THE LIFE-STORY OF ISAAC B. NASH
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Isaac Bartlett Nash, Patiarch in the Oneida Stake; Oneida County, Idaho, was born June 14, 1824 in Kidwelly, Carmarthanshire, South Wales. He was baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his native land in the year 1847 and labored as a local missionary In Wales. He emigrated to America in 1849, crossing the Atlantic in the ship "Buena Vista", which sailed from Liverpool, February 25, 1849, with a company of Saints under the direction of Captain Dan Jones. The company had a pleasant voyage across the sea and landed at Now Orleans, whence they vent up the Mississippi to St. Louis on the old steamboat "Constitution". Cholera broke out in the company and the next day after reaching St. Louis twenty-one of their number were buried, they having died of this terrible disease, and by the time they reached Council Bluffs the total deaths reached sixty-four. After landing at the Bluffs Captain Jones bought some new wagons and had Brother Nash iron them preparatory to the long journey across the plains. When all was ready they started In Apostle George A. Smith's company, and after a long and tedious journey landed in Salt Lake City on the last day of September, 1849.
In January, 1852, Brother Nash married Hester Elvira Pool, who was born may 10, 1826, the daughter of John Pool and Mary Cramer, and had emigrated to America in 1850. Brother Nash was ordained a Seventy January 18, 1850, and became a member of the 70th Quorum of Seventies. In 1850 and 1851 he acted as Assistant Choir Leader in the old bowery in Salt Lake City. In 1853 he went to California where he engaged in mining, but returned to Utah in the fall of 1855 and located in the Seventh Ward, where he practiced blacksmithing. Joining the State Militia, he served in the Echo Canyon war in 1857 and went south as far as Provo in the "move". In 1859 he was sent East by President Brigham Young to the States with children who had been spared alive in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, where he delivered them to their friends and relatives. He stayed in St. Louis until 1864 working at his trade. While there he became involved several times in legal matters pertaining to the cecessionist movement, but was cleared each time by the British consul who identified him as a British subject. At this time they adopted four children only one of which lived, namely, Mrs. Nellie Nash Parkinson.
They returned to Salt Lake in 1864, being a part of the George Dunford party, of which Brother Nash was Sergeant. Following their arrival in Salt Lake, they were persuaded to go to Franklin by Bishop L. L. Hatch and Peter Pool. A.rriving in Franklin, he was appointed choir leader and later Sunday School Superintendant, which positions he held for many years.
In 1867 he married Martha Howland, daughter of Henry Howland and Marta Case, who was born December 18, 1851, in Flag Town, Illinois. She bore her husband twelve children, eight of whom are now living.
Brother Nash was ordained a High Priest April 21, 1872, by John Biggs, and Patriarch August 29, 1879, by George Teasdale.
While serving as Assistant Stake Sunday School Superintendant, he traveled about the Stake holding jubilees. In this capacity he won the admiration and love of all with whom he came in contact. His great love for children was an outstanding characteristic. To this day he is remembered as one of the noblest and kindest of the early settlers, and his songs and poems have received much commendation.
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In 1885 he was arrested for polygamy and sentenced to the State Penitentiary at Boise for a term of three months. While there he was a favorite among the prisoners, all of whom called him "Brother Nash". His kindness and generosity won for him a place in the heart of all.
His courage is illustrated by an incident which happened soon after the settlement of Franklin. Some drunken freighters who had come down from Montana to winter, became involved in a brawl with some of the settlers of Richmond, Utah. They hurriedly left that place and drove on to Franklin. A messenger preceded them and asked that S. R. Parkinson, who was marshall, deputise others and arrest the freighters. This, Mr. Parkinson attempted to do, though the men resisted arrest and one of them drew a gun, attempting to shoot him. I. B. Nash was standing in the group and saw the freighter's movement and, although he was a short man in stature, he gave a leap and caught the gun, wrenching it from the owner's hand, thus saving Mr. Parkinson's life, though other members of the company had their fire arms leveled at him.
During his early residence in Salt Lake, his great strength of character was portrayed in an incident occurring in the old bowery. He was listening to a discourse by President Brigham Young, Who was scathingly denouncing the use of tobacco, saying, "There are Elders in this assembly who now have tobacco in their mouths, though even a hog would not chew the vile weed." I. B. Nash had some in his mouth and felt the reproof keenly, so quietly slipped the tobacco out of his mouth and, dropping it on the ground, said to himself, "Now stay there until I come for you", and he never again touched the weed in any form.
Physically, he knew no fear, was impetuous and spoke quickly, but forgiving as a child. In his trade as a blacksmith, he exhibited great skill. He was devoted to his family, as well as to the community at large, and was successful in providing wholesome amusement and pleasures for both old and young.
He suffered from cancer for three years, his suffering being borne with great patience and fortitude. He died on August 9, 1907, surrounded by a loving family of nine children and twenty grandchildren, mourned by all who have known him. His funeral was largely attended from all over the stake. Consoling addresses were made by President Hart, President George C. and W. C. Parkinson, besides numbers of his old friends. A notable incident of the occasion was the singing of his own hymns. The casket was covered with the flowers he so dearly loved in life, and was preceded to the Meeting House by the High Priests and the Sunday School children he had so loved, and who still love and revere his memory. Thus, was laid to rest, one of Nature's Noblemen.
The Story of his life, written by himself and copied from an old note book, follows:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MY LIFE. Written by myself.
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I, Isaac Bartlett Nash Davies, was born In Kidwelly, Carmarthanshire, South Wales, June 14, 1824. My father's name was David Davies and my mother's name was Mary Nash Davies, daughter of Isaac Bartlett Nash and Mary White Nash. My Mother married against my grandfather's will and because of her doing so, he would do nothing for her.
My grandfather at this time was well off financially, being a blacksmith with a large shop and an extensive business with many men working for him. My father was a shoemaker in poor circumstances when he married mother, hence the antipathy my grandfather had for him and likewise the refusal to consent to their marriage.
A few months after their marriage Father had to leave in order to get work and mother was without means of support. Soon after this I was born with Mother still in poor circumstances. Father could not supply her with means as he was usually out of work and when he had the means he would spend it without sending her any. Grandfather would do nothing for her at first, but at last, seeing the condition she was in and she being his only child, he relented, forgave her and took her home to her mother. A short time after this, on a Sunday, the fourteenth of June, 1824, 1 was born.
Grandfather, at the time of my birth, had gone to church. On arriving home from meeting, Grandmother told him that Mary (that was Mother) had presented him with an heir. He told Grandmother to go and bring me to him. I was then about a half hour old. When grandmother brought me to him he took me in his arms and cried. Then he gave me back to her and said to my grandmother, "Take him, Mary, and we will raise him. Don't take him to his mother again."
So I was not permitted to be nursed by my mother, and the first thing that was put in my mouth was a gin bottle. Thus, my grandfather and grandmother raised me.
After a while my father came home and went to housekeeping, and I was brought up by my grandparents. I became a spoiled child, petted by both. When one would try to correct me for mischief, the other would interfere. As I grew up I was sent to school. Being very quick at learning I took advantage of this and very often would run away and play truant. For this I was often punished and sometimes very severely. I used to play very bad tricks on the old school- master and always got punished in different ways, but it did no good. I oftimes thought the old schoolmaster took the wrong course with me, for I could always be coaxed but could never driven. My grandfather, seeing this, at last, moved me to another school. Here, I was a little more satisfied and began to think that I ought to try and learn something. From that time on, I did the best I could and got a little common education.
My grandfather, being fairly well-off, paid the British Government for changing my name from Davies to Nash, and I was taught to call my mother, Mary.
A few years later, my grandfather, through some means, failed in his business. He took large contracts and employed many men. The large firms with which he contracted failed to pay and thus, he was financially ruined. Everything he had was sold under the hammer, with the exception of his tools.
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He now had to work hard for a living and when very young, he took me to the shop and taught me the trade. Later on he developed a bad case of rheumatism and could not work much. I had by this time learned the trade so that I could carry on the work.
By this time I was twenty-one years of age and began sparking the girls. I went with many, but finally met one whom I thought would make me a good wife. Her name was Eliza Morris.
Her parents seemed to like me and encouraged me in keeping company with her. But when I wanted to carry her, they turned against me, refused their consent, and abused her badly. At last, I took her from them and we were merried without their consent.
We went to live with Grandmother and Grandfather. Grandmother at that time kept a little store of provisions, such as flour, butter, cheese and groceries. In a little while after we went to live with them, grandfather fell and hurt himself, from which he never recovered. A few days after he got hurt, he died. We stayed with Grandmother, taking care of the store and did very well for a while, but Grandmother and I did not get along very well, so we gave up the store and moved by ourselves.
At this time, the great South Wales Railroad was commenced. The road went close to my blacksmith shop. A contractor came to see me, wanting to rent the shop and tools, of which I had two sets, and to hire me. I consented and worked for them many months, doing well and making good wages.
About this time, a family named Lewis came to our town and kept a tavern called the "White Lion". I used to go there often. I soon found they were Mormons, a sect that was but little known. I was at that time a Wesleyan. Mormon Elders used to come very often and many times preached at their house. They talked to me a great deal about their religion. I used to go to hear them preach. Sometimes they would preach on the street.
At last I began to investigate their doctrine. I was pretty well versed in the scriptures in the Welsh language and soon found that their doctrine was consistent with the teachings of Christ and His apostles, as laid down in the New Testament. I used to go with them and help them sing. At last the Gospel Net caught me and I was baptized.
There was a man working in the shop by the name of William Wilde who was bitter against the few Latter Day Saints that were in our town and did all he could against them, circulating lies about them. Finally by lying about me he had me turned away.
Soon after this., the work on the contract was completed. I was out of work at the time and was called to go out to preach. In the meantime, the old Tin Works where Grandfather and I had worked, was started up again after being stopped for many years. The proprietor, a gentleman by the name of Donovan, was friendly to Grandfather. After the Works closed, Mr. Donovan rent away and was gone many years, but came back and started the Tin Works again.
One day, as I was coming home after being away preaching, I had to pass the Tin Works. On the bridge that crossed the river close to the Works, I saw two men standing talking. As I passed, I took off my hat and bowed to them.
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Mr. Donovan, who was one of them, looked at me and bade me stop and come to him. I went up to where they were standing. Mr. Donovan asked me my name. When I told him, he gripped my hand and said, "I thought I knew little Isaac." He asked about Grandfather. I told him that he was dead, "And what are you doing?" he asked. I said "I am doing nothing now, Sir. I am out of work." Then he said., "I am busy now, but you come up to the Works tomorro." So on the morrow I went up to the Works. We had a long talk. During our conversation., he asked me If I had learned the blacksmith trade. When I told him that I had, he asked me to go to work for him, and I was very glad to do so.
Now when the Works were started this time, this same smith, William Wild, who worked at railroad shops when I did, and who was very bitter against the Latter Day Saints, was the blacksmith at the Tin Works. At this time, Mr. Donovan sent for him to come to the office and told him that he did not need his services after that week, as he had found his little friend, Isaac, and had employed him.
God moves in a mysterious way, sometimes, His Sovereign Will to perform in behalf of His people. I write this lengthy part to show how Evil is paid and Innocence rewarded.
This same William Wild was the cause of my being discharged from the rail- road shop.
I worked in the Tin Works until I emigrated to Utah. Mr. Donovan was very kind to us as a people.
Sometimes I had to go to preach about four miles away. I used to leave the Works by consent of the foreman, about four o'clock in the afternoon. The time-keeper, being a friend of Wild's, went and complained to Mr. Donovan that I was going away from my work sometimes in the afternoon. Mr. Donovan sent for me and asked me if it were so. I told him it was, but I always had everything done before I went and nothing was neglected, as the manager could testify. Then he said., "I understand that you go away to preach." He asked me what I was preaching about. I said, "I am preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ." I asked him if he would care to read one of our books. He said he would like to see one, so I brought him "The Voice of Warning". He read it all through. When he returned it, he said it was a fine work and asked me if I had any more books I would lend him. I lent him the Doctrine and Covenants, not thinking that it would be too deep for him, but he read it through and returned it, say ing that it was too deep for him. He kept on friendly terms with us and gave us permission to hold meetings in a large shed, and when we had meetings there, he would stand in some remote place, listening.
About this time, Captain Dan Jones, who was preaching through Wales, got word from President Young to got up a Welsh company and emigrate to the vallies of the mountains in America. He came to Kidwelly and got Mrs. Lewis and her children to go. Mr. David Lewis, her husband, was not very right in his mind, but very cunning. He was very rich, being heir to a large estage. His brother, Dr. James Lewis, was a smart man. When David Lewis found out that Bett, as he called his wife, and the children were going to America, he opposed it and was persuaded not to sell his estate. It seems that when he married Mrs. Lewis, a marriage contract was drawn up, making it impossible for one to sell the property unless both were willing. David Lewis would not sign the contract. Mr. James Lewis wanted the estate and offered three thousand pounds for it.
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A deed was drawn up and everything fixed to go to America, but they could not in any way persuade David Lewis to sign the deed. Captain Dan Jones and Mrs. Lewis sent for me and told me that if I could get David Lewis to sign the deed, they would take my wife and I to Salt Lake, free. I told them I would try. I knew that David Lewis was very fond of rum. I told them to go away one night and let me have the key to the bar. They did so. After they went, I went to the bar and Mr. Lewis came after me, begging me to give him a glass of rum. I did so. He was very pleased and said I was a good fellow, then asked for another. I took out the deed which I had in my pocket and told him if he would put a cross where I showed him on the deed, I would give him all the rum he wanted. He for a long time refused and I refused to give him more rum.
Since having a taste of it, he was determined to have more. Finally he could stand it no longer and said if I would give him a big glass full, he would make the cross on the paper. Very soon after, Mr. James Lewis paid Mrs. Lewis three thousand pounds and got the deed. A few days later, Dan Jones, Mrs. Lewis and children, my wife and myself were on the way to Salt Lake valley. They left Mr. Lewis behind, gave him one hundred pounds and a double barrelled shot-gun, but In a year after we left, Mr. Lewis came to Salt Lake valley. President Young., after hearing the whole truth in the matter, took a farm over Jordon which belonged to Mrs. Lewis, for the support of Mr. Lewis. One of the Becksteds took care of him.
Before we started for America I had a good deal of trouble to get away, as my wife's father and brothers did their best to keep my wife from going, but she got away from them and we started one day before the others, so as to got away from them as they were determined to stop us if they could.
We took a steamboat from Swansea for Liverpool and sailed across the ocean in a new ship called the Buena Vista, it being her first trip. We had a nice voyage although we buried two on the trip. We left New Orleans on the steam- boat, Old Constitution, and landed in St. Louis at the time the Cholera was so bad. The morning after we arrived we buried twenty-one of our company. We soon got on our way to Council Bluffs burying sixty-four persons on the trip. My grandmother was one of eight buried in the same grave. The cholera was so bad that we oftimes had to bury some of the bodies in the morning and others in the afternoon.
When we arrived at St. Joseph, the Captain of the boat, by the name of Scott, declared he would not take us any further. But the authorities of St. Joe made him take us away from there. We arrived at Council Bluffs in a sorry condition. Nobody would come near us. We were put out on the banks of the river with our dead and suffering.
Apostle George A. Smith, hearing of our arrival and of the sad condition we were in, came down to the river banks. With him was Brother Lysander Gee. Brother Smith sent word to the people that if they would not take us in and give us shelter, the Lord would turn a scourge upon them. It was not long before teams and wagons came down and all were taken care of. My wife and I and a brother by the name of Morgan Hughes and his wife were taken in by Father King at Council Point, not far from the river.
Very soon after we arrived, my wife came down with the Cholera and nearly died. I will relate one instance which happened during her sickness. She had a serious craving for cold water. But we could not give it to her because the doctor had told us it was injurious to her. She was so weak that she could
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barely move. One night Morgan Hughes and myself were sitting up with her. We began to feel quite drowsy and lay down on the floor before the large fireplace. After sleeping for some time, we heard a noise and on looking up saw Eliza standing behind the door drinking from a large tin jack which we had used to carry water in while crossing the sea. There Eliza stood with the jack to her mouth drinking. We did not know how much she drank and did not know where she got the strength to do it with. From that time on her health began to return and she was soon strong again.
About this time we found that we could not start across the plains and were told to shift for ourselves. Mrs. Lewis had decided to take only a few with her. I asked her if she intended to take my wife and I., as she had promised. She said that she did not think she could take us. Some of the Saints she had brought from the old country went back to St. Louis. Others stayed around and tried to get work. My wife and I stayed at the Point with Father King and I got work with a Brother Ovett, the blacksmith. At this time Apostle George A. Smith was getting up a company of Saints to cross the plains. Captain Jones and Mrs. Lewis had decided to go in his company. Brother Jones bought some wagons that were not ironed. One day he came and wanted me to iron the wagons he had just bought. I had just contracted to work for Brother Ovett and told him I would not go. He said that I had to go for they had brought me here, and soon he brought a team and wagon, intending to take my boxes. I told him he could not take them and sat down on my grandmother's box. Jones had a cane in his hand with a kind of sword in it. He drew it and pointed it at my breast and told me to get up. I got up and went out of doors and he took the boxes away. While I was out doors, a brother who was riding by asked what was the matter. I told him the best I could. He told me not to fret, and that he would see Apostle Orson Hyde. This brother's name was Clark,brother to President Ezra T. Clark of Farmington.
