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Lucinda Leavitt Brown
While at Cambria, Franklin and Lucinda were taught the teachings of the Mormon Church. They embraced this religion wholeheartedly and left Michigan in 1854 to join relatives who were gathering at Council Bluffs, Iowa to prepare for the journey west. They settled in Ogden, Utah where Franklin and Lucinda took up land where the Union Pacific Depot now stands. They built a comfortable home of adobe at this site, one having two or three rooms. Franklin helped with the construction of the first railroad in that vicinity. The family was there when the first train came in and the puffing and roaring of the engine made the children run for their lives. Benjamin Franklin, Jr. was present, as a lad of seven, for the driving of the Golden Spike at Corine, Utah. Franklin followed the pattern set in his life in Michigan, combining railroading and shoemaking as his way of supporting his family. His and Lucinda's relatives had settled at Farmington, Utah and they continued to get together, always having a good time singing and dancing. Benjamin died of pneumonia in Ogden on December 7, 1868, suggesting he did not go to the Muddy Mission with the others family members in November. Shortly after his death, Lucinda sold her Ogden holding in 1869 and moved down with here brother John Quincy Leavitt in Farmington, Utah, who had just lost his wife, leaving three children. The house was plenty big for both families. Both family got along well and had much fun playing down by the edge of old Lagoon Lake and going on picnics at Shady Nooks. Lucinda mothered all seven children and was kept busy with this and her church work. It is supposed that when Philander Brown returned north from the Muddy Mission to pick up his second wife, Elizabeth, that Lucinda and her children accompanied them on the return trip south in September 1869. During Lucinda's sojourn at the Muddy Mission, she, Phoebe, and the children stayed with her brother, Lyman Leavitt. Lyman's history tells of his fixing a room for Lucinda, Phoebe and the kids. They encountered many hardships while living in this hot, desolate part of the country. They were faithful and remained there doing their best. When the area was declared a part of Nevada, Brigham Young traveled to the Muddy Mission and they were all released and given the option to move where they desired. This was February 1, 1871. Lucinda and Phoebe remained with their brother, Lyman Utley Leavitt as they all moved back into Utah. For a short while, they stated with a cousin in Santa Clara, while Lyman and Lucinda's son Charles went scouting for a place to settle. They soon left and went to Long Valley, where they lived in an abandoned fort. Soon Lucinda had her own home. They planted crops, but they were destroyed by crickets. So they all left and continued moving northward staying in Kanosh, Utah, then later settling in Fillmore. Lucinda's children were beginning their own adventures. Charles left to work on the railroad in Northern Utah and was married in Davis County in about 1872. Adell was married in Kanosh in 1876. Orilla moved to Woods Cross, Davis County, Utah to work. Soon Lucinda and her son Benjamin Franklin Jr., also moved to Woods Cross. It is there Benjamin met his wife. They would marry on March 12, 1890 in Cache County, Utah In 1888 Lucinda must have still had the spirit of adventure of pioneering because she and Phoebe moved with her son Benjamin Franklin, Jr. and family to Loa, Wayne County, Utah. It was still in the early days of being settled. Life would be quite different there, but Lucinda would be closer to Adell, who often required her help. Wherever Lucinda lived, she cared for those around her. With her small means, Lucinda found money to send to the emigrants crossing the plains. She was active in the communities where she lived and gave years of service in the YLMIA. At the age of seventy, she was called as president of the YLMIA in Loa, Utah. Lucinda died December 23, 1904 and was buried in the Loa Cemetery. Her daughter, Adell died four days later.
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Lucinda Leavitt was born on July 5, 1825 in Compton, Quebec, Canada. She was the first daughter born to John and Lucy Leavitt. Lucinda married Benjamin Franklin Brown on February 12, 1848 in Cambria, Michigan. The Brown's were former neighbors they met in Ohio who followed the Leavitt family to Michigan.