ISAAC HOUSTON
Isaac was the father of Emaline Houston Preston (James Whitmore Preston)
who was the mother of Theodocia Preston Brown (William Thomas Brown)
who was the mother of William Henry Brown (Emily Charlotte Borgeson)
who was the father of Julia Romania Brown Peterson

Bishop Isaac Houston was the eldest child of Samuel and Phebe (Mayo) Houston, born the fifteenth of October 1779 In Ackworth, Sullivan county New Hampshire. A son of sturdy energetic pioneers living in a section where the very atmosphere developed integrity and manly attributes.

Of his grandfather Alexander Houston it is written in the Centenial History of Ackworth that he settled in Ackworth New Hampshire in 1775.

He was a deacon of the Congregational Church. He was large of stature, moderate in his movements, a good disposition and upright in his dealings. He fought in the Revolutionary War.

While a young man Isaac taught school. At the age of 28, July 19, 1827 he married Theodosia Keys a daughter of Amos and Mary Grout Keys. They moved to Lincoln, Addison County, Vermont where he was engaged in the farming, lumber business. Seven children were born to this couple, Jane Mariah, Lousia, Sisson, Chase, Emeline, Mindwell, Alma and Isaac. They embraced the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the year 1839.

It was related that one night while Isaac was tending his horses the spirit of tongues came to him and he spoke in tongues aloud to the astonishment to those around that the gospel was true and from God. He ask[ed] his wife Theodosia what she thought of the Latter-day Saint Church, she replied, that bark roof to cover her head, she would gather with the saints to live and die.

In the spring of 1842 they came with the Saints to Nauvoo in company of Elder Peletiak Brown. Here two sons were born Isaac and Sisson, one daughter died.

They were acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith and labored in the building up the city of Nauvoo. They passed through the time of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and Hyrum without murmuring or wavering of faith. They moved in 1846 to winter quarters. Here they lost their only son due to sickness of moving and unsufficient [sic] shelter.

In 1847 one daughter, Jane, preceeded them to Salt Lake. She arranged to travel with her cousin Samuel Alexander and care for his two small children. She later married him and died at the birth of a son before her parents arrived.

Father and mother Houston and two daughters Emaline and Mindwell moved across the Missouri River and lived for a time in Springfield, Iowa, where they engaged in farming and trading to get means for an outfit and provisions to gather with the main body of saints in the west.

In the spring of 1850 they came to Utah driving two ox teams. One of the animals being a cow, which furnished milk on the way. Theodosia would put the milk in a crock in the back of the wagon and by night it would be churned to butter.

They lived first at Lehi, but in the fall they moved to Alpine where they built their home, the farm being north of where the town of Alpine is now. He built a sawmill in connection with his son-in-law James. W. Preston, Emeline's husband.

Isaac Houston was ordained the first bishop of Alpine September 1832(??) [The correct date, obtained from Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol 20, p.381 is: “An L.D.S. Ward was organized Sept. 18, 1852, Isaac Houston, bishop.” Isaac was bishop 1852 — 1856.] by Elder George A. Smith. His counselors were William Niswanger and Morris Phelps.

They were very hospitable, Theodosia being a very good cook and a neat particular housewife. They entertained many of the heads of the church in their two room log home. They were very honest, industrious, frugal and hard working people. Firm believers in all the principals of the gospel including in plural marriage. He having married a second wife Mrs. Eliza nee [nee means “formerly”] Eliza Dyer Brown, 1 April 1853.

He died of pneumonia August 23, 1856. With his wife Theodosia, he lies buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery because at the time Brigham Young said all bishops should be buried there.

At the time of her husbands death, Theodosia gave Aunt Eliza the land and home. She took the cattle and went to live with her daughters at American Fork. Mindwell having married Washburn Chipman December 2, 1855.

It is said of Isaac that after delivering some lumber in American Fork one day he came home and told his daughter Mina that he had seen her future husband said he, “He is not a Mormon yet but he will be.”

Theodosia lived in American Fork until her death, August 22, 1869, having been an invalid the last three years of her life from paralysis. She was [a] very ambitious woman, full of faith, and a great reader of the bible and church works. After she was stricken so she could not work she would sit and cry and rock her daughter's babies, but with her speech affected she talked very little.

Written by Lousia J. Chipman, granddaughter.