HISTORY of LOUISA LEAVITT HAIGHT

(Came to Utah in 1847 in the Orson Spencer Company)

Written by Clarissa Caroline Smith Gillette

Sarah Sophia Camp - Declo, Cassia County

Louisa Leavitt was born in Hatley, Sherbrooke Co., Canada in December 1835. Her father, Wiar Leavitt, had been raised in New Hampshire, but had moved with his family to Canada and became a trapper for the Hudson Bay Company.

Louisa Leavitt's mother, Phoebe Coles, was born in Claremont, New Hampshire and was the second wife of Wiar Leavitt. His first wife was the sister of Phoebe Cole, Charlotte Cole (actually Abigail).

When the gospel was first preached in Canada, the Leavitt family accepted and in 1837 moved with others to the United States where they settled near Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois.

While acting as a trapper for the Hudson Bay Company, Wiar had found himself unable to supply his family with the necessities of life one winter. Several days had passed and the young family was near starvation. Mother Phoebe prayed for food for her little family. That afternoon a large flock of geese passed over the house, Wiar being a good shot with a rifle took aim at one of the larger birds and it fell down in the doorway. Louisa accepted this as a complete answer to her prayer.

In 1846, Wiar Leavitt died at Fir Grove leaving Phoebe to raise the little family alone. Louisa was then 12 years of age. Even in such stress and hardships Phoebe stood by the Church. She gave her last corn to complete the Nauvoo Temple.

Louisa accompanied her mother and brother to Utah in 1847, there for a time they resided in the old Fort.

The year 1849 saw the settlement of Davis Co. with towns at Farmington, Kaysville, Layton, Centerville and others. Some time in the year 1855, the Leavitt family found their way to Davis Co.. Here Louisa met and married Horton David Haight, who at that time lived in Farmington.

They became the parents of ten children, nine of whom lived to move with them to the Goose Creek Valley. The first boy was born under trying conditions. A doctor coming out from Salt Lake told them they could not have a live child. President Young, upon hearing the event, came out to the Farmington home and blessed Louisa, telling her she would be the mother of a large family. All of these children have remained in the church and reared good-sized families. One girl, who was to have been married in the Temple, died a short time after her sweetheart was drowned. They were sealed in the House of the Lord the following spring.

The years 1856 to 1882 were eventful years for this good family. Horton David Haight was away a good share of the time. He made seven trips across the plains to Missouri to bring food and emigrants back to Utah. On one of these trips, he found an Indian squaw and babe whom the tribe had abandoned. He was too kind-hearted to leave her so they were part of the family until the squaw learned to keep house and cook. Louisa trained her and she was known to be one of the best cooks in Davis Co..

It was during the years that Aurelia S. Rogers organized the Primary in the Church. Louisa was chosen as her counselor.

In 1882, the family moved to Cassia County, Idaho where Horton became the first President of the Cassia Stake. Grandmother kept a beautiful home and all were welcome, during these years of his laboring to establish a new home and make a good living. She became the President of the Relief Society of the Stake, which position she held for years, with zealous regard for her duties. Having lived a full and good life, her family living around her, happy and prosperous, she passed away in 1916 to join her husband who had preceded her in death January, 1900.