Ancestor Stories
Levi Savage:
Levi Savage was a returning missionary from the country of Siam where he had served for a
period of four years. He was chosen to be a sub-captain for the Willie Company. By the time
the company crossed Iowa and reached Florence, Nebraska, it was very late in the season. Levi
was familiar with the trial to Utah and he pled with the Saints to wait until spring to make the
journey. He advised them to go into Winter Quarters and wait through the winter.
In his own words, “August 13, 1856, Wednesday, Florance *sic+, Nebraska Territory. Today we
continued preparations for starting. Evening we held meeting in camp. Brother Willey exhorted
the Saints to go forward regardless of suffering even to death. After he had spoken, he gave me
the opportunity of speaking. I said to him that if I spoke I must speak my mind, let it cut where
it would. He said certainly to do so. I then related to the Saints the hardships that we should
have to endure. I said that we were liable to have to wade in snow up to our knees and shovel
at night, lay ourselves in a thin blanket and lie on the frozen ground without a bed. I said that
it was not like having a wagon that we could go into and wrap ourselves in as much as we like
and lay down. No, said I, we are without wagons, destitute of clothing and could not carry it if
we had it. We must go as we are. The handcart system I do not condemn. I think it preferable to
unbroken oxen and inexperienced teamsters. The lateness of the season was my only objection
to leaving this point for the mountains at this time. I spoke warmly upon the subject, but spoke
truth . . .”
Apparently, Levi was the only one urging caution. Emma James, a member of the Willie
Company, writes, “With tears streaming down his cheeks, he pleaded with the people, ‘Brothers
and Sisters, wait until Spring to make this journey. Some of the strong may get through in case
of bad weather, but the bones of the weak and old will strew the way.’” Levi was voted down,
the majority being against him. He then added, “Brethren and Sisters, what I have said I know to
be true, but seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you, will help you all I can, will work with
you, will rest with you, will suffer with you, and, if necessary, I will die with you. May God in His
mercy bless and preserve us.”
Levi Savage was a returning missionary from the country of Siam where he had served for a
period of four years. He was chosen to be a sub-captain for the Willie Company. By the time
the company crossed Iowa and reached Florence, Nebraska, it was very late in the season. Levi
was familiar with the trial to Utah and he pled with the Saints to wait until spring to make the
journey. He advised them to go into Winter Quarters and wait through the winter.
In his own words, “August 13, 1856, Wednesday, Florance *sic+, Nebraska Territory. Today we
continued preparations for starting. Evening we held meeting in camp. Brother Willey exhorted
the Saints to go forward regardless of suffering even to death. After he had spoken, he gave me
the opportunity of speaking. I said to him that if I spoke I must speak my mind, let it cut where
it would. He said certainly to do so. I then related to the Saints the hardships that we should
have to endure. I said that we were liable to have to wade in snow up to our knees and shovel
at night, lay ourselves in a thin blanket and lie on the frozen ground without a bed. I said that
it was not like having a wagon that we could go into and wrap ourselves in as much as we like
and lay down. No, said I, we are without wagons, destitute of clothing and could not carry it if
we had it. We must go as we are. The handcart system I do not condemn. I think it preferable to
unbroken oxen and inexperienced teamsters. The lateness of the season was my only objection
to leaving this point for the mountains at this time. I spoke warmly upon the subject, but spoke
truth . . .”
Apparently, Levi was the only one urging caution. Emma James, a member of the Willie
Company, writes, “With tears streaming down his cheeks, he pleaded with the people, ‘Brothers
and Sisters, wait until Spring to make this journey. Some of the strong may get through in case
of bad weather, but the bones of the weak and old will strew the way.’” Levi was voted down,
the majority being against him. He then added, “Brethren and Sisters, what I have said I know to
be true, but seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you, will help you all I can, will work with
you, will rest with you, will suffer with you, and, if necessary, I will die with you. May God in His
mercy bless and preserve us.”
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