In the meantime, Jones went to see Apostle George A. Smith and told him that he had brought me and my wife from the old country, and that I would not iron the wagons for him. Then Elder Hyde sent word to Brother Jones to give up our boxes, as he had no right to take them from me. Apostle Smith came to see me and wanted to know what the trouble was. I told him all that had transpired. He said for me to iron the wagons and then I could go with them them to the valley, as he wanted a blacksmith in his company and he would see that I should go to the valley free of charge. While in St. Louis he bought me a set of blacksmith tools and told me I could have them when we arrived in Salt Lake. I promised him I would iron the wagons, shed the horses, and do other work, which took me about six weeks, on condition that I could go with them.
While waiting here, Sister Jane Jones, wife of Brother Jones, came from the old country. When we left, she was about to be confined and could not come. Jones would not wait for her as he was bound to go with Mrs. Lewis. About three days after we left Wales, Sister Jones was confined and a few days later, came all alone across the sea and up the river to Council Bluffs with her babe, which was but a few days old. Brother Jones and Sister Lewis were quite surprised and also disappointed because she had followed them. This was the beginning of trouble which lasted all the way across the plains. Mrs. Lewis had a spring wagon and Jones wanted his wife to ride with Mrs. Lewis, but she would not do it. She said she would rather walk then ride with Mrs. Lewis. One day she commenced to walk. I saw her walking and took her in my wagon to ride with my wife. Some times she would ride with me and sometimes with a brother by the name of Ned Williams and his family. Brother Jones forbade us to let Jane ride
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in our wagons. I told him she could ride as long as she wanted and Ned Williams told him the same. Jones, after this, felt bitter toward Ned and I.
We traveled along, sometimes all at peace and, at other times, wrangling. Sometimes Jane would go to Brother Smith's wagon and ride with him and his family.
Just before we arrived at the East side of the Little Mountain, some wagons came to meet us, with potatoes, onions and vegetables from Salt Lake City. It began to storm terribly, with a heavy snow and a bad wind. We could not corra1 the wagons, so we had to un-yoke the cattle in the road with the wagons in a string. We could hardly got the cattle in the willows as it was snowing and drifting so hard. We tried to make fires with which to get supper, but could not do so, and we all had to stay in our wagons. Guard was called to go with the cattle. I was one of the seven selected. We went about two miles below the camp where we found a shelter in the wilderness. We found a place formed like a bowery, with the wind blowing in the opposite direction from the entrance. We cut a few small poles of quaking asp and made a fire and lay down on our blankets and buffalo robes. During the night the wind changed and blew straight in on us. It drifted and covered us with a blanket of snow about seven feet deep. The cattle scattered into the willows.
When morning came, we started for camp, the snow on the level being about three feet deep. One of the Salt Lake boys, Brother Stewart by name, had his feet frozen badly. Upon arriving at camp, we found the snow had nearly covered the wagons. We stayed in camp three days and then went to look for our cattle. Sixty-four of them were dead. Some were found with only the tips of their horns showing above the snow.
Upon arriving at the Little Mountain, Brother Jones called a meeting and preached a long sermon, advising us all to stick together as a nation. He told us that the wagons which care to meet us with onions and potatoes had come primarily for Brother Smith and the Americans. He said that if the company was all Welsh, they would not have come to meet us. He advised us to stick together and all go over Jordan River and settle there as an independent nation, with Mrs. Lewis as our queen. This is the reason why she was called the Welsh Queen and many people in Salt Lake City thought she actually was a Welsh Queen. Jones called a vote. All that were willing to go over Jordan and establlish a Welsh nation were requested to raise their hands. All hands went up except Ned William's and mine. Then he asked the reason for my not voting with the
rest. I told him I had had enough of the Welsh and I was going to try Armaricans for awhile. He then said that I should be cut off from the Book of the Nation and never be restored. With that, I left, went to Brother George A. Smith and told him all that was said and done. Brother Smith Came over right away. Jones was still speaking when he arrived. Jones asked Brother Smith if he would talk to the Saints a little; which he did as follows, "Brothers and Sisters, the potatoes and onions and other things have come for you as well as for the Americans. You have no need to go over Jordan and become an independent nation, for all is free in the Valleys of the Mountains. There is no compulsion In Zion." The next morning Brother Jeremy came to me, saying I had better ask Brother Jones' pardon, as he was going to the valley ahead of us and would see President Young and tell him all about me. I told Jeremy I did not care for him or Dan Jones.
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At last we arrived in the valley and camped on the northeast of the old Emigration Road which is now the Twentieth Ward. Shortly after we were camped President Young and a party came to see us. He talked to us, saying that he wanted all the mechanics to stay in the city and the farmers to go over Jordan and take up farms. So my wife and I, Brother Caleb Parry and wife, Father parry, William Clark and wife were left on the camp grounds while the rest moved away. I asked Jones for a wagon to sleep in, but he refused. Brother Caleb Parry and wife got their wagon for a day or two. About dark that night it began to rain. We were without fire, bedding and food. At ten o'clock a man came to us and wanted to know why we were staying here in the rain. We told him our situation. He suggested that we use a little shanty which he had not far off. It contained a fireplace and we made a fire, cooked some food he gave us, and began to feel comfortable. This man's name was Elijah Gifford. He was working for Doctor Williard Richards.
The next day an old brother by the name of Thomas Morris came to see us. Upon finding that I was a Welshman, he was very kind to us. When he discovered that I was a blacksmith he took me to Brother Burr Frost, who hired me to work in his shop and my wife to work in the house for her board. Brother Clark was a tinsmith and went to work for someone in town. Caleb Parry and his father were masons and soon found work. I worked with Frost all the winter of 1849 and all the summer of 1850. While at Frost's he persuaded my wife to leave me. But in the fall we left Frost and rented a room in a house owned by Father Pugmire. I rented a blacksmith shop on the corner of Emigration Street and Second Nest, known as Pugmire's Shop.
During the time I was with Frost I got a lot in the Fifteenth Ward and built me a house with two rooms. We moved into it in the spring of 1851. In the same year I bought a part of a lot in the Seventh Ward and built a shop on it.
On the eighteenth of January, 1850, I was ordained a Seventy and was re ceived into the Second Quorum of Seventies.
During this time my wife would go down to Frost's house. Sometimes staying away two days at a time. Finally she stayed away altogether and wanted a divorce. She got the teachers to come and see me, but they could do no good.
So she had me taken before President Young in the Council House. Brother Judd, one of the teachers who had been laboring with us, took us before the President. He asked Brother Judd what the trouble was between Isaac and his wife. Judd began to tell about some of the trouble, but President Young said, "Hold on, Brother Judd, I know all about that. Now what do they want?" He turned his chair facing me and said, "Isaac, do you love your wife?" I answered him,
"Yes Sir, as much as my own life." He then turned to my wife and asked her if she did not love Isaac. She answered very boldly, "No Sir, I do not." He looked at her a few seconds., then said. "Aren't you ashamed to tell me that you do not love your husband?" "No, I am not", she said. He then told us we were but foolish children; to go home and behave ourselves or he would take a rod and whip us both. She refused to go, saying she wanted a divorce. He looked at her and said slowly, "You shall not have a divorce." Then he turned to me and said, "Isaac, will you obey my counsel?" I told him I would. He told me then to go home and look out for a good woman and he would seal her to me. As we went outside she told me to go back and tell him that she would have a divorce. President Young opened the door and said, "You go to hell. You shall not have a divorce", and shut the door. For a long time afterward she came to
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the shop continually and begged me to give her a divorce, but I would not do it. And she bothered President Young so often that in order to get rid of her he had his secretary, Brother Thomas Bullock, write out a divorce which I signed.
Finally I met a Sister by the name of Sister Hester E. Pool and in January, 1852, we were married. My wife had a mother, brother and sister in California. They wanted my wife to come and see them, promising to come back to the valley with her. In the latter part of March we went to California with Ben Halliday's outfit with a herd of cattle, in charge of a gentleman by the name of Captain Wales. I drove a team of oxen and my wife did the cooking for the Captain and myself. While traveling, she drove the Captain's horse and buggy all the way to Sacramento. From there we took the Steamboat down to San Francisco where my mother-in-law lived at that time. They were very glad to see us. We stayed with them a little while and then my brother-in-law went up to Sonora to the mines where another brother-in-law was working. We went to work with him and three more miners. We had a large claim on Woods Creek. In six months we sent for our families. We were doing well and had saved a little money. Early in the spring it began to rain. The creeks raised and Woods Creek became a swollen river, sweeping everything before it. Our claim was filled with rock and gravel. The flood lasted about six weeks. Provisions got scarce, as all the ferries and bridges were swept away between Sonora and San Francisco.
There was no travel. Everything had to be hauled by freight from San Francisco or Stockton up to the mine. Flour went up to one dollar a pound, beans and. potatoes likewise. What little money we had saved was soon spent. We had to go in debt for the little we could get to eat. At this time there was eleven in the family.
As soon as the waters went down we went to work clearing out the claim. Shortly after this, Vie and I decided to go back to San Francisco. I sold out my share in the claim and we settled in a place by the name of Union City, owned by Mr. John M. Horner. I bought a lot from him and built a house and shop. We had saved some money by taking in washing and ironing at three dollars per dozen. I did most of the washing and Vie did the ironing.
I did well in my shop. We had a good many of the young elders, who were going to the Sandwich Islands on missions, stay with us. They often had to stay and work to get the necessary means to take them to the Islands. Among our visitors was Tom Williams and Pemeno Jackman from Salt Lake, who were there buying and shipping potatoes. We also had Apostle Parley P. Pratt who stayed with us a good while. Finally Elders N. V Jones and William Fotheringham came from a mission in Calcutta. We decided to come on home with them. My wife's mother, her brother Peter, and sister were to come later.
When I went to sell my house and lot, I could give no title to it, as we had no deed from Horner, who at that time owned all of Union City. Many others had no deeds to their property. We had bought our property without getting the deeds, thinking that we were safe and that Horner was a reliable man. But, alas, he failed, and everything was taken from him including Union City and all improvements. Only those who had been smart enough to get deeds were saved.
I sold out for what I could get, bought me a light wagon and a span of mules and started for home with Brother N. V. Jones.
Everything went well until we came to a big slough, which was a branch of
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the San Jouquin River. It had a narrow steep bridge with no railing, and fifteen feet from the bridge to the water. Vie would not ride across the bridge, but walked behind. Brother Jones had crossed and was tying up his team. When near the top of the bridge my off mule balked and began to back down. The wagon backed to one side of the bridge. Vie hollered to me to jump down, as the wagon was going over. I jumped off the wagon just as the hind wheels were going off the bridge, then the whole wagon went down to the water and mud, upside down. The mules dropped to the bottom of the wagon.
We were all day getting out of the water and mud. Some men close by came to our aid. We got the mules out first, then the wagon, a piece at a time, with ropes. Most of our things were lost or spoiled. We had lots of things hanging up in the wagon, including new hats and clothing. Our provisions and feather bed were spoiled.
After we got everything out that we could, we went to a camping place a short distance from there where we dried our bedding and clothing. We finally reached Stockton, where we had our wagon fixed and secured some provisions, and continued on our journey.
We traveled on until we reached Volcano, in Toulumne County. After leaving there, we had a steep hill to climb. On top of the hill, the wagon broke and Brother Jones and I had to go back six miles to a blacksmith shop to get the axle mended. Vie had to stay alone on top of the hill while we were gone. Shortly after we went, an Indian rode up to where she was and it frightened her nearly to death, but he did not molest her. He tried to talk to her, but she could not understand him. Soon a white man rode up to where she was. Seeing she was very frightened, he asked her what the matter was, that she was there alone. She told him the situation and he stayed there with her until the Indian rode away, about dark. We returned soon after.
