Owen Isom

Owen Isom was born on May 2, 1814 in or near Burmingham, England.  His mother died when Owen was only four years old from a goiter.  His father later died while he was still a boy.  Owen's sister Sarah, the middle child, raised her younger brothers.   Sarah didn't marry until all of her brothers were raised.  When the last brother was married, Sarah married a well-to-do carpenter.  Owen could  never speak of his sister Sarah without crying.  He said she was one of the finest women that ever lived.

Elizabeth Howard was born on September 12, 1821 in Burmingham, England.  While still a young girl, she went to work in glove factory threading needles.  While working in the factory, she and Owen began courting.  Because Elizabeth had signed a contract to work for a year and marriage was forbidden, Owen and Elizabeth were secretly married, and didn't begin living together until Elizabeth's contract was up. 

Owen and Elizabeth both had black hair, blue eyes and fair skin.  Most of their eight children did too.  Owen was quite prosperous.  They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Owen served as president of the Burmingham District.  In 1846 Owen, Elizabeth and their younger children emigrated to the United States.  They sailed from Liverpool on May 8, 1860 aboard the William Tapcott.   After five weeks at sea they arrived at New York Harbor.  After being quarentined for a time, the family came ashore at Castle Gardens.  The family lived and worked in Middleton to earn enough money to move west.  The Isoms traveled by railroad to Florence, Kansas.  Then the crossed the plains to Salt Lake City by ox-drawn wagon.  Owen was directed to settle in southern Utah.  After several lean years living on cane seed bread and pressed pig weed greens, the family began to prosper.