Isaac Morton and Emily Jane Behunin

Overview

Isaac Morton Behunin was born in Richland, New York, on September 9^th, 1831. His parents were Isaac and Maribah Morton Behunin.[1][22] Isaac was "an outstanding early Utah pioneer."[13] He was of a cheerful and friendly nature, “often entertaining people with songs and stories.”[22] He remained faithful and active in the Church throughout his life. He was well loved by his family and friends. 

Early Days of the Church

           Isaac Morton and the Behunins "suffered the losses, hardships and persecutions of the 'driving of the Saints' through Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa from 1833 until 1850 when he migrated to Utah."[10][13] Isaac was baptized on September 12, 1839 in Nauvoo.[7] He was baptized “by George W. Harris and confirmed by his father.” The Behunins “left Nauvoo at the time of the exodous in 1847.” In order to get ready to cross the plains, the Behunins lived at Council Bluffs for some time.[22]

The Trek West and Utah

The Trek, Provo and Ephraim

Isaac traveled with his family across the plains in 1850. They traveled in the Milo Andrus Company.[2] To learn more about their journey, see Appendix II in the biography of Isaac Behunin. Isaac Morton moved to Provo with his family after they arrived in Utah. In 1852 he moved with them once again to Sanpete County, where they settled Ephraim.[11]

Military Career and Forts

Isaac likely helped build the forts at Manti and Ephraim. In 1853, he joined the Sanpete Militia. Isaac fought in the Walker War for 89 days. During this time, he “was in constant service.” He “made expeditions against the Indians into the mountains and served as home guard.” Later, he fought in the Black Hawk War. In Circle Valley, he “was in constant service for 205 days as a scout and patrol in Circle Valley.”[29]

After being driven out of Circle Valley, he fought at Spring City. Here, he was appointed captain and fought for 6 months. As captain, he “was in constant command” of his company, “which performed home guard” and “scout and patrol duty.”[29] After serving as captain, he was released from his military service.[27] He was “elected to the Honor Rolls and received a veteran's metal in 1905.”[18] To see affidavits of his service in the Walker and Black Hawk Wars, see Appendix II.

Marriage and a Mission

Isaac was married to Emily Jane King in March of 1855 in Ephraim.[6][8] The next month in general conference, Isaac and his brother William were called to the Elk Mountain Mission near Moab. The purpose of the mission was to settle the area and “make peace with the Indians."[13] By mid-July, “the men had arrived at their destination and had constructed a stone fort 64 feet square, near...the northern Moab city limits." The group "also built a corral, planted various crops, and tried to establish friendships with the Ute Indian tribe."[14]

The missionaries enjoyed success at first, baptizing more than a dozen Indians. Unfortunately, many of the Indians were unsure about the missionaries' motives and confusion resulted. In September, the Indians stole crops and killed three of the missionaries[14], including Isaac's brother William.[13][14] The missionaries “entered the fort, which the Indians immediately surrounded and gave notice of their intention to massacre” them. “The next day some of the chiefs interceded in behalf of the white men.” The missionaries were permitted to leave the fort and return home undisturbed.[13] William's body was later “found full of arrows.” A grave was dug and his body was buried.[30]

Endowment, Sealing to Emily and Moving

In January of 1856 Emily gave birth to their first child.[21] He was named Isaac William, apparently in honor of Isaac's brother William who was killed at Elk Mountain. He was said to be the first white baby born in Ephraim.[22] In 1857 Isaac received his endowment[7] and was sealed to his wife Emily.[8] From Ephraim Isaac and his family moved to Spring City. While there he "was called to help settle Circleville."[13][18] Isaac “was ordained High Priest by President Canute Petersen.”[22]

Circleville and Spring City

In Circleville, Isaac served as a counselor in the stake presidency.[13][18] In June of 1866[19] "the settlers had to abandon this location due to Indian troubles."[18][19] Isaac suffered great losses.[22] Isaac and his family moved back to Spring City, which became their permanent residence.[13] It didn't take long for him to obtain “a farm of 120 acres.”[22]

In Spring City, he served as mayor for one term.[13] In this service, Isaac "was instrumental in dividing the city into wards, developing water systems, developing crime and punishment ordinances and defining duties of city officers."[18] In 1883, he was appointed chairman of a meeting that denounced a man that had told lies about some of the citizens of Spring City.[31]

Pioneer Dentist and Doctor

Isaac served as a doctor and dentist in Spring City for numerous years.[15] He was the only dentist and doctor in town for some time.[22] He “forged his own dental forceps,[18][22] which were used by other early pioneer dentists in his area.”[18] He “pulled a lot of aching teeth.” When “people would come to his blacksmith shop suffering from a toothache, he would stop his work long enough to get rid of the offending tooth.”[22]