The next morning, after putting the axle on, we resumed our journey. We crossed the Sierra Nevada mountains and after much toll and trouble, we arrived at Carson Valley. We stayed there a few days. While there, Brother Enock Reece, from Salt Lake City, who kept the station, wanted us to stay there and take charge of the station while he went to Salt Lake City and back, but my wife was not willing to stay. Both of us were anxious to get to Salt Lake City as soon as possible.
While we were in Carson Valley, two brethren had come from California with goods for Salt Lake City. Their names were Kempton and Potter. Then they left, we went with them and two other men. We arrived in Salt Lake City in the fall of 1855.
When we reached there, we found that flour was very scarce, due to the crickets getting most of the crops. I sold my mules and wagon for flour and coal and went to work at my trade.
In the year 1856 I went to work in the Church Blacksmith Shop. During this time I lived in the Seventh Ward. I had a lot there and a blacksmith shop on it, before I went to California. When I came back, I turned the shop into a dwelling house and lived in it until I built a house next to the shop.
During this time, the men in the Seventh Ward were organized into military companies. Brother Jonathan Pugmire was major of a company and Bishop James Willie was captain of our fifty. The company was formed into tens. One
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company was formed of the young men of the ward. Brother James Needham was captain of our company and I was his first lieutenant. We were called the "Bloody Third" or "Shinnigan Ten". We were always on hand to respond to every call made by our officers. We drilled every Saturday afternoon and had good times at it, as all the boys were full of fun always.
On July 24, 1857, a party was given by President Young at Big Cottonwood Canyon and a great many were present. While we were there, the news was brought into camp by Porter Rockwell and Jud Stoddard that General Joe Johnson had started with a part of the United States Army for Utah to take our leaders prisoners and drive us from our homes. This news did not stop our pleasure dur ing our four days of camping. At this time, I wrote the song "Do Da" and sang it afterward in the tabernacle.
Soon after we arrived home, Major Pugmire was ordered to get his company ready to march to Echo Canyon with ten-days' rations, armed and equipped with guns and ammunition. Opposite the Lion House, President Young talked to us, telling us that if we would do right we should all return in peace.
On reaching the mouth of Emigration, a messenger arrived from General Wells' camp telling us to hurry to Echo Canyon for the soldiers were coming. We made a quick march and arrived at Echo Canyon and camped there for ten weeks, but no soldiers came while we were there. They were closely guarded by Lot Smith and companies.
While we were away, those who were left at home had everything ready to set fire to our homes if the soldiers should come to the city. We had orders to move south and leave our homes. My wife and I went as far as Provo River and camped there along with many others, while the city was nearly deserted. The soldiers came, but according to their promise made to President Young by General Johnson, they marched through the city very peacably and were astonished to see the city deserted. They continued to march south and made camp at a place they named Camp Floyd.
After a while we returned to our homes. I went back to the public shop again and worked there until 1859, when we were called upon to go to the states in charge of the Mountain Meadows Massacre children. That as a dreadful massacre. We were furnished two companies of soldiers to guard us on our journey, one of cavalry and one of infantry.
When we arrived at Fort Levenworth., the Indian Agent of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was there to meet us. He took the thirteen children that we had brought with us.
We were discharged there. We went to St. Louis, stayed there a time, then went up the river to Lagrange, stayed there a few weeks, then went back to St. Louis. From there, we went to a place called Pulltite, near the Spanish pond, ten miles out from St. Louis on the Bellfontain road. I went to work in a blacksmith shop with an old wagonmaker by the name of James Key. I soon found that he was a Mormon Apostate.
I made a good many friends there and finally bought a piece of land from a gentleman named Dyson and built a house and shop on it.
While we were there, we adopted two little orphan children, a boy and a girl, both of whom died, one of whooping cough and the other from Cholera Infantum.
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At this time the war between the North and the South broke out. Most all of the farmers there were slave holders and very friendly to us, but we passed through terrible times. I was arrested three times and put into military prison, which used to be Dr. McDowell's College.
An old man by the name of Comstock stayed around the neighborhood and used to come to my shop nearly every day, pretending to be very friendly with me, but he was a snake in the grass, a very wicked man, and proved to be a government spy. He used to talk to me about the war and I spoke my mind to him concerning it and freeing the negroes. He went down to St. Louis and re- ported all I said to the Provost Marshall who lived not far from my shop.
His name was Barney Farrar. I used to do considerable work for him. In the year 1860, when the war broke out, he freed all his slaves, for which the government paid him. He was made Provost Marshall, with his headquarters at St. Louis. After Comstock's repeated reports of me, he sent for me and had me arrested. He said I was a cecessionist and had uttered cecessionist sentiments in my shop. Mr. Comstock, he said., was the Informant, I replied, that if saying that I did not want a nigger to be on an equality with me, was being a cecessionist, I was one. He called one of the guards and told him to take me to prison, so I was taken there.
While my wife and I were in St. Louis, we made the acquaintance of Brother Andrew Kershaw and his wife, who proved to be true friends. They came to see us often in Pulltite and when I was taken to prison, my wife, with Brother and Sister Kershaw went to the British Consul. They told him I was arrested and sent to the military prison as an alleged cecessionist. I was a British subject, so the British Consul went with them to the prison. In the meantime, I was sent for to have my trial. When the British Consul arrived and told the Provost Marshall that I was a British subject and that he was there to protect me, I was released.
Shortly after we went home, I bought a fine double barreled shot gun to take with me to Salt Lake City. Two young men were living close to us -- John Worthington and Henry Redman. They were good friends of ours and Worthington knew that I had a good gun. One Saturday evening, Brother and Sister Kershaw came out on a visit and on Sunday morning, Brother Kershaw and I went up to Spanish Pond. While we were gone, Worthington came to our house He asked my wife if he could borrow my gun for a little while. My wife said, Why John, are you going hunting on sunday?" He replied that birds collected together on Sundays and he would have a good chance to shoot some. Soon he saw Henry coming and joined him. That night both of them went away to join General Sterling Price, a Confederate general operating in Missouri. Somehow old Comstock found out that Worthington took my gun, so he went to St. Louis and reported. Soon I was arrested again and brought before Farrar, but through the British Consul, Mr. Wilkins, I was again released, which made old Comstock mad. It seems that he was determined to have me kept in prison.
Mr. Comstock, an old Apostate named James Key, and a man by the name of Vantassel, went to Judge Crow who lived in the neighborhood, and made an affadavit saying that I was an American citizen, that I had voted in California, Salt Lake City, and in Pulltite precinct at the election of Abraham Lincoln. Again I was arrested. Business at the Provost Marshall's was so pressin". at this time that i't was necessary to have an extra Provost Marshall, a Young man by the name of 0'Conner. He tried cases in the afternoon and was a roommate of the British Consul at the Planters' Hotel. When Mr. Wilkins found that I was arrested again, he and O'Connor made it up to see that my trial came off in the afternoon.
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At the trial, Mr. Wilkins sat close to Mr. O'Connor. Mr. O'Connor said, "Mr. Nash., how is it that you are here again?" I told him that I did not know. "I believe" he said, " that there is a conspiracy against you." And he swore a big oath that he would have them arrested, and began to write an order for arrest when a Provost guard came in and handed him a roll of papers. He looked at them, read one, and shook his head. Mr. Wilkins asked him what the trouble was. He replied that there was a grave charge against me: It was sworn to by three men before a Justice of the Peace, Mr. Crow of Pulltite, that I was claiming protection from the British Consul when I was a citizen of the United States; that I had voted in California, Salt Lake City and Pulltite precinct at the election of Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Wilkins read the papers, then turned to me and asked me If I had voted at these places. I replied that I had not. That I had been asked to vote, but I had told them that I was not a citizen of the United States and could not vote. Mr. Wilkins and Mr. O'Connor looked at each other for a few seconds, then Mr. Wilkins asked Mr. O'Connor what he was going to do about it. He replied that he did not know. They finally decided to write to California and Salt Lake City and to inquire at Pulltite to see if I had voted at any of those places. In the meantime, Mr. Wilkins was to take charge of me, and if I was found guilty, he promised to turn me over to O'Connor. "I want you to understand," said Wilkins, "That I am here
to protect Her Majesty's subjects and I am going to do it." At Mr. O'Connor's request, I signed the oath of neutrality. Mr. O'Connor told me to keep my mouth shut and I would not be molested again. I thanked him and Mr. Wilkins, took the document, and went away.
I heard later that Vantassell, one of the men who swore against me, was banished from the state for harboring negroes and getting them to steal from their masters. Old Comstock, I understand, died miserably, without a friend, and Key, the Apostate went blind and died in great poverty.
While we were in Missouri, we adopted two orphan children, but both of them died. In the year 1863, we adopted another little girl baby, the daughter of a man named Alonzo Lane, whose wife died with the fever. Her name was Virginia. She was buried at the Bellfontain Cemetary. We had the little child blessed and named Nellie E. Nash.
In the year 1864 we decided to move back to our home in Salt Lake City. Before we moved, I had a letter from my wife's brother, Peter Poole, who lived in our house in the city of Salt Lake, saying that he was going to move to Cache Valley and wanting us to come there also. He said he could sell my house and lot. I told him to do so, which he did. He then moved to Franklin, Idaho, in Cache Valley.
A brother in St. Louis by the name of Dunford, a boot and shoe merchant with a large store on Broadway, found that I was about to go to Salt Lake City and sent for me. He made a proposition to me, that if I would go with him and take charge of his outfit, he would take my wife and I to Salt Lake City free. I agreed and we soon started.
In Wyoming, he left everything in my charge, consisting of eight wagons loaded with hats, boots, shoes and provisions, and a spring wagon for himself and family. He furnished the money. I hired the teamsters and had charge of everything, while they passed as passengers to the valley.
In Wyoming, a good many joined us who were going to Salt Lake and in a few days we were organized as a company to travel across the plains. I was appointed Sergeant of the Guard. Everything went pleasantly until we were
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about half way through our journey, when Mr. Dunford began to find fault with me, saying that I did not attend to his business solely, as he had hired me to do, but instead, I had divided my attention in looking after the welfare of the Mormons and others who formed most of the company.
At last, within a few days' drive of Ash Hollow, he got very wrathy with me., saying that he would not go on any farther and that I could quit as he had no more use for me. I threw my little whip on the ground, saying that if that was what he wanted, I would quit. When the teamsters saw what I had done, they also threw down their whips. This was about noon, He and his wife drove the teams into camp, where a meeting was called. Mr. Dunbford made his grievances known, saying that he did not hire me to do anything but his bidding and did not want me to act as Sergeant of the Guard, as it kept me from looking after his affairs. After a good deal of talk, a vote was taken and I was released from being Sergeant of the Guard. The leading men talked the matter over concerning a new Sergeant of the Guard. Finally Dr. Henton, one of the company, made a motion that I. B. Nash be Sergeant of the Guard until we reached Salt Lake City. The vote was carried. All voted except Dunford, who was crazy-mad. However, he was at last coaxed to go on.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly until we came to Ash Hollow. There, upon the bench about a mile from where we camped, a company of soldiers was stationed. Early in the morning, Dunford went to the soldiers' camp. Upon his return he told us that he had decided not to go any farther and that we, his teamsters, were discharged. He told me to bring the accounts of the teamsters and he would pay them off. We were in a bad fix, thrown out on the plains with no way to go to the valley. A meeting was called by the leading men of the company and it was agreed that we should be divided among the company and taken to Salt Lake City. They told me to get provisions as pay for the teamsters, but upon explaining the situation to Mr. Dunford and asking for the pay in the form of provisions such as flour, bacon, dried fruit etc, of which he had plenty, he refused flatly, saying that we could take our pay in legal currency or not at all. I pleaded with him, but in vain. He had the advantage of us, as he had the soldiers back of him. I did not know what to do. I turned to some of the teamsters who stood near by and told them to cheer up; that we would get provisions some way. As I turned away, Mr. Dunford drew a revolver and said that if I touched anything that belonged to him, he would shoot me down. I told him that was a game that two could play at. He jumped before me, pointing a revolver in my face. It was cocked and his finger was on the trigger, when a man by the name of Hall jumped and grabbed the revolver away from Dunford., who cried out to his son, Henry, to run to
his carriage and bring another revolver. As Henry was returning to his father, a man who sitting by the camp fire knocked the revolver from his hand with a stick of wood. Soon after that, Dunford moved to the soldiers' camp and we started on our way. Brother Blingbrook and family and my wife went with Mr. Hall. The teamsters were divided among the company.
After much trouble, we arrived in Salt Lake City, stayed there a few days and then went to Franklin with my wife's brother, a brother from Franlklin by the name of William Rogers, Brother L. L. Hatch, Bishop of Franklin, and Brother James Packer. They had heard through my wife's brother, Peter Poole, that I was a choir leader and they needed me in that capacity very much. We arrived in Franklin in October, 1864.
I soon established myself there. I went to work at my trade, in partnership with Brother Purnell. I was soon appointed leader of the choir and
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Superintendent of the Sunday School, both of which I held for several years, until I was called First Assistant to Brother William Webster, Stake Superintendent of the Sunday Schools In Oneida Stake. I held that office until the death of Brother Webster.
On April 1, 1872, I was ordained a High Priest by John Biggs, and a Patriarch on August 29, 1879, by Apostle George Teasdale.
In 1865, I bought a lot with a log house on it from Brother Andrew Morrison and after living in Brother Peter Poole's house a while, I moved into our log house. I built a blacksmith shop and worked in my own shop until the Short Line Railroad reached Franklin and while the terminus of the road was there, I built a shop at the terminus, working there until the railroad went farther North, then built a shop by Websters' store. Later I worked in a shop near the Co-op Store. I had to leave there after several years on account of the insurance companies' demands, which would not allow the shop nearer than one hundred feet from the store unless they paid seventy-five dollars per year more, which they refused to do. As I had to move, I bought a lot from John Egbert across the street from the old shop and worked there until I retired from business. I turned the business over to my two sons, Isaac H. and David Nash. The business is still carried on by them under the name of Nash Brothers. I also turned my farm of forty acres over to them and in consideration of this, my sons maintain me and my family.
In April, 1885, United States Marshall Fred Dubois, with many deputies, was making awful raids on the Mormons, and a great many of the brethren were taken and cast into prison. Among the number, I was taken by Deputy Marshall Alexander Stalker, a neighbor of mine who pretended to be my friend. I was taken to Oxford before a United States Commissioner and bound over to appear in court at Blackfoot in November, 1885. Nine of us were tried before Judge Hays for polygamy and eight of us were found guilty. Brother George C. Parkinson was tried for hiding one of the brethren in a cellar in Oxford. He was sentenced to the penitentiary for one year and to pay a fine of three hundred dollars. The other eight were sentenced for six months and three hundred dollars fine. I was sentenced to three months and no fine, along with Bishop Porter. We were cell-mates. The old judge took much Interest in me and promised that if I would obey the law in future, he would send me home free, but I told him I could not do it, so I went to the Pen.
While there, I was well treated and enjoyed myself. Sometimes I did blacksmithing, sometimes composed songs. My cell was never locked except at night.
One day old Judge Hays came to Boise and wanted to see the prisoner Nash. He, with Dubois and others, came to my cell. He put his hand through the bars and shook hands with me, telling me I looked well. I replied that a clear conscience and a contented mind is a continual feast. He laughed and said that I was a case and would be contented wherever I was.
I made friends with all the prisoners. One day while out in the yard (all prisoners were allowed two hours daily in the yard) I heard one of the prisoners begging for a chew of tobacco. I decided to get a plug of tobacco and divide it among the prisoners, so I sent for a plug and got it, I cut it in small pieces and gave it among them once in a while. One night when the water-carrier was in my cell, he slipped a small piece of paper to me. I read it. It was asking for a "Chaw of tobacco, for God's sake," He said he
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was almost crazy, so I sent him a nice piece. The next day, while walking with Bishop Porter in the yard, some one grasped me in his arms and said, "God bless you, Brother Nash. You saved my life last night by sending me that tobacco and I'll never forget it." All of the prisoners called me Brother Nash and would do anything for me. This particular man was an Irish man named Sullivan.
I was kindly treated by all the officers in the prison. When my time was out, all the prisoners were allowed to come out and stand by as I passed out. They waved their caps saying, "Goodbye, Brother Nash", and some said., "God bless you." I gained their good will by being kind and not being stuck up.
SONGS COMPOSED BY ISAAC B. NASH
| We'll see Joseph Smith and Hyrum
|
| With the just upon Mount Zion,
|
| Singing praises to their maker,
|
| All in peace and love forever. |
Chorus:
| Oh how glorious they'll be!
|
| Oh how glorious they'll be!
|
| Dressed in white and crowned with glory
|
| With the Royal Family. |
2.
| We'll see Brigham Young and Heber
|
| Dressed in white with their Redeemer,
|
| Williard Richards and Brother Jeddy
|
| Will be In celestial glory |
(Chorus)
3.
| We'll see those who fought so nobly
|
| With the mobbers. in Missouri;
|
| Gain the victory forever
|
| And dwell in peace with their Redeemer. |
