A Sketch of Stephen Hales Ellis *** Pioneer of 1851 by His Wife Axeline in 1951

Stephen Hales Ellis was born Oct 18, 1846, of goodly parents in Fort Madison, Iowa. His father John Ellis was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, Jan 4, 1814. He was the oldest of twelve children, and the only one who joined the Church. He was disowned by his parents for casting his lot with the saints. All the earthly possessions he owned was a pair of ice skates. He decided to join the Saints in Farr West, and was able to use the skates and travel quite fast on the great lakes when they were frozen over. Stephen's mother, Harriet Hales, was in Rainbow, Kent County, England, June 10, 1824. The Hales family decided to go to Canada in 1832. Harriet spent her eighth birthday on the sea.

Stephen's grandfather was Stephen Hales, and he married Mary Ann Hales, his cousin. The Hales family were converted to the Church while in Canada, in 1836. In the spring of 1838 they decided to move to Farr West. They went by team. It was in Farr West, they first me the Prophet Joseph Smith. At this time he had been betrayed by Colonel George Hinckley, with others to be shot without a hearing. After the expulsion from Farr West they went to Quincey, Adams County, Illinois. It was here that John Ellis met the beautiful Harriet Hales. Their acquaintance soon ripened to love. On Oct. 31 1839 they were married. Harriet Hales was fifteen and John Ellis was twenty-four. On Dec. 30, 1840 their first child was born, her name was Mary Ann, she later became the wife of Meltire Hatch.

In 1842 they moved to (? Kirtland, Ohio. While here John Ellis worked on the Kirtland Temple, in Hancock County, Illinois. ?) Their second child Hannah Isable was born and later on became the wife of Samuel Henry. Their third child Stephen Hales Ellis, was born Oct 18, 1846, in Fort Madison, Iowa. On March 18, 1849 their fourth child John Henry was born in Appplemouse, Illinois. In 1851, after being driven from place to place, they decided to go with the Saints to Utah. When they started their long hard journey, Mary Ann was eleven, Hannah Isabell was eight, Stephen Hales was five, John Henry was two. Harriet with her four children walked most of the way through the hot dirty road. Many times their poor feet were soar and bleeding. The journey proved too hard for Mary Ann Hales, the grandmother of Stephen H. Ellis, and she died and was buried on the roadside.

They stopped at Garden Grove for a few days to rest. They were six months on this hot and tiresome journey. They arrived in the fall in Salt Lake City, where they spent a few days with the Hornes. Mrs. Isobell Horn was a sister of Harriet H. Ellis. Mrs. Horne was later on made President of all the Relief Societies of the Church. (? They came in the company of Captain Horton D. Haight. ?)

The Ellis's then went North to North Canyon, then to South Bountiful where they built a one room dirt roof, and dirt floor house. This house was one half block north of our meeting house. In this one room house they had (? twelve ?) children. Later on they built a nice doby house. Stephen helped make the dobies and helped build the new home. Stephen's father put up a mill to make molasses and cider.

Stephen was nineteen years old, when called to go help fight the Black Hawk Indians in the South. While in the service, he took the rheumatic fever from exposure to the damp cold weather, and was laid up and very sick all winter. He was so bad he had to be fed with a spoon. He suffered all his life from this sickness.

When twenty four he fell in love and courted a beautiful dark eyed girl, Helen Marr Lee. She was born in Cottonwood Utah, the daughter of William Henry Lee, and Harriet Amelia Carter.

Stephen's father was very sick at the time, and desired to see his oldest son married. So they were married at his bed side. Then went to the Endowment House and was sealed for time and for eternity, Feb. 13, 1871. The one room cabin, was fixed up, and here Stephen and his wife lived, so they would be close to his sick father to help when needed. Here their first son John Henry Ellis was born. Then Stephen built a real nice home, one half block east of South Bountiful meeting house.

Stephen was a hard working man, always taking the heaviest load. In addition to his business success, he was well known for his assistance to the needy. Stephen H. Ellis was one of the most widely known and most favorable residents of Davis County.

He was one of the founders of the Deseret Livestock Co. His ranch and the Jense K. Nelson ranch in Rich County Utah, became the starting point of the Deseret Livestock Co. In addition to this holding he was a stock holder in the Bountiful Livestock Co. He also gave much to the Home Telephone Co. which failed later on, but was wonderful while in use. He was honest in all his dealings with his fellowmen. At one time he sold two bronco horses. The man that bought them, tied them to a poll in the hay shed. They both reared up and fell and broke their necks. He gave the man two more horses. Joal Parrish was the cashier of Farmers State Bank, said of Stephen; "I would rather have his word, than many people's note." After all his hay was put up here at Woods Cross, and the hay from his ranches in Woodruff taken care of, he would spend weeks with the men riding the ranch, and gathering their cattle in for the winter. Some of the men who was fond of a good time, would stop at the saloons, and have a good time with the women. They would ask Stephen to go in with them, but he would say; "I'll stay out here, you come out as soon as you can." Thus showing his devotion to his religion, and to his wife and family. With this very busy life, he took time to spend sixteen years, as superintendent of a Sunday School, and attending to his other duties. He was a ward teacher, and the visits were made in the daytime. Fast meetings were held on Thursday. Stephen worked hard to (? make ?) the Lord's work come first. He had a very nice voice, and he and Emma E. Moss mother of Stephen and Don Moss, sang together. He also sang in quartets and he and his wife Helen, sang in the choir. Latter years he would sing (? The Great Meat Pie, and Kate and the Cow Hide ? (capitals?)). At night when working late, he would be heard for a long way off, singing while driving home at night.

Eight children were born to this couple. A few days after the birth of their eighth child, his wife Helen passed away, July 19, 1887. A week later the baby girl Cardelia passed away, and was buried by the side of her mother. He was both father and mother to his seven living children, for sixteen years. On Decoration Day May 30, 1901, he married Axeline Peterson Engebretsen, in the Salt Lake Temple. Axeline's parents and grandparents, were pioneers of 1861, and 1863. Her grandfather passed away just before entering Salt Lake City, and was buried on the big mountain near where the Pioneer Monument now stands. They desired later on to take his body to Salt Lake, but was unable to find it. Four boys were born to Stephen and Axeline. Owen William, of Farmington. Reed, of Salt Lake, who passed away July 10, 1945. George and Orson of Woods Cross. Owen their oldest son was blessed by Patriarch Tolman, in the old meeting house, that stood on the south corner, just across from the one now standing. When the new meeting house was built he (? Luther ?) gave much to help build it. At this time wells were used for culinary use, and Steve tried to get a flowing well. He drove down quite a bit, (?) but could get no flow, so a pump was put on the well. It took 175 strokes to fill a bucket. So rain water was caught in a barrel. A large ditch ran in front of the house, the ditch was dangerous, and looked so bad the ditch owners didn't want to help fix the ditch, so they transferred the water into another ditch. It took many years to fill the big ditch. When the two story doby rooms were torn down, it filled up this big ditch. One day Stephen and Jense K. Nelson got their heads together, and decided to build a reservoir and pipe the water to their homes. Alma Brown heard of their plans, and asked permission to go in with them. The reservoir was to be built where now stands the home of Otto and Bertie Rufelus. Then Stern Hatch desired to come in but it was a long way to pipe the water, and would take a lot of time and money. At first it did not meet their approval, but finally they all went together, and built a large reservoir, so many were brought in the system. How thankful Stephen Ellis was, when he took his first bath, in a rear bath tub, for the tubs were not very convenient, he said little did he think he would enjoy this luxury in his own home.

Stephen Ellis worked hard on the railroad in 1869, when the golden spike was driven.