Levi Bracken

Levi Bracken 1791-1852

Levi Bracken was the son of William Bracken and Mary Garrison. He was born March 14, 1792 at
Conamaughn, Cambria County, Pennsylvania (now Philadelphia).

He was very unfortunate, especially in the early years of his life. It was filled with sorrow, disappointments and hardships. He was only three years old when his father died in 1795, thus being deprived of the love and wise counsel that a kind father could give to him. After this tragedy, his mother began to plan as best she could for her two small sons; with Thomas and Levi she prepared to go to Ohio to start a new life. This she did, accompanied by her father, Elijah Garrison, and her brothers.
 After they arrived in the new state, her hopes and plans for her young sons were snatched away
without warning. It was in the year 1797 when Levi was only five-years-old that his mother passed
away. During his tender years he learned many valuable lessons of life that were a lasting benefit in
later years. Robbed of the understanding love and guidance of both mother and father, young Levi
developed a serious independent nature. While he was reared by his grandfather and uncles who were
mindful of his needs, he missed the natural motherly affections and fatherly confidence every son
craves. The years passed swiftly and he did all that was required of him and gained the respect and
admiration of his fellowmen and associates.
 He was energetic and self-reliant, and because of childhood responsibilities, reached the state of
manhood prematurely. He was anxious to have a home of his own and enjoy the love, security, and
peace that had been denied him thus far in his life. At a very early age, he fell in love with an attractive young lady by the name of Elizabeth Clark. She was born in Missouri on the 26th of October, 1797. Elizabeth's family had emigrated to Jackson County Missouri and suffered the usual hardships and persecutions that came to the saints there.

Elizabeth Clark (Levi's wife) 1790-1876

They were soon married and after the happy wedding, took on the more serious problems of
homemaking. Their lives together were filled with varied and unpredictable experience, but they were
young and courageous and unafraid of the future. They were accustomed to frontier life and would
stand together, undaunted by the trials in store for them. The first part of their married life was spent in Hamilton County, Ohio. They lived there until 1821 when they decided to move to Rush County,
Indiana.
 While living in this locality, Levi received the most satisfying blessing of his life. He heard the
gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as it fell from the lips of humble men of God. His yearning
soul drank in the comforting message that explained so many of the mysteries of life. He became an
ardent investigator and with each new gospel truth he heard, the more convinced he became of its
divinity. He was soon converted and led into the waters of baptism by Elder Benjamin Benson on
March 10, 1832 at Clinton County, Indiana. His soul was filled with love, contentment, and
appreciation of God’s kindness to him. He went forth with renewed strength and the power of the Holy Ghost to accompany him during times of distress. He was one of the first Elders ordained in the Church.
By September 25, 1835, Levi was on a mission for the Church with Uriah Curtis. They were laboring in Clark County, Indiana where they taught and baptized John Tidwell among others. John Tidwell would go on to be a branch President of a small group.
After living in Indiana for some time they decided to move to Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, where they could live among the Saints. This they did and remained here until 1846 when the Saints were driven from their homes there. Levi and Elizabeth Bracken took out their own endowments in the Nauvoo Temple on January 22, 1846.
Sometime between January and December 1846, they began their travel west and then by December 31, 1846, Levi and his family were members of the Winter Quarters Twenty First Ward.
After leaving Nauvoo, they traveled to Council Bluffs (then called Kanesville), Pottawattamie County, Iowa and settled in the Big Pigeon area, which was still being established. While living there, Levi became very active in both civil and religious affairs. He served as Bishop for the Church, and as an Alderman for the community. In March 1848, a post office was established in Kanesville. A county organization was also obtained being called Pottawattamie. Levi Bracken was one of the magistrates. Here he also served as Justice of the Peace. He enjoyed giving his service to his fellow men.
On the 1850 U. S. Census, in dwelling #674, the Brackens were listed with those in Big Pigeon.  Recorded were Levi, age 60; Elizabeth, age 61; and Ann, age 20.  Levi and Elizabeth also appear on the 1851 and 1852 Iowa State Censuses in the same place.

Big Pigeon Tabernacle, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. where they met for church meetings

This phase of his life was soon to be interrupted, for in the year l852 preparations were made to begin the trek across the plains. Together with his wife and family he secured the necessary provisions and left with a group of faithful Saints for the Rocky Mountains. He served as Captain of  2nd Ten of the 16th Company under Captain Uriah Curtis.
They endured many harrowing experiences during their strenuous trek across the unfamiliar and barren territory. But their faith was unwavering and they journeyed on. By July they had reached the Platte River in Nebraska. There was a great deal of sickness among the Saints and many died and were buried in unmarked graves along the Mormon Trail.
It was during this time, when many were stricken with cholera, that Levi was called to administer to Sister Allen Mathews who was seriously ill with the dreaded disease. Realizing full well its contagiousness and the danger in which he placed himself, he willingly went to bless a friend. After completing the request he also became a victim of the terrible malady and passed away the following morning at 8:00 a.m. He died in August 1, 1852 and was buried at Loup Fork, Nebraska in an unknown grave.

The crossing at Loup Fork, where the Loup River and the Platte River meet,
near here is where Levi Bracken died

Plaque posted at the signt, 'Road to Zion', showing groups of pioneers crossing here.

It may be said of him, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13.

Elizabeth Bracken, Levi’s devoted wife, continued to travel on with the company of Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah. She later moved to Spring Valley, Nevada and made her home with one of her daughters. Here again a new life was opened up before her, one full of the care and responsibilities that come with pioneer life. But she continued to carry on with faith and courage.
Her eventful life came to a close 8 June 1876 at the home of her son-in-law, William Bailey Maxwell. She was 85 years, seven months and 15 days old. She lived and died a faithful Latter-Day Saint, and died with a hope of coming forth in the morning of the First Resurrection.
The descendants of Levi and Elizabeth, six daughters and one son (two more sons died young or in infancy), bear record of the valiant efforts of those noble pioneers and pay homage to them today after a period of one hundred and fifty years.

Their Children:
Mary Ann married Luther Collins Ramsey
Hannah Maria married Levi Tomlin
James Bennett married Sarah Head
William died in infancy
Martha Ruth married Thomas Hampton
Lucretia Charlotte married William B. Maxwell
Matilda married James McFate
Elizabeth Ann married to Dabney Keele (our ancestors, they had a son William Augustus Keele that married Cleopatra Burgess)
another son died young