I received this e-mail as a copy of one sent to the Colby-Curtis Museum Archives - Sept.23, 2004 Hatley Dedication Hodges- Leavitt Plaques in Hatley United Church Cemetery .Plaques were placed on the large memorial stone that had memorialized Benjamin Hodges and Ray Hodges who were killed by gas in the second battle of Yepres on France – Belgian border in World War 1 and there brother Ephraim Albert Hodges who was wounded. [A crowed estimated at 450 had turned out for the original May 18, 1919 memorial service] Sept.23, 2004: About 80 people turned out for a luncheon, Hodges family reunion and Leavitt Memorial at Hatley PQ. Canada United Church and cemetery. Cemetery Introduction by Fay Young “167 years ago events began to develop that would complete our destiny here today, Sept.23, 2004 in our short journey of destiny on this earth. We all took different paths to arrive back here where we had been 167 years ago. To do this we had ancestors who had chains of descendant’s .We that are fortunate enough to have children have contributed to the survival of our lines for the future. The grave stones of our ancestors help us remember and give us pause to honor them today. The dates of death are very accurate as the event had just taken place. The birth dates sometimes are subject to memory from many years before but the clues often when shared give us some awesome history. 167 years ago, on July 20, 1837 55 people left Hatley PQ Canada by wagon train to find the Mormons. In 13 year this journey led them West eventually to Utah after 22 had died on the way. One Nathaniel Leavitt died at White Pigeon Mich., his wife Betsy Bean Leavitt retuned to her home town Hatley 9 months later in the spring of 1838 with three small children, Wire Leavitt, Rosella Leavitt, and Mary Jane Leavitt. Today we Honor Andrew Samuel Hodges and Mary Jane Leavitt Hodges and there ancestors at there grave at the United Church Cemetery in Hatley. Ephraim Samuel Hodges, son of Andrew Samuel Hodges and Hannah Metcalf, was born on the Hodges homestead at Hodges Pond [now Hatley Pond] in Hatley Sept 4, 1826. Mary Jane Leavitt, daughter of Nathaniel Leavitt and Betsy Bean was born in Hatley Feb.15, 1833. Ephraim Samuel Hodges and Mary Jane Leavitt Mar. May 2, 1852 in Hatley and lived there lives there, having 8 children. About 1/3 of the Grave stones in The United Church Cemetery are somehow related to the families. Dixie and Ann Leavitt are to be thanked for the determined effort to place dozens of monuments all the way back from Santa Clara Utah to Hatley Canada, Grantham NH. , Deerfield NH. , Exeter NH., Hingham Mass., in their effort to find the Leavitt origins and honor ancestors. On the internet ,”The Western Assoc. of Leavitt Families” is a must see site with the life size Bronze Statue of Sara Sturtenent in Santa Clara Utah and 18 associated plaques pictured. Sara Sturtevent and family had lived in Hatley for 37 years. Ann Leavitt’s fine writing ability has and is contributing books of significant family and area history for posterity including “ Hingham to Hatley”., ” From Hatley to Home’ and “Those who Bade Goodbye”. All of this is Hatley History and should be preserved. I was supposed to introduce the former Gov of Utah, Mike Leavitt to you, he arrived here last night but he was urgently called back to Washington, but I am equal proud to introduce his dad Dixie Leavitt to dedicate the plaques and bless the families.”