nov. 27, 1852 only about two months after their coming to Utah.35 A year and a half later the two were sealed together for eternity in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on Apr. 30, 1854.36 Having married in Iowa and then spending the next seven years preparing to come to Utah and getting established there, the Farlins must have realized a long sought-for moment in that holy house.

By 1856 Roxanna had married William Snow and they were living in Lehi, Utah. In that year a census was taken by the LDS Church. The Farlins were living there in Lehi. But there is a fascinating angle in this fact. Listed with Oran D. Farlin were: "Tabitha, William, Oran D., Jr., Eliza, Lucy, Mary Ann, Benjamin, and Harriet".37

Recognizable are the William, Oran D., Jr., and Lucy, if Lucy was Flavilla Lucy. But who were the others? Other individuals could have been living with the Farlins, and they could have been listed as Farlins since they were in Orrin's household. But it is a known fact that the 1856 and 1860 censuses of Utah included fictitious names in an effort to boost the population numbers of Utah Territory to 60,000 so that it could qualify for statehood. Who knows whether it was the enumerators or the residents who actually added the extra names? Until proven otherwise, the other names must be considered as manufactured. A search in the earliest Lehi LDS Ward membership records which started in 1856 showed no trace of the Farlins, indicating that they probably resided there a short time.

The 1860 U.S. Census of Ogden, Utah shows Orrin D. Farlin, age 37, Millwright with Flavilla, age 34, William, age 7, Orrin D., age 4, and Flavilla L., age 2.38 Yes, another little girl had been born in the family in 1858, if not in Ogden, then someplace between Lehi and Ogden. However, in several U.S. censuses Flavilla gave her birthplace as Iowa. In 1858 when Flavilla was born, Orrin's widowed mother was living in Iowa, so it is possible that the family could have been visiting there. Then in 1860 on the 16th of June still another little daughter named Emma was born in Ogden.39 She was the fifth and last child born to Orrin and Flavilla Farlin. After 1860 the history of this couple becomes elusive to researchers. In the Weber County, Utah Civil and Criminal Case Files, 1852-1887 (Ancestry.com) it is shown that Flavilla obtained a divorce from Orrin on April 1, 1865.

It is supposed that about the time of Orrin's and Flavilla's divorce he went to Montana to work in the mines. He had a brother, William L. Farlin, working in mining there in Butte City.40 "The Story of Ajax; Life in the Big Hole" describes William Farlin as having played a notable part in the development of mines in that area.41 An O.A. Farlin, age 50, is shown to be a prospector in the 1870 U.S. Census of Cedar Creek Mines, Missoula County, Montana.42 His age is correct, but one initial is wrong and his birthplace of New York is not right. If the enumerator heard, "Orrin Day Farlin", it is easy to understand how the initials "O.A." could have been recorded. By 1880 another brother, George W. Farlin, and his wife, E.A. Farlin, had joined them. The three brothers and other family members were living together in Butte City, Montana.43

In the 1870 U.S. Census of West Weber, Weber, Utah Flavilla is listed as the wife of Peter I. Mesick. (West Weber was located near Ogden, Utah) With her is their son, John P. Mesick, who was born Aug. 7, 1869. Next door to the Mesicks were two girls, Emma Farlin, age 20 [should be 10] and Catherine Farlin, age 3, both born in Utah.44 Catherine Lloyd had been born to Flavilla and William Lloyd on Aug. 7, 1867 in Ogden, Utah, according to the West Weber LDS Ward records.45 In this book the name was spelled Loyd, a variant of the standard name Lloyd. It is believed that Lloyd was from England and that Flavilla had married him in about 1865. Also in the Weber County, Utah Civil and Criminal Case Files, 1852-1887 (Ancestry.com) is found a divorce naming Flavilla Lloyd on March 16, 1867. This would have been about five months before Catherine was born Catharine Lloyd was undoubtedly the same child named as Catharine Farlin in the 1870 census of West Weber. She was known as Catharine Mesick and shown with her mother in the Peter Mesick home in the 1880 U.S. Census of West Weber.46 No marriage of Flavilla and William Lloyd has been found as yet. On the Internet website of the Western Association of Leavitt Families, Catherine is shown as Katherine Lloyd, and two husbands are listed: (1) Thomas Jones with a marriage about 1887 and (2) Henry Shepherd with a marriage date of about 1897. No specifics are given on these unions.

