John and Elizabeth
"The Stephens family line came westward from North Carolina following the rides of their faith by going to Commerce, Illinois. Julian R. Stephens can remember his mother telling the story of the migration which led them to Nauvoo, Illinois as the Saints followed the Prophet westward. She told him of the day that Grandfather and his brother (both youngsters), my grandfather, David H. Stephens, having been baptized shortly before, saddled up their horses and left Nauvoo long before daylight and rode silently along the road towards Carthage. As they rode not a word was said about the purpose of their ride...to follow the Prophet and his brother Hyrum as their bodies were brought back for burial after the assasination. Finally they saw a little twinkling light on the road ahead, made by a lantern hung on the wagon bringing them home for the last time. By that time there was a procession of men on the road and though they were urged to go back, they silently followed the group until they met the wagon. Nothing was said but they turned back and followed the wagon to Nauvoo, the weeping and wailing was audible to all. Their father found them and sent them to their home...they had added their tribute to the brethern. David H. had just been made a fife and drummer boy to the Nauvoo Legion and had hardly participated in any stately review. He did however join his comrades in the death march around the parade gounds. As the events progressed, his family was one of the first to be asked to go ahead to Winter Quarters."[1]
"John Stephens was born 31 Mar 1811, Rowan County, North Carolina. His father was Alexander Stephens born October 1773. His mother was Mary Daily / Daley born 19 November 1787 [or 1778]. His grandfather was Richard Stephens born 1750. His grandmother was [Martha Roberts or Robards from North] Carolina and moved northward. Sometime later they settled in Brown County, Illinois. This was where they heard the Gospel. John was taught the Gospel by Alonzo Foutz and converted by him. He was baptized by the Prophet Joseph and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Hyrum Smith.
John married Elizabeth Briggs on May 1, 1833 at Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois. They had received the gospel and had received the kingdom of God established on the earth. The date of endowment being 6 February 1846. We feel they received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple before their exodus from Nauvoo.During the early days of the Church the Saints were persecuted and suffered much affliction at the hand of mobs and wicked men. The Prophet Joseph Smith made the statement that the Saints would continue to be persecuted or loose their lives and finally be driven out to the Rocky Mountains. "He also aid some of them would live to build cities in the midst of the Rocky Mountains." The Church had grown to an estimated 20,000 attendance at a Conference in April 1844.
Some of the Saints had left the Church and were much more wicked than those enemies without. In July 1846 the Stephens family like many others felt they could endure the persecutions no longer so they left Nauvoo with seven children and all their earthly possessions in one wagon drawn by one yoke of oxen. They went from Nauvoo to Missouri where they stayed with Phillip Priggs, Elizabeth's uncle. He gave Grandfather work for the winter which helped them very much. March 16, 1847 another baby was born to them. Soon after they moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa. They took up a piece of land and farmed it for four years and raised crops to help other saints and to make preparation for the journey to the Salt Lake Valley.
The children who were old enough went to school in Council Bluffs. The teachers were Mrs. Garlick and John Baker. In 1850 Grandfather loaned Brigham Young a yoke of oxen to help him to Salt Lake. The oxen were sent back the same year."[2]
John Stephens and his family traveled in the John Brown Company.[3] John Stephens was appointed Captain of ten families. They suffered many hardships during their long trek across the plains. They traveled with two wagons two yoke of oxen. Before reaching Independence Rock their ten families were about one days drive ahead of the main company and brother Woodward's wagon was about a mile behind the rest, when they camped for the night. So John and his son James Otha Stephens went back to help them, and found about fifty Crow Indians surrounding the wagon taking what they wanted. He told them to leave things alone. Brother Woodward drove on with the Indians following. One going arm in arm with Grandfather and one with James Otha, they went on to camp. One of the Indians went to one side and fired his gun as a sign of peace. They came to camp with them....[2] To learn more about their trek, click the following link: John Brown Company.
In 1870, an epidemic of smallpox visited Ogden. The Stephens families were among those stricken. So terrible was the disease, that rows of tents were erected east of the city and those ill were taken there. John Stephens was numbered among the dead. He died on December 3, 1870."[2]
References
1. John Stephens 1811-1870. Retrieved from OrsonPrattBrown.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment