Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: 1830-1848 Document Number: 136
Author: EASTON, Susan Black Institution: Brigham Young University, Harold B. Lee Library Call Number: Genealogy Reference, BX 8607.A1 1830 Location: USA, Utah, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City Short History of FENTON, Thomas Document Entry Number: 1
Information: Volume: XVI Page: 154-155
Transcription: Comments: #1 1. In 1860, Thomas had a household of 6, $800 of real Wealth and $300 of personal wealth. 2. In 1870, Thomas had a household of 3, $1500 of real wealth and $400 of personal wealth. Reference: Utah Federal Census; Year: 1860, 1870
Comments: #2
1. Thomas was a veteran Elder of the Sixth Ward, Pioneer Stake, Salt Lake City, Utah. His early boyhood was passed at Carlton, his native shire, and what scholastic training he received was in a village school. His father was a working farmer in comfortable circumstances and Thomas was naturally inclined to farming and gardening. In these pursuits and the kindred pursuit of floriculture he received a thorough practical education. He also had some experience in railroad building. Both as a boy and young man he was an earnest inquirer after religion, and when about 18 years old he was much impressed with the Principles of the Wesleyan Methodist church, which he afterwards joined, becoming a class leader therein. The more he read the Bible, however, with the contents of which he was very familiar, the more dissatisfied he became with his religious status. The first time he heard the gospel preached by a Latter-day Saint he was converted and after prolonged and prayerful consideration was baptized. From that time he was not only a firm believer, hit a faithful worker in everything pertaining to his calling and standing in the Church. His religion, spiritually and temporally, was the first thing with him all the time. Prior to hearing of the Latter-day Saints he had wanted to know of life in America, and a few months after his baptism he emigrated to New Orleans and thence passed up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri. In May, 1851 he started for Utah. His wife, Emma Alcroft Fenton, was with him in these journeys. He engaged for himself and wife part of a wagon owned by Alexander Robbins and drove an ox team across the plains. The company in which he traveled was commanded by captain John Brown, one of the Utah Pioneers and afterwards Bishop of Pleasant Grove. He arrived at his journey's end in September 1851. The Fenton's rented part of a house in the Fifteenth Ward, but in 1852 they purchased a house and lot in the 6th Ward. In 1856 they removed to Ogden, intending to settle there, but after buying a house and two lots in that city and finding themselves unable to purchase fanning land in the vicinity, they returned in February, 1857, to their old home in Salt Lake City. Having purchased two and a half lots to his home and planted a good fruit orchard, Mr. Fenton next seeded, planted and established a first class nursery. Afterwards, as his sons grew old enough to go into business with him, he purchased 30 acres of land a few blocks away for nursery stock and kept his green and hot houses, rose gardens, etc., in the Sixth Ward. While conducting his private business, Mr. Fenton performed various duties of a public character, and he was never known to neglect a duty, secular or ecclesiastical. He took an active part in the Ward of which he waw a member. He also served as an officer in the militia in early years. He was thrice married and was the father of eighteen children.
1. Stephen was one of the original Utah pioneers of 1847. His father was a revolutionary soldier and was accidentally shot while training, when Stephen was two years old. His mother afterwards moved to the State of Ohio and the family settled in Chester, Geagua county, where brother Markham first heard the gospel and was baptized by Elder Abel Lamb in July, 1837. He was a well-to-do farmer at the time and sold all his possessions in Ohio by the counsel of the Prophet Joseph Smith and furnished most of the means to fit out sixty souls and took charge in emigrating them from Kirtland, Ohio, to Far West, Missouri. After arriving in Far West he was appointed an agent for the Church to raise means and assist the poor saints in the days when trouble and persecution were heaped upon his people by the mobs in Missouri and Illinois. He was appointed colonel in the Nauvoo region and rendered efficient aid in 1843, when the Prophet Joseph was in danger of being kidnaped by his enemies and taken to Missouri. Prior to this he had assisted the family of the Prophet to escape from Missouri into Illinois, and he afterwards acted as a body guard to the Prophet. At a time in Nauvoo, Illinois, when the Prophet was perplexed with vexatious law suits, Stephen Markham sold his only house, which was newly built, gave Joseph the proceeds, $1200, and then moved his own family into a tent until a cabin could be built. This was in 1844, about the time that Joseph and his brother were imprisoned in Carthage jail. Only a few hours before the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum the blood thirsty mob put Brother Markham on a horse and drove him out of Carthage; the mobbers probed his legs with bayonets until his boots were filled with blood. The scars of these bayonet thrusts he bore to his grave. When the saints were being driven from Nauvoo, Brother Markham was appointed, by President Brigham Young, captain of two hundred pioneers and led them thence to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In the spring of 1847 he was chosen as one of the pioneers and appointed captain of the first hundred. He was also appointed captain of the guard to select out of the camp fifty men in whom he could place implicit confidence. Brother Markham attended to his duties faithfully and well during the journey to Great Salt Like Valley, and after his arrival in the Valley he became one of the most active among the pioneers. He returned to Winter Quarters the same fall (1847) and then spent upwards of two years on the frontiers. In October, 1850, he returned to the Valley in charge of a company of fifty wagons. His first wife, Hannah Hogelboon, shared with him in all the early trials of the Church in Missouri and Illinois. Some time after the arrival of the family in Utah, she left her husband and, together with her three sons (Warren, Whiting and David), went to California to the gold diggings. She and her sons became permanent residents of California, where they all subsequently died. Soon after his arrival in the Valley he located in Utah county, and in 1853 he was ordained a Bishop by George A. Smith and set apart to preside over the infant settlers of Palmyra, near present town of Spanish Fork. He served as a colonel in the Walker Indian war. In 1856 he was sent on a colonization mission to Fort Supply, near Green River, and assisted an establishing the first express line across the plains. Beloved and respected by all who knew him, he died at Spanish Fork March 10, 1878. Brother Markham was one of the greatest pioneers of this western country, a practical advocate of religious liberty and a friend of humanity. He was ever charitable to the poor and unflinching in his integrity to the cause of the great Latter-day work. Having lived a most active and useful life, he passed away in peace in the midst of his family and friends. Brother Markham engaged in farming and stock raising most of his life.
Comments: #5 1. Stephen remained steadfast in his loyalty to the Prophet Joseph Smith, whom he visited in the Carthage jail early on the day of the martyrdom. He only left the jail, on an errand at the request of the Prophet, a short time before the tragedy. Brother Markham endured much persecution and was finally driven out of Nauvoo, and, with the other exiled saints, camped at Winter Quarters where, in the spring of 1847, he was called to be one of the band of pioneers. Later in the same year he left Great Salt Lake City with President Brigham Young and returned to Winter Quarters, but came back to the "Valley" in 1850 in charge of a company of saints. Soon after his arrival he was ordained a Bishop by George A. Smith and set apart to preside over the infant settlement of Palmyra (the first location of the settlers on the Spanish Fork river.) During the Walker Indian war Brother Markham was valiant in his efforts to protect the settlers and was appointed a colonel in the Nauvoo Legion (or local militia). In 1856 he was called on a colonizing mission to Fort Supply, near Green River, Wyoming, and assisted in organizing the first express line across the plains. Stephen was survived by a large family.
Comments: #6 1. Stephen came to Utah July 24, 1847 with the Brigham Young company. Stephen was the bishop of Spanish Fork for several years. He assisted in bringing immigrants to Utah in 1848. He was the captain of the Nauvoo Legion and bodyguard to Joseph Smith. Colonel, Walker Indian war.
Reference: Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah. Esshom, Frank.1913 Page: 1023
Comments: #7 1. Stephen filled a short mission to Ohio. He suffered persecutions with the Saints and came to the Valley in 1847 as one of the original pioneers.
Reference: Journal History of the Church (April 10, 1843, September 23, 1843)