There is tradition that Isaiah's father died at sea while immigrating to America and Isaiah was born shortly after his mother arrived. He was raised by his mother's brothers - their surname was Curry and it is said he went be the name Curry until grown. There are North Carolina pay vouchers for his service in the Revolution.By 1782, he had purchased land in Surry Co. He continued to add to his holdings and deed some to his sons. His last transaction is in Oct of 1819 and he does not appear in the 1820 census.
In 1834, Richard Guymon, by then of Indiana, sold property described as "plantation whereon the Late Isaiah Gymon formerly resided next before his death"
Isaiah Curry Guymon
According to family tradition, Isaiah Guymon was born about 1753, shortly after his mother Elizabeth Curry Guymon arrived in America. His father is believed to have been buried at sea, however existing emigration records have failed to verify these events. Because of the difficulty of a lone woman with a tiny baby making a living in Colonial America, tradition says Isaiah was given to his uncles to raise, therefore going by the name of Isaiah Curry until he married.
In 1772-73, Isaiah married Elizabeth Flynn and began raising a family in Surry (now Stokes County) North Carolina. His children who were born in Surry County, North Carolina were:
William, born 11 December 1773; Frances (female) born 10 September 1776; Nancy born 10 Sept 1778; Rebecca born 20 September 1780; Elizabeth born 10 February 1783; Margaret born 20 February 1785; Thomas born 10 March 1787; and John born 20 March 1789. Two other children were born in Stokes County, North Carolina. They were Annie, born 20 August 1791 and Richard, born 19 July 1793.
These birthdates came from a personal record written by Isaiah Guymon himself. They are not registered in either of the two churches which existed in that area at that time – the Society of Friends (Quakers) and Moravians.
Several battles of the Revolutionary War were fought in northern North Carolina. Perhaps Isaiah participated in them, however we do not know. Tradition says that