Isaac Behunin

          Isaac Behunin may be best known for giving Zion Canyon its name. He was an early convert to the Church who knew the Prophet Joseph Smith. At one time Isaac was even one of the prophet's bodyguards.[1][2]

The First Part of Isaac's Life

          Isaac was born on October 20, 1803 to Albert and Nancy Bohannan.[2][3] He was born in Richland, New York. Isaac's mother died when he was only a teenager.[4]
          Isaac was a farmer. He "helped build the Erie Canal" and "other canals during the 'Canal Craze' of the 1800s." In 1823, he was married to Meribah Morton. In 1833, they became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Not long after, the Behunin family went to Kirtland "to join the main body of the church." While in Kirtland, Meribah died. The Behunins were really grateful for the "kindness shown them by [other] members" at this time. Isaac had three young boys, including Isaac Morton.[4]
          In 1834, Isaac was married to Elmina Tyler. They had nine children together. It was reported "that Isaac would say in the evenings, 'Mother, read that scripture to us again.'" From Kirtland, the Behunins moved to Missouri. They passed through the Missouri persecution with the other saints.[2] Isaac is on the list of those that lost property during the persecution.[5]
         Isaac "knew the Prophet Joseph Smith and at times served as one of his body guards. He helped build the Kirtland and Nauvoo Temples. In 1840 he was ordained an Elder and later a Seventy and High Priest. He served a short mission to Iowa."[1][2]
         "Isaac was a good carpenter and handy at making furniture and whatever was needed." The Behunins eventually left Nauvoo with the other saints. "Elmina’s heart was broken to leave her home and the things she loved so much. There were tears in her eyes as the wagon pulled out of the yard. She bowed her head in her hands and refused to look back."[4]

A Lesson Learned from the Prophet

          Isaac is best known in church history for a conversation that he had with the Prophet Joseph Smith. Speaking about those who had left the Church, Isaac said, "'If I should leave this Church, I would not do as those [apostates] have done. I would go to some remote place where Mormonism had never been heard of and settle down, and no one would ever learn that I knew anything about it."[6]
          The Prophet then taught a powerful lesson. He said, "Brother Behunnin, you don't know what you would do. No doubt these men once thought as you do. Before you joined this Church you stood on neutral ground. When the gospel was preached, good and evil were set before you. You could choose either or neither. There were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them. When you joined this Church, you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground, and you never can get back onto it. Should you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve, it will be by the instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be his servant."[6]
          Throughout his life, Isaac remained faithful to the Church. Isaac's family "loved the Prophet and were true to the doctrines as they understood them."[7] The explorer Clarence Dutton described Isaac as fiercely devoted to Mormonism.[2]
           Isaac "and his family suffered the losses, hardships and persecutions of the 'driving of the saints' through Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa." The Behunins left Nauvou with the rest of the Saints in 1846.[2] As the Saints "prepared to make the trek west to their new promised land, they followed President Brigham Young's counsel to establish settlements along the way. They lived in temporary shelters and planted crops for the Saints who would follow them.”[8] The Behunins made the trek west in 1850.