One very big question arises. What had happened to the other Farlin children between 1860 and 1870? Flavilla married and was sealed to Peter I. Mesick Oct. 20, 1867, one month after bearing her daughter, Catharine Lloyd.47 Flavilla's children, William, Orrin D., Jr., and Flavilla Lucy Farlin were not with her in 1870. Did Orrin take those three children to Montana, leaving his youngest child, Emma, with Flavilla to raise? This seems a possibility since William, Orrin D., Jr., and Flavilla Lucy all ended up living in Montana.

Emma was living with her older brother, William, and his family at age 18 in the 1880 U.S. Census of Glendale, Beaverhead, Montana. Emma's burial place was discovered in the Fall of 2003. She is buried in the Ogden City Cemetery along with an infant son. The tombstone reads: "Emma, beloved wife of Henry Watts died Mar. 31st 1889 aged 18 years also infant son two days old. How many hopes we buried here, the last to sight, to memory dear."

It appears that Emma died in childbirth along with her tiny son. Where she had been living with her husband, Henry, is not known. The Ogden LDS ward records of that time have yielded no information about them. Emma is buried next to her half-brother, John P. Mesick, and his family.

At this point an account of what happened to William, Orrin D., Jr., and Flavilla Lucy will be included here: William Farlin is found in 1870 at age 18 working as a clerk in a store in Bannack, Beaverhead Co., MT.47A He married Olive White Sept. 17, 1877 in Beaverhead County, Montana.48 They had two known children, Fred W., born in1879 in Montana and Ella N., born in 1881 also in Montana as found in the 1900 U.S. Census of Rochester Town, Jefferson Township, Madison County, Montana.49

Orrin D. Farlin, Jr. was known as "Dade" Farlin. In the 1880 U.S. Census he is listed as Orrin D. Farland, single, and living in Trapper Gulch, Beaverhead County, Montana. His occupation was "Burning Coal", and he was living in a house with five other men doing the same work.49A He married Suzanne Teresa Dishno on July 10, 1883 in Lemhi County, Idaho, which is just over the border from Beaverhead County, Montana where they would live as a young couple.50 They had one daughter, Emma Bertha Farlin, who was born Oct. 24, 1885 in Jackson, Beaverhead, Montana.51 Suzanne Farlin died young and is buried at Dewey, Montana.52 Dade Farlin ended up in Colorado where he died Aug. 14, 1907 at Salida in Chaffee County.53 Emma Bertha was raised by her maternal grandparents, Charles and Rosella Pettite/Little, who had come to Montana from Quebec, Canada.54 Emma Bertha married Martin Christian Jackson Oct. 27, 1903 in Dillon, Montana.55 They had three children: Mildred Rosella who married Allen Saunders Dansie, Noel Martin who married Helen Jackson; and Lucile Heneretta who married Robert Lyston Dansie.56 Here is an interesting case where the two Jackson sisters married Dansie brothers. Living today in Jackson, Montana are descendants of Flavilla and Orrin Farlin. Residing in Mesa, Arizona is another family whose roots go back to the same couple. These living descendants have provided much vital information about their families and are interested in learning more of the great heritage of their ancestors.