As a doctor, Isaac helped many sick people. He often made his own medicine.[22] For a sore throat, Isaac took “a spoon full of sugar and covered it with just enough lemon juice for the sugar to absorb.” He “then left it for about 10 minutes.” Next, the patient used their teeth to get “just a little at a time and tried to swallow it without it dissolving on their tongue.”  Isaac used nettle tea for urinary tract infections, which worked well.[28]

Another remedy removed a sliver. For this one, “you chew up about 2-3 raisins and put them on the sliver area.” You then “put a band aid on it and let it sit overnight. The next day you remove it carefully and the sliver either comes out or the end of it is exposed and you can pull it out. Grandpa Rufus once got a sliver chopping wood the length of his forearm and this is how they got it out.”[28]

Man of Faith

 Isaac “was a man of much faith and believed in asking God for help when he didn’t know what to do for the sick.” An example of this happened one winter when “there was an epidemic of diphtheria in Spring City. Some of his grandchildren were very ill with the disease. After doing everything he could for them and fearing they would surely die, he earnestly asked God to let him know what to do. He was inspired to get certain drugs and mix them. He then swabbed the white throats and had wonderful results. The children all soon recovered. These children belonged to his daughter Emily Peterson, who was a widow.”[22]

Isaac and the Indians

The Indians liked Isaac because he learned their language and shod their horses. One of his granddaughters said that the Indians would come “from all around – a whole pack of them – to shoe their horses.” Because of this kindness, the Indians “never hurt any of the family.”[25] When he did medical work for the Indians, it was usually pulling their teeth.[3]

One of the Indians was attracted to Isaac’s oldest daughter, Eliza Jane, and “wanted her for his squaw.” Eliza Jane “had beautiful wavy reddish-brown hair, which was long and curled into long ringlets.” Isaac refused to let him. The Indian “kept coming back and back for many months ‘for his squaw.’” Isaac and Emily feared for their daughter and family, thinking the Indian might get “mad or desperate for a ‘white squaw.’”[25]

In order to protect Eliza Jane and the family, a plan was concocted. “One night when it was dark – because the Indians were all around – Isaac got a big wooden wagon.” He “put straw on a false bottom for her to lie on and stacked bales of hay in the wagon to cover her up. He drove the wagon to Mt. Pleasant. Eliza Jane stayed there with Charles Whitlock for a while.”[25]

“The Indian returned to the Behunin blacksmith shop and looked for Eliza Jane. ‘Where is the girl with the curls that I want for my squaw?!’ he demanded. Isaac told the Indian that his daughter had died. The Indian was doubtful and kept returning for a long time until he was convinced that the little red head was truly gone.”[25]

When the Indians came, they usually just wanted food. They loved flour and sugar. Isaac was still cautious just in case there was any danger. To make sure that his children were safe, Isaac would first dump the food out of the 100-pound bins. He would hide some children in a bin, and the other children in the house. That way the children were hidden and the food was still available to give to the Indians.[3]

Occupations and Skills

Isaac “was one of the organizers of the Independent Canal and Reservoir Company in what is now Ferron and Emery.”[32] Isaac had a farm in Spring City that was 120 acres.[13][22] Isaac was a blacksmith for around 15 years. “It was said that he was a very capable blacksmith and since he was left-handed, he could do many things others couldn’t do.”[22] Isaac “fixed everyone’s machinery and shod horses.”[25] Isaac was also a builder.[3][12][13]

At one time, Isaac “owned and operated a sawmill” and “assisted in building a saw and grist mill at Ephraim.”[13] In Spring City, he built a large barn-like structure on his property. He built two wings coming off of the barn, one on either side. On one side he had a dentist and doctor’s office with all of his tools. His family lived on the other side. One of the uses of the middle space was his blacksmith work.[3]

Behunin Home Then[24]

Isaac built “a beautiful home of native rock” which is still located “on the east side of Spring City’s Main Street.”[12] He lived there with his family for a few years. He then sold the home to Simon Beck.[23]

His initials are inscribed in the hallway of the home.