The Trek West

             Isaac's family traveled with the Milo Andrus Company.[9] A fellow pioneer, Brother Fish, wrote, "As the company stretched out across the broad prairies it presented a picturesque appearance. Bare-footed children, here and there, wending their way along the line of march. Women, some with sunbonnets, ...traveling along through the hot dust and over the parched plains.... All were hastening west as fast as they could over these boundless prairies."[10]
            He continued, "These tiresome journeys, the hardships and exposures were the cause of many falling by the wayside, and many were the unknown graves that we passed on our line of march. Some were those of the Saints.... Who they were and where they lie, is known to but few, if any. Did I but know their final resting place, I would, like "Old Mortality," wish to carve anew, and deep, the fading records of their life and death, which time has so nearly obliterated and to herald abroad the praise and honor due them as some of the pioneers, who were the designers and builders, of a western empire."[10]
            Brother Fish later recounted a miracle. He wrote, "My sister, Anna Maria, was cautioned about falling under the wagon wheels when she got in and out, and told that if she did it would kill her. One day she fell and was run over. She jumped up and cried out 'Am I killed? Am I killed?'  The marks of the wagon tire were on her head but she was not seriously injured."[10]
            Brother Andrus sent the following to Brigham Young: "Peace & union prevail in our midst."[11]  "The Lord has blessed us & opened the way before us."[12] Brother Andrus baptized 15 people during the journey.[13]
            Brother Steed wrote, "We had but very little sickness in our company, although sickness and death was before us and behind us daily (among other trains of emigrants), but through the mercy of God we were preserved. Elder Hyde had told us the day we were organized, that if we would be faithful and keep the name of our God sacred, we should be blessed with health and our lives would be preserved. We endeavored to do our duty to the best of our ability and the promises of God were fulfilled toward us; there was one death and one birth, so we were just as many when we landed in the Valley."[14]
             "When the wagon train exited Emigration Canyon and arrived in Salt Lake City on August 30, Andrus sported festive banners on either side of his wagon that read 'Holiness to the Lord' and 'Hail to the Governor of Deseret.'"[9] When the Behunins arrived in Salt Lake, they "were happy to see many of their faithful old friends on hand to greet them."[4]
   

Living in Provo 
and Settling Ephraim

           The Behunins "were sent to Provo within a few days after arriving in Salt Lake City."[2] In February of 1852, Isaac is recorded as being with President Brigham Young in his office with others.[15] In July of 1852, Isaac was "nominated for office of referee or selectman" in Provo.[16] Later in 1852, the Behunins moved to Sanpete County and were the first settlers of Ephraim. Elder George A. Smith wrote, "Fort Ephriam was settled by Isaac Behunin alone. It now (1868) contains 300 families."[17]  Isaac is recognized on a "beautiful monument...that is located on the Snow College Campus."[4]
          When the Behunins arrived at Ephraim, they built "a dugout for cupboard and sleeping quarters." They built a shelter "in front of the dugout" with "their...wagon covers" as the roof. They lived right next to Pine Creek.[18] "Many pine trees grew along its banks."[4]

Settling Ephraim [2]

            The Behunins "were barely moved in when the first of December brought a severe snow storm, and by candle-light, they thanked their Heavenly Father for their many blessings. As the days passed, the snow kept falling, and by the time it reached four feet, several of their animals died from lack of food and extreme cold. These animals were dragged away from the dugout and were quickly snatched away by the Indians, who would devour them, and then later make long speeches to the white people in gratitude for the meat that had saved their tribe from starvation."[4]
           The Behunins "farmed 40 acres of ground during the summer." Then, "Chief Walker declared war against all Utah settlers." Indians killed six men[10] and burned down several homes. Isaac took his family to Manti for safety.[4] The Behunins spent the winter there before returning to Ephraim.
            In the beginning of 1854, Isaac "sold...his farm and water right" to the Church because of land regulations. Around this time, he obtained "use of the water of Pine Creek for mill purposes. He built the first sawmill" on the creek.[10] Not long after, "a road was made up the canyon in order to get logs and timber for building purposes.... The living quarters of the Behunins were improved immensely." This allowed Elmina to be quite comfortable "when she gave birth to another son." They named him Benjamin.[4]
            "In the months that followed, the Indians seemed quite unsettled. Often they were seen hovering near, and it wasn’t safe to leave the yard alone. When Elmina baked bread they could smell it for miles and came to beg some. Snakes were very plentiful and dangerous and it was necessary to be on the lookout for them at certain seasons of the year.[4] In addition to being a farmer, Isaac raised sheep.[4][19]
           In 1854, the Behunins started living in Fort Ephraim.[10] The Behunin men assisted in building this fort and a larger fort that was later built around the original. They also worked on the forts built in Manti.[2] Ephraim officially became a settlement in 1854.
           "Trouble with the Indians became very serious and there was an uprising all over the state."[4] Both "Isaac and his sons served in the Sanpete Militia." Isaac was a veteran of the Black Hawk War.[7][19] In the history of Stephen Behunin, one of Isaac's sons, it says that Stephen's "calling was to help keep peace with the Indians, preach the gospel to them and teach them to farm, just as his father had done. The honor of Captain of the Black Hawk war was handed down from father to son."[7]
            From military man to missionary, and farmer to builder,[4] there didn't seem to be much that Isaac couldn't do. The Behunins "lived in Sanpete County until 1861 when [Isaac] was called to the 'Cotton Mission' in Southern Utah."[2]                                              

