Isaac Stephens was born
Isaac (as most boys of that time)
had little opportunity for school or special training. In this period of
English history, children were put to work at an early age to help support the
family. There is very little known about his childhood, but his home was near
the Faversham Works, a powder mill. He started to
work in the powder mills as quite a young boy, as did most of the men and boys
in that vicinity.
These powder mills, or the
"Works" as they were called by the people of Faversham,
were owned and operated by Colonel William T. T. Hall. The Works with housing
facilities for the workers was located on his large estate known as Syndale. Colonel Hall was known for his kindness and
benevolence.
It was while Isaac was working at
the mills that he met and courted Frances Dence, a
slender little girl with large dark eyes and waving brown hair. She was
employed in the home of Colonel Hall, and they thought a great deal of this
little girl with the flashing, dark eyes. So much so, that they objected to her
marrying a worker in their powder mills. However, all objections were
over-ruled and they were married in the spring of 1846. They had a church
wedding with the Reverend Dr. Burt officiating at the
The young couple
had a comfortable cottage at Syndale and were
happy in founding a new home. Isaac worked hard at the Works and
Their first child, a son they
named Charles, was born
It was about this time that a
disturbing element entered this home. It was the strange doctrine called
Mormonism, brought to them by missionaries from far off
One evening, the missionaries were
calling on the Stephens family and Isaac, wanting to be the hospitable host,
offered them cigars. They both refused. Isaac felt affronted and perhaps a
little angry. After all, he was only trying to make
Now came a period of great trial
for this young couple. Their friends and family turned against them because
they had joined the hated Mormon Church. They only worked harder now to save
more money so that soon they could join the Saints in
Their third son, Henry Nephi, was
born
Then a serious accident took
place. Isaac was just finishing his day's work at the powder mills when he
heard someone say, "Ike, get out of there." He though it was his
brother who called to him and without a second hesitation he dropped what he
was doing and left hurriedly. He had scarcely reached the outside when there
was a deafening explosion and the building he had just left was blown to bits.
He was knocked to the ground and the gun powder on his clothing ignited.
Instantly he was ablaze. He ran to a nearby pond and plunged into the water.
The flames were extinguised but he was badly burned.
His legs received deep burns, his hands were lightly burned, and bits of the
black powder were embedded in the skin on his face all his remaining days.
Colonel Hall was very kind and
considerate to Isaac and his family. The best doctors were called and he was
given the best of care. The doctor left medicines for him with the necessary
instructions, but left no hope for his recovery. Isaac and Frances did not
despair-they called for the Elders. The Elders came as soon as they were
located and anointed and blessed him, and by faith he was healed. He refused to
use the medicines saying he had no further use for them. Because of the bitter
persecution and opposition of their relatives and friends, they did not tell
anyone of the blessing he had received, or of his refusal to take the medicine
or use the ointments. The doctor was surprised at this recovery, as was the
whole neighborhood. The burns on his legs were deep and the healing was a slow
and painful process.
This slowed down their plans but
only made them the more determined to go to
Ten years had now passed and at
last enough money had been saved to take this family to
It must have been with mixed
feelings of sorrow and joy that the day arrived when they found themselves on
board the ship
They hadn't gone far when whooping
cough broke out in their camp. The little Stephens children contracted the
disease and Polly, who was then four years old, was critically ill for days.
The best nourishment they could give these sick children was the fresh milk
from their good cow. Her milk was given to all the sick children in their
group. She was milked three times a day and the children's cups were filled
with warm, fresh milk. The parents felt that it saved their children's lives.
The cow was a real pet and would eat any morsel of food handed to her. No food
was wasted in that camp as every potato peeling and scrap from the table was
brought to Bossie-much to her liking.
As the journey continued, each
passing day became one of suffering for Isaac. He had never been an outdoor
man. Constant walking was new to him and the new skin that covered his legs as
his burns healed was thin and tender. Walking constantly irritated his old
wounds and the thin tissue would break causing infected sores on his legs. Much
of the time his legs were bandaged, but his stout heart carried him on, mile
after weary mile.
Bossie too, became weary and so
foot-sore she could scarcely walk. It was then that Isaac found a buffalo skin
and made Bossie some boots. He fashioned them so that
they laced up the front and couldn't come off when she walked. At night they
were put into a bucket of water to keep them soft so that they could be put on
easily in the morning. Early every morning, before the others were ready to
break camp, Isaac leading Bossie would start on the
day's journey. At evening, he and Bossie were the
last to arrive at the camp. In later years, he used to laugh at the picture he
and Bossie must have made, as he described Bossie in her boots and he with his bandaged legs and
walking stick, plodding the dusty plain together.
The Stephens family reached their
destination (Hyrum, Cache Co.,
Isaac now bought a city lot in
Hyrum and a ten acre farm in what was then called the Main Field. His oldest
child was sixteen this first winter in
Isaac's legs never regained their
former strength. He walked with a slight limp, but he was always able to
provide for the needs of his family. He was a kind and loving father and
husband.
About two or three years after
their arrival in
Isaac Stephens and his sons
participated in the building of the
Isaac and Frances remained true to
the Gospel they had accepted in