Behunin Home Now[23]

[Look for reference] The home is old Victorian Style or put whatever style it is. [Reference] It is in the National Historic register ? [Reference] Remodeled yr.? [Reference]

Children and Emily’s Death

Isaac and Emily Jane had 12 children. She died in 1880[17] “of dropsy (water in the legs).” Emily’s death came five months after giving birth to Jonathon. He “died four days after his mother.”[25] Her grave reads, “In sacred memory of Emily Jane Behunin, the beloved wife of Isaac Morton Behunin.... Died on the 14 of September, 1880, and the babe by her side, Jonathon Delbert Behunin.”[26]

Emily’s Testimony

After dying, Emily “came back to life and spoke in tongues. She bore a strong testimony of the gospel, begging them all to live its principles and lead a good moral life. She interpreted all that she had said in tongues and then again passed away.”[22]

Another Marriage

Isaac married Maranda Wilson in 1884.[12][13] She “joined the Church in Tennessee.” She had three boys. It was said that Maranda’s previous husband was “cruel to her and the boys and she divorced him.” The missionaries encouraged her to come to Utah. She came and was then introduced to Isaac.[25]

Maranda “was a tough-talking, joke-telling southern-accented woman, who had no front teeth. She lost her teeth when she had a high fever when she was young. She used to scare little kids by telling them she would bite them. She would then stick her tongue out of her mouth in a toothless grin. The children would scream and run away from her.” “She was a great cook and was famous for her southern dishes.” [25]

Isaac and Maranda “did a lot of work for the dead in the Manti Temple.”[22] They didn’t have any children together,[13] but Maranda’s three sons from a previous marriage were all sealed to Isaac on May 26, 1892.[22]

Isaac’s Death

          Isaac died at Spring City in 1910 of the flu.[1][4] He was the last person buried in the Spring City Pioneer Cemetery.[16] The epitaph on Isaac’s grave reads, “Prepare to meet me in heaven.”[6]

(Look for a copy of his journal.)

Appendix I

           

                                                               

 (Note: In the records, there are two different affadavits for each period of service.)

References

1. Isaac Morton Behunin. Retrieved from PhpGedView.

2. Milo Andrus Company. Retrieved from LDS.org.

3. Walker, D. (12 Jan 2013). Personal correspondence.

4. Isaac Morton Behunin death certificate. Retrieved from Ancestry.com.

5. Anderson, M. B. (1979). Isaac Behunin-Truly a Pioneer Builder. Saga of the Sanpitch, 11, 47-51.

6. Isaac Morton Behunin. Retrieved from Findagrave.com.

7. Membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848. Retrieved from Ancestry.com.

8. 1860 United States Federal Census Record for Isaac M. Behanin. Retrieved from Ancestry.com.

9. 1850 United States Federal Census Record for Isaac M. Behunin. Retrieved from Ancestry.com.

10. Isaac Behunin. Retrieved from HMdb.org.

11. Smith, G. A. (12 May 1868). Journal History. P. 2.

12. History of Sanpete County. Behuninfamily.org.

13. Levor, W. H. (1898). History of Sanpete and Emery Counties, Utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Press of the Tribune Job Printing Company.

14. Richards, J. (March, 2004). Ill fated Elk Mountain Mission as established 150 years ago. Retrieved from http://www.moabhappenings.com/Archives/pioneer0403.htm.

15. Carter, K. B. (1964). A relic tells its story. Salt Lake City, UT: Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

16. Spring City Pioneer Cemetery. Retrieved from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=109318

17. Emily Jane King Behunin. Retrieved from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=grHYPERLINK “http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14190849”&HYPERLINK “http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14190849”Grid=14190849.

18. Moss, F. E. (1998). The man who named Zion Canyon: The story of Isaac Behunin.

19. Gottfredson, P. (1919). History of Indian Depredation in Utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Press of Skelton Publishing Company.

21. Isaac William Behunin. Retrieved from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5969221

22. Guyman, M. & Behunin, C. History of Isaac Morton Behunin. Editing and grammar editing by Devin McFarlane.

23. Behunin-Beck House-1883. Retrieved from http://sanpete.com/businesses/show/2158-behunin-beck-house-1883

24. Anderson, G. E. The rephotography of George Edward Anderson’s Environmental portraits. Retrieved from http://history.utah.gov/historical_society/annual_meeting/exhibit.html.

25. Anderson, B. (1985). (A history of Isaac Morton Behunin). Grammar editing by Devin McFarlane.

26. Spring City Cemetery records, February 25, 1892 – June 21, 1980. Spring City Sexton Book. Copied and compiled by Tessie (Blain) Pyper.

27. Utah, Indian War Service Affidavits, 1909-1917. Retrieved from https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11683-18522-10?cc=1392781&wc=11146912

28. Walker-Fritsche, B. Personal correspondence. (6 Oct 2013). Editing and grammar editing by Devin McFarlane.

29. Affidavits concerning service in Indian Wars within the state of Utah and of service relating thereto. Retrieved from

30. Moss, J. (1992). William Behunin Killed by Indians. Family Story.

31. Indignant Citizens. (16 Sep 1883). Salt Lake Daily Herald.

32. Levor, W. H. (1898). History of Sanpete and Emery Counties, Utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Press of the Tribune Job Printing Company. As quoted in Moss, F. E. (1998). The man who named Zion Canyon: The story of Isaac Behunin.