Zion Canyon

          The Behunins first "settled at Northrup at the forks of the Virgin River." Here, the family "lived in close proximity to a large clan of friendly Perrusit Indians, with whom they learned to converse." The Behunins "lived in their wagon and a make-shift shelter while it rained for more than a month." With all of the rain, the river "became a raging torrent and washed away much of the farmable soil." When the flood ended, the Behunins moved to Springdale. Here, they constructed a home and farmed. They were some of the first settlers of Springdale and the Upper Virgin river area.[2]
          In 1863, Isaac and his family moved to Zion's Canyon. Isaac gave the canyon its name. He "and his sons built a cabin, cleared some land, and farmed." They lived "near the present site of the lodge."[2] Isaac "was struck with the beauty of the scenery." It was "said that sometimes he would just sit motionless, looking at the mountains and drinking in their beauty."[20] Behunin Canyon was named after him.
          The Behunins wintered in their Springdale home and moved back to Zion Canyon every spring. Isaac lived in the canyon for about 9 years. His farm was sold "for 200 bushels of corn" or $400. His son Elijah said, "My father...left because he was old and couldn't do the work that the place required." Isaac and Elmina lived in Long Valley before he passed away at the age of 78. He "died in the belief of a glorious resurrection."[21]

Conclusion

          The Behunins "were a very poor people full of adventure." They "were always on the move" and had "an undying faith" in the gospel, which is why they moved from place to place.[7]  "They suffered many hardships from Indians, hard work, disappointments, sickness and death of loved ones, and all kinds of trials that were customary [during] those primitive times." Despite the challenges, they "were honest, God-fearing, upright people."[4]

A Few of Isaac's Children

          While the family lived in Ephraim, "Captain Higgins, as he made his rounds on patrol, was a frequent visitor at the Behunin home. He seemed to have his eye on Nancy Mariba. Soon after her sixteenth birthday she married him."[4] "Isaac's son William was killed by Indians while serving a mission at Elk Mountain near Moab. His sons Isaac Morton, Stephen Mosiah, and Elijah Cutler became well known early pioneers in Sanpete, Emery, and Wayne Counties."[2] "Several of Isaac’s sons inherited their father’s sturdy characteristics and continued to be builders of homes and other structures."[4]

A Recollection of Zion Canyon

          When Isaac's son Elijah was older, he reminisced about living in Zion Canyon. Referring to their cabin,  Elijah said, "We built the house of cottonwood poles, and stuffed the cracks with mud. The roof consisted of a ridge pole, with ash and maple sticks on each side, covered with corn stalks and dirt. Inside we had a fireplace, but we cooked on a step stove, usually placed outside, as we only lived in the summer, going to Springdale in the winter. The room had a door, and a window, whose panes were glass."
          Taming the canyon wasn't easy. "The grape vines on the flat...were so thick we could hardly get through with a horse. We paid a yolk of steers to get one acre, and then did the work ourselves. We waited until the leaves fell and then set fire to the grape vines. That was about the only way that the ground would be cleared.... It was some tough job, getting up into this canyon.... I have been up the canyon many times after poles and wood, and we always followed the river bed, for the underbrush and trees were too thick along the sides for us to get through."
          Three other houses were constructed in Zion Canyon after the Behunins had built theirs. The Behunins "set out fruit trees and grew corn and let the water out of the river for irrigation." They "had two orchards." When Elijah was interviewed in 1930, he could still see trees that they had planted. The Behunins raise corn "where the lodge now stands." Elijah said, "This country grew wonderful corn."
          The Behunins had to farm the old-fashioned way. Elijah said, "We had hand plows and 'V' shaped harrows that were pulled by oxen or horses.... We had steel shovels and hoes. At first the shovels we had were fitted with short handles, but later we got what we called lazy man shovels, because the handle was longer and a fellow did not have to bend his back so much when working. Our rakes were hand made, and were all of wood."
          Elijah commented, "Nature does not change much." He said that everything was the same as when they'd left, expect for changes made "by man and the river.... There was more water in the river" when the Behunins lived there, and "many more trees.... There were groves everywhere along the sides." There were "cottonwood, maple, box elder, and ash [trees] with some coniferous trees growing in certain places."
          Elijah "never saw a deer or a mountain lion," but he did see "five mountain sheep one day." He said that  "there were the smaller animals such as porcupine, badger, squirrels, chipmunks, and skunks."
          Referring to Indians, Elijah said, "I never saw an Indian this side of Springdale.... They moved around the country from place to place, usually on foot. They had no horses at first. They camped under rocks and in wickyups." The Indians ate pine nuts, dried fruit, dried jerky, and "used corn meal that they ground themselves from the corn, in a rock grinder.... They mixed the meal with water and made a batter. This they spread on a flat rock that had been heated.... The heat from the rock soon set the batter, so that it would not run, and then the rock was set on edge near the fire so that the cake might be cooked from both sides. When the cake was done, it was rolled and put away."
          The people didn't have money, so they bartered. Elijah said, "Don't talk about money. There was none in the country. Sorghum was the currency of the country, and the value of an article was measured in the amount of sorghum that it would take to buy it. The women spun the yarn from the cotton raised in Springdale and from some small supplies of wool. They wove the cloth and made the clothes."
          The Behunins played some sports. Elijah said, "We used to run horse races and foot races and wrestle side holds. These were the big sports."
           Elijah described Isaac as being quiet, unassuming, and very temperate.[21]  "In 1909, the old beautiful canyon of Zion...was set aside and dedicated as THE MUKUNTUWEAP MONUMENT. Isaac and Elmina had passed away before this time, but some of their children and other members of their large posterity and friends attended these services."[4]

References

1. L.D.S. History Library g.s., call# 1320828 project and roll# XLIB7-102#2752.
2. Isaac Behunin. Retrieved from HMdb.org.
3. Albert Bohannon's Family History. Retrieved from Behuninfamily.org
4. Anderson, M. B. (1979). Isaac Behunin--Truly a Pioneer Builder. Saga of the Sanpitch,11, 47-51.

5. Journal History. (29 Nov 1839). P. 8.
6. Tyler, D. (15 Aug 1892). Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Juvenile Instructor, 491–92; punctuation and grammar modernized.
7. Sealy, I. M. (1952). History of Stephen Mosiah Behunin.
8. Chapter 7: Faithfulness in Times of Trial: “From the Shadows into the Glorious Sunshine”. Retrieved from LDS.org.
9.Milo Andrus Company. Retrieved from LDS.org.
10. Krenkel, J. H. (Ed.) (1970). The life and times of Joseph Fish, Mormon pioneer. Retrieved from
Retrieved from LDS.org.
11. Andrus, M. (11 Jul 1850). Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-1878, reel 31, box 21, fd. 18. Retrieved from LDS.org. Edited by Devin McFarlane.
12. Andrus, M. (8 Aug 1850) Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-1878, reel 31, box 21, fd. 18.
13. Andrus, M. Utah Pioneer Biographies, 3, 216-17. Retrieved from LDS.org. Edited by Devin McFarlane.
14. Steed, T. (30 Aug 1850). Reminiscences, in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1. Retrieved from LDS.org. Edited by Devin McFarlane.
15. Journal History. (17 Feb 1852).
16. Deseret News. (24 Jul 1852).

17. Smith, G. A. (12 May 1868). Journal History. P. 2.
18. Olsen, J. K. (1979). Isaac Bahunin: Ephraim's First Settler. Saga of the Sanpitch, 11, 18-20.
19. Esshom, Frank E. Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah. Retrieved from Ebooksread.com.
20. Bradshaw, H. (ed.). (1950). Under Dixie Sun.
21. Behunin, E. (21 Aug 1930) S.L. Tribune & Richfield Reader.
Zion Nation Park Poster retrieved from http://www.ecology.com/2012/07/23/national-park-posters/
Blogpost published and edited by Devin McFarlane.