Elizabeth Stewart

Pioneer Story of Isaac Mitton Stewart and Elizabeth White from Family Search.org

Isaac Mitton Stewart's father died when he was only six years old; and he did not like his step father, so at a very young age, he left home to make his own way in the world. Isaac worked for different farmers, and became very interested in farming. He followed this occupation all of his life. When he was 15 he went to Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, where he became acquainted with the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum. He was inspired by those great men, and he gained a testimony of the truth. When the Prophet was martyred, Isaac was appointed as one of the guards over his body.

In 1852 the Stewart family came to Utah. Isaac was made the captain of his company, which included 50-60 families. On one occasion, while they were crossing the plains, Isaac rescued his son from a prairie wolf who was about to spring on the boy! Isaac settled his family in Draper, in a small adobe home with a dirt roof. He began farming, but it was difficult because of the grasshoppers and crickets, and the lack of water. Roots, weeds, and fish from the Provo River was all they would eat for months at a time. Isaac loved to read and study, and he helped to establish good public schools in the area. Isaac was made the Bishop, and served for 49 years. Isaac helped build canals, bridges, and roads throughout the area.

In the fall of every year, a band of 50 or more Indians would come from the Uintah Basin and pitch their tents on the Stewart land and live for weeks. He would give them all the food they needed, and some to take home. His sons enjoyed these visits, as they played archery with the Indians. Isaac's sons formed a complete orchestra, with only 1 neighbor boy added. Isaac began to prosper. He built a large 16 room brick home in Draper, where he, his 3 wives, and their 20 children lived happily together.

Elizabeth White was born in London, England. Her father died when she was just 5 years old. But her mother taught her to pray when she was very young; and to be honest, truthful, and kind. Elizabeth was only able to attend school for about 6 months. Then she found employment in a book bindery in London. Elizabeth white had a wonderful voice. She sang with the Persley Town Choir in London. She had a most charming personality. In 1854, when Elizabeth was 16, her family heard about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her mother and sister were baptized and a few months later, on May 22nd, so were Elizabeth and her brother, Barnard. They sailed from London on May 22nd, 1856, on the ship "Horizon." All 856 passengers were Mormons. On board, Elizabeth won many friends and was admired for her optimism, cheerful disposition, and rich voice.

Elizabeth's family started across the plains on September 3, 1856. They traveled in a covered wagon in the John Hunt Company, which traveled behind the Martin Handcart company. When they arrive at the Platte River Crossing on October 20, it began to snow,leaving their cattle without food. They had to kill the weakest ones for food, as their provisions were very low. When they arrived at Devil's Gate, they could go no further. Most of their oxen and cows had died, and they had only wet sagebrush to burn. The ground was frozen so they could not drive the tent pins, so they had to bank the flaps with snow. They were nearly out of provisions when a relief train from Salt Lake arrived. All of their provisions were frozen solid, so they had to cut everything with a hatchet. But the Lord answered their prayers and they were saved from starvation.

All of the able bodied men helped to carry the women and children over the river, some going through the river 75 times. 13 died that night, due to the great fatigue and extreme cold. Elizabeth was asked to go back in a wagon with the sick and elderly. She helped Sister Brown in caring for them. She had to walk a short portion of the way,and it was difficult because she was so short and could not follow in the men's tracks up the mountain. She had to make her own tracks. Elizabeth's family settled in Draper, where the kind saints helped them to get a start.

The next year she became the plural wife of Bishop Isaac Mitton Stewart, on March 8, 1857. Elizabeth was 18 and Isaac was 42. She was a great help to her husband. She was a bookkeeper, and clerk, as well as a wonderful homemaker and the mother of 11 children. Elizabeth washed, carded, spun, and wove the clothes for her children to wear; besides doing her work in the home, in the church and assisting her husband in his duties. Elizabeth was a dreamer with a wonderful power of intuition; a fertility of imagination, and a grip on fantasy. Sometimes her burdens were heavy, but her dreams lifted her above the hard routine of the farm, and she smiled and sang through her labors.

Mrs. Elizabeth White Stewart, widow of the late Bishop Isaac M. Stewart of Draper, died Monday afternoon at the home of Mrs. A. H. Taylor, her daughter.

She leaves a record of a long life spent as a quiet worker for culture and education, and as a deeply religious and devoted wife and mother.

Mrs. Stewart was born in London, Feb. 22, 1838. She emigrated to the United States in the sailing ship Horizon, which landed in Boston May 23, 1856.

She walked across the plains from Council Bluffs Iowa, arriving in Utah, Nov. 30, 1856, and settled in Draper and remained there until 1896, when she came to Salt Lake, Where she had made her home.

Mrs. Stewart is survived by six daughters, Mrs. R. A. Ballantyne of Logan, Mrs. W. W. Fife of Ogden and Mrs. R. H. Stringfellow, Mrs. John D. Fife, Mrs. James Porter and Mrs. A. H. Taylor of Salt Lake and three sons, Judge Samuel W. Stewart, C.B. Stewart and Banard J. Stewart of Salt Lake. She is also survived by 61 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held in the Thirty-third ward chapel next Thursday at 11 a.m. Bishop Edwin S. Sheets residing. Other speakers will be Bishop George Romney, Prof. Levi Edgar Young, P.A. Nielson and Bishop John Neff. Burial will take place in the Draper cemetery beside the body of her husband.

This is a newspaper clipping available at the Draper Historical Society.

Footnote: I know for a fact that Elizabeth White was part of the Willy Handcart Company that was stranded in Wyoming in 1856, as my Great Grandmother Esther Brown wrote in her history that Elizabeth was her best friend and they came over from England on the same ship and traveled to Utah in the same handcart company. That Elizabeth came to Draper to the Stewarts and my great grandmother came to the Joseph Gurnsey Smith home. Info provided by Esther Smith Kinder
Inscription: Wife of Isaac M. Stewart.

Note: No Headstone, listed on Stewart monument; for entire Stewart Monument's text, see Isaac M. Stewart

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 1 2018, 22:17:57 UTC