This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Stephens Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/0VB.2ACI/5991.6090 Message Board Post: History of John Stephens Written by Laura Eames Stephens John Stephens was born 31 March 1811 in Rowan County, North Carolina. His father was Alexander Stephens, who was born about 1775. His mother was Mary Daily, born 19 November 1787. His father’s father was Richard Stephens who was born 1750. His father’s mother was Martha Robards born 1755. John Stephens was taught the gospel by Alonzo Foutz and was converted by him. He was baptized by the Prophet Joseph Smith and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Hyrum on 1May1833i n Nauvoo, Illinois. He married Elizabeth Briggs They had received the gospel and had received the kingdom of God established on the earth. The date of endowment was 6 Febuary1846. We feel they had received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple before their exodus from Nauvoo. To this couple was born 12 sons and daughters: Names and dates as follows: Name Name date of Birth Where Born 1. James Otha Stephens 1 May 1834 Brown County, Illinois 2. David Henderson Stephens 22 October 1835 Brown County, Illinois 3. John Cornelius Stephens 4 July 1837 Brown County, Illinois 4. Almira Carolina Stephens 17 February 1839 Brown County, Illinois 5. Alexander Nephi Stephens 11 December 1840 Brown County, Illinois 6. Daniel Monroe Stephens 4 October 1842 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois 7. Elizabeth Jane Stephens 14 March 1845 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois 8. Thomas Jefferson Stephens 16 M a r c h 1847 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois 9. Constance Ann Stephens 17 February 1849 Council Bluffs, Iowa 10. Solomon Clinton Stephens 1or 7 September 1850 Council Bluffs, Iowa 11. George Washington Stephens 1 April 1853 Ogden, Weber County, Utah 12. William Jesse Stephens twin 1 April 1853 Ogden, Weber County, Utah (George Washington Stephens died the day of birth-1 April 1853) During the early days of the church the saints were persecuted and suffered much affliction at the hands 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 would finally be driven out to the Rocky Mountains. He also said 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 from without. In July 1846 the Stephens family like many others felt they could not endure the persecutions of the saints longer. They left Nauvoo with 7 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 Briggs, who was an uncle to Elizabeth Briggs. He gave Grandfather John Stephens work for the winter, which helped them very much. On 16 March 1847 another baby was born to them. Soon after they moved to Council buffs, Iowa and took a piece of land and farmed it for four Years and raised crops to help other saints needing food along the way, also in preparation for the rest of the journey to Salt Lake Valley. The children old enough went to school in Council Bluffs. The children’s 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. On 1 September 1850 another son was born. They named him Solomon Clinton Stephens. In 1851 they started for the Salt Lake Valley with a large group of Saints. Orsen Pratt was also in that company. Grandfather was appointed Captain of ten families. They suffered many hardships during their long trek across the plains. They traveled with two wagons and two yoke of oxen they were in the Bates Company. Before reaching. Independence Rock their 10 families were about one-day’s drive ahead of the main company and brother Woodward’s wagon was abut a mile behind the rest, when they camped for the night. So Grandfather and his son James Otha went back to help them, and found about 50 Crow Indians surrounding the wagon taking what they wanted. Grandfather told them to leave things alone. Brother Woodward drove one wagon with the Indians following. One going arm in arm with grandfather and one with James Otha, and 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 for the night; but not knowing what they might do during the night and knowing Allred’s company had camped at Independence Rock, Henry Boley some others were sent back for help to move their camp. The Indians broke camp and were never seen again. While at Independence Rock, there were many men and boys that went into some caves and found the names of the saints who had passed before who had written on the walls. The next day they continued their journey and had no trouble until they reached South Pass in Echo Canyon. There was a terrible hail and windstorm. They had to unhitch their oxen and they stampeded. It took all the next day to find and bring them back. Imagine making the long journey from Nauvoo with 7 children and then having three more children enroute, making the family of 10 children, Father and Mother, and having only two wagons and two yoke of oxen. Making the trip that they might take up their lives in this new strange land, where they could worship their God ads they chose. On October 1851 they reached the Salt Lake Valley and stayed with Grandfathers brother Alexander Stephens who was a member of the Mormon Battalion. They stayed with him until after October conference. Then they went again to where Grandfather’s brother in law, James Brown lived. Mr Brown gave grandfather work, which helped them through the winter. In the spring he sold grandfather two city lots with a one-room house on it. Then they built another room and were very comfortable. The same year, they rented a piece of land from Captain Brown near the Weber River, which is now 24th street. Elizabeth gave birth to twin sons the 1st of April 1853. These children being born two years after they arrived in the valley. The babies were William Jesse and George Washington. George died the day of the birth. In the spring of 1855 Grandfather and his cousin Phillip Garner took up farms south of Ogden, they got their water from Burch Creek. In after years they made three large reservoirs and stored water for irrigation. The years of 1855 and 1856 were known as hard winters. About 510 head of cattle froze and starved to death. Foodstuff was so scarce they had to eat the flesh of frozen cattle to live. In the spring of 1857 President Young called out the militia to go to Echo Canyon and keep Johnston’s army from coming into the valley. Grandfather and his son Otha went and stayed until Johnston’s army were snowed in at Fort Bridger for the winter. Later his son Alexander Nephi was called to help guard Lost Creek to keep the army from entering that way. In 1858 President young called the saints living north of Lehi to move south. Three sons of Grandfather remained here to guard and if necessary burn everything that would burn and leave the place as barren as they found it. They had planted their crops that spring. Daniel Monroe Stephens, who was then 16 years old, helped his father move the family to Spanish Fork. They made six trips, with one wagon and two yoke of oxen. They stayed there until July when President Young called them back to their homes. In this move the family traveled 1200 miles. It had rained several times and the three sons detailed to sta! y on guard had looked after the crops, and they were good. Truly the Lord had blessed them with this good crop because Johnston’s army had to get their supplies from the Saints. In 1860 and 1861 they lived in Ogden on 25th street where they had a home. In 1870 an epidemic of small pox broke out and the Stephens family were among those stricken. So terrible was the epidemic that rows of tents were put up east of the city, and those ill were taken there to be cared for. Grandfather Stephens was numbered among the dead. His death occurred 3 Dec 1870 Elizabeth lived until 16 March 1886, passing away in Ogden, Utah on that date, at the age of 73. She had to be a woman with much endurance to have endured the trials of these early saints, and raising such a fine family who were some of the early settlers of Weber County. The following genealogy of John Stephens and Elizabeth Briggs was taken from his own handwriting. Later his son Daniel Monroe Stephens made a notation that he had recorded it in his own record. THE GENEALOGY OF JOHN STEPHENS AND ELIZABETH BRIGGS (Taken from his own handwriting) John Stephens son of Alexander Stephens and Mary Daily. Alexander Stephens son of Richard Stephens and Martha Robards. Mary Daily daughter of Wm Daily and May Daily. Wm was born in Ireland and came to America when a small boy with his brother Charles and Mary Daily daughter of Edmond Parnier and Hanna Parnier. John Stephens was born in North Carolina Davidson County in the year 1811. The 31st day of March 1831 immigrated to Illinois. Elizabeth Briggs daughter of John Briggs and Constant Peacock was born on the 9th day of may 1812 and emigrated at the same time to Illinois and was married in Illinois August the 1st 1833. Alexander Stephens, my father, was born about 1775 and died the 7th day of February 1824 in North Carolina, Davidson County. All recorded in 1895 by D.M. Stephens