Flavilla Lucy Farlin (born 1858) was living with a Holbrook family in Ogden as shown in the 1870 U.S. Census.56A She was twelve years old at the time. Later she lived in Montana and was married to Samuel H. McCall on Jan. 31, 1878 in Watson, Beaverhead, Montana.57 In the marriage record and in subsequent census images she was shown as Lucy F., rather than as Flavilla Lucy. The 1880 U.S. Census of Glendale, Beaverhead, Montana lists their daughter, Carrie, who was two years old at the time.58 That census also shows that Samuel's occupation was "gambler". Using the "Neighbors" feature of the 1880 Census, it is fascinating to "walk down the street" and note the occupations of the residents there who lived by the McCalls. It is evident that this community was very diverse with many people having originated from all over the United States and foreign countries. There were numbers of Chinese immigrants working in what could be termed as subservient jobs. There were elements of gaming, prostitution, prospecting for ore and all the services which supported this free-wheeling town of the American frontier. Between 1880 and 1890 something went wrong in the marriage of Samuel and Lucy. By 1900 Samuel is shown in the census in Butte, Montana as single man living in a residence with other lodgers.59 In 1890 Lucy had married William Hodge. They are listed in the 1900 U.S. Census of Great Falls, Montana.60 He was a day laborer and she was a milliner. With them was Carrie M. McCall at age 18 and who was listed as the stepdaughter of William Hodge.

Returning to Flavilla Lucy Leavitt, the mother and main subject of this history, we go back to Utah and find her with her husband, Peter Isaac Mesick, in West Weber near Ogden. She and Peter were married and sealed to each other in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on Oct. 20, 1867.61 Flavilla was Peter's fifth wife. He must have been a very kind-hearted person. He married Flavilla about two months after she had delivered Catherine Loyd. She also had her little daughter, Emma, age 7, with her. By this time Orrin Farlin was probably in Montana with the two boys, William, Orrin, Jr. although the facts on that are yet to be found. Young Flavilla Lucy was living with another family in Ogden, as mentioned before. Now the mother, Flavilla, must have been in a very precarious position. She had lost one daughter in death fifteen years earlier and had somehow lost William, Orrin, Jr. and, in a way, little Flavilla Lucy. So now, here she was with a newborn infant and little Emma at age 7. Flavilla was also trying to regain strength after Catharine's birth. Surely she felt fortunate to marry a good man, a farmer, a High Priest in the LDS Church, and a polygamist who had three other wives to give her some assistance with her little ones. Peter's first wife had died in New York before he heard about the Gospel and had gone west to be with the body of the church. To Peter Flavilla bore one son, John Peter Mesick. He was born Aug. 7, 1869 at West Weber.62 This boy was her seventh and last child born.

1880 found Flavilla and Peter still at West Weber. He was 76 years old. Two of Peter's other wives, Cyntha and S. Elizabeth, were listed in the census there, as well as L. Flavilla Mesick, age 54, L. Catharine Mesick, age 12, and P. John Mesick, age 10.63 By this time Emma was 20 and may have been married by then to Henery Watts.64 No marriage date or further information is known by this researcher about her except that she died March 1, 1897.65

Following is information about Flavilla's son, John Peter Mesick, and his family: He married Anna Isabelle Cole in Ogden Sept. 14, 1892.66 They had seven children. The information which has been gleaned about them pulls on the heartstrings, and a very, sad song it plays: Katie Isabelle Mesick was born May 8, 1893 in West Weber and died young on Mar. 28 1895 when not quite two years old.67

John Edwin Mesick was born Mar. 14, 1895 in Albion, Idaho and died that year on Aug. 17 at the early age of 5 months.68

Charles Lawrence Mesick was also born in Albion, Idaho Oct. 18, 1896, and he married Amey Berniece Davis.69 She had died by 1921, shown by the fact that he is listed as widowed in the 1921 Census of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.70 He died Jun. 20, 1924 at age 27 of an intestinal obstruction.71

Albert Ray Mesick was born Dec.21, 1898 also in Albion, Idaho.72 He married Vilo Marie Helen Morgan.73 On Dec. 7, 1944 he died in an Ogden hospital at age 45 after a fatal fall from a balcony which fractured his skull.74

Lucy Ethel Mesick was born Jan. 8, 1902 in Slaterville, Utah.75 She married Elsworth Johnson.76 In the 1940's she moved to San Francisco, CA and then died in Sacramento, CA Mar. 28, 1948 at age 46.77

Harold Leslie Mesick came into this world Feb 11, 1904 in Slaterville, Utah.78 He married Althea Netina Slade in about 1930.79 Unfortunately, he was accidentally drowned near Hooper, Utah Dec. 11, 1942 at age 37.80

Howard Austin Mesick's birthdate was Mar. 24, 1909, also born in Slaterville, Utah.81 Nothing so far has been found regarding a marriage for him. In the 1935 LDS Census he is listed as single at age 25 and living with his parents.82 Howard was in the U.S. Army in Italy in December of 1944.83 He would have been 35 years old at that time.

No offspring from these children of John P. and Anna Isabelle Mesick have been found, but research is ongoing. It should be mentioned that some of the children of John Mesick added an "s" to their surname to form "Messick".

We know that Peter I. Mesick died Oct. 16, 1884.84 Nothing later than the 1880 Census data is known about Flavilla except for this one item. In 1925 her son, John, submitted the name of his half-sister, Emma Farlin, for LDS temple ordinances to be done.85 That record in the Temple Index Bureau lists Emma's mother as Lucy Farlin Munck. (It is also interesting to note that on the LDS membership records of the Ogden 6th Ward, John also gave his mother's name as Lucy F. Leavitt rather than Flavilla.) No marriage of Flavilla to a man named Munck has been found to this date. It is possible that the Mesick name could have been written poorly and mistaken for Munck. The M and the ck are shared by both names. Also, exhaustive searches have resulted in no death information on Flavilla.

What a life Flavilla Lucy Leavitt had! Think on this: born in Canada, departed her land of Canada as a young girl, orphaned in Michigan with two brothers, living with older widowed sister in Illinois, expelled with thousands of others from Nauvoo, Illinois, married in eastern Iowa, lost an infant daughter in Council Point, Iowa, crossed the plains while expecting a second child, settled in Utah, lived in Salt Lake City, Lehi, and the Ogden area in Utah, married three time (perhaps four), bore seven children in three different marriages - such was the life of Flavilla Lucy Leavitt. She deserves our great concern and appreciation for the many obstacles which she was able to surmount. There is no doubt that she had many joyous times as well as discouraging times. She surely had great joy from the children she raised, and she was a blessing to them. It is hoped that we might do as well in meeting the challenges of modern day life. Flavilla's excellent example is one which we can and must emulate today.

DOCUMENTATION

1. Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt, History of Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt, Copied from her journal June 1999 by Juanita Leavitt Pulsipher, 8
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid., p. 5
5. Ibid., p. 8
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. State of Illinois, Will County, Illinois, Marriage Certificate 00097
9. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nauvoo, IL 2nd Ward Membership Records, FHL #581219
10. Early Church Information Card Index, FHL 820139, Source Times and Seasons Aug 1840, 159
11. U.S. Government, 1840 U.S. Census of Rock Village Pct., Will Co., Illinois
12. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, West Weber Ward Records, FHL #26272
13. Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt, History of Sarah Sturdevant Leavitt, Copied from her journal June 1999 by Juanita Leavitt Pulsipher,10
14. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nauvoo, IL 2nd Ward Membership Records, FHL #581219
15. Ibid.
16. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Ordinance Index
17. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Temple Index Bureau, FHL #1262891
18. U.S. Government, 1850 Census of District No. 21, Pottawattamie County, IL, FHL #442963
19. Peter Huntsman, Letter to nephew Isaiah Huntsman, Jr., son of Isaiah Huntsman and Rebecca Carter Ames, Copy in possession of Joy S. Viehweg
20. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Council Point, IA Branch 1850-52, FHL #1922
21. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Early Church Information Card Index, FHL #820139
22. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, A Journal of the Emigration Company of Council Point, Pottawattamie County, Iowa in the Summer of 1852, Clerk George Bowering, Copied by Brigham Young University 1947, 5
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid., 16
25. Ibid., 23
26. Ibid., 30
27. Ibid., 31
28. Ibid., 28
29. Ibid., 54
30. Ibid., 74
31. Ibid., 75
32. Ibid., 77
33. Ibid., 80
34. Ibid., 81
35. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City 16th Ward 1850-56, FHL #26679
36. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ordinance Index
37. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1856 Church Census, FHL H No. 140, 894
38. U.S. Government, 1860 Census of Ogden City, Weber Co., UT, FHL #805313, 85
39. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Temple Index Bureau, FHL #1262891
40. Harry Freeman, Butte Above and Below Ground, The World's Greatest Mining Camp, BYU book F739 B8F8, 14-15
41. A.J. Noyes, "The Story of Ajax; Life in the Big Hole", BYU Microfiche #737 B38 N9
42. U.S. Goverment, 1870 Census Cedar Creek Mines, Missoula Col, MT, 847, FHL #552326
43. U.S. Government, 1880 U.S. Census of Butte City, Deer Lodge Co., MT, FHL #1254742, 112A
44. U.S. Government, 1870 Census of West Weber, Weber Co., UT, FHL #553112
45. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, West Weber Ward, FHL #26272
46. U.S. Government, 1880 Census of West Weber, Weber Co., UT, FHL #1255339
47. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File
47A. U.S. Government, 1870 Census of Bannack, Beaverhead, MT, FHL #0552326
48. State of Montana, Marriage Certificates, FHL #1905608, 20
49. U.S. Government, 1900 Census of Rochester Town, Jefferson Twp., Madison Co., MT, FHL #552326
49A. U.S. Government, 1880 Census of Trapper Gulch, Beaverhead Co., MT, FHL #1254742, Page 29A
50. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah Marriages, FHL #820160
51. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Temple Index Bureau, FHL #1262897
52. Conversations between Joy S. Viehweg and Farlin Descendants in Montana
53. Ibid.
54. U.S. Government, 1900 Census of Fox Twp., Beaverhead Co., MT, ED #157, 7
55. State of Montana, Marriage Certificates, FHL #1905608
56. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Main Archive, Submitter: Mrs. Ruby Briant Smith
56A. U.S. Government, 1870 Census of Ogden, Weber, UT, Ancestry.com, Image 130, P. 480
57. State of Montana, Marriage Certificates 1875-1885, FHL #1905608 Item 1, 22
58. U.S. Government, 1880 Census of Glendale, Beaverhead, MT,
59. U.S. Government, 1900 Census of Butte City, Silver Bow Twp., Silver Bow Co., MT, ED #108,2
60. U.S. Government, 1900 Census of Great Falls, Cascade Co., MT, FHL #1240910
61. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File
62. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, West Weber Ward 1877-1939, FHL #26272
63. U.S. Government, 1880 Census of West Weber, Weber Co., UT, FHL #1255339, 534C
64. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Temple Index Bureau
65. Ibid.
66. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah Marriages, FHL #820166
67. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Main Archive, #1274677
68. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Early Church Information Card Index, FHL #820143
69. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Patron Family Group Files, 1950 Filming, FHL #261363
70. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church Census of 1921,
71. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ogden, UT 6th Ward, FHL #26233, Memb. #232
72. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Main Archive, FHL #2260785
73. Ibid.
74. State of Utah, Weber Co. Death Certificates, FHL #2260785
75. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Main Archive, FHL #2260785, John P. Mesick
76. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Patron Family Group Files 1950 Filming, Submitter: Lucy Ward Cole, FHL #261363
77. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deceased Membership File, FHL #884189
78. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Patron Family Group Files 1950 Filming, Submitter Lucy Ward Cole, FHL #261363
79. Ibid.
80. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deceased Membership File, FHL #821673
81. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Main Archive, FHL #1274677
82. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church 1935 Census
83. Ogden Standard Examiner, 9 Dec 1944, p. 20, Obituary of Albert Ray Messick
84. Utah Obituary Index, FHL #821673
85. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Temple Index Bureau, FHL #1262891, Emma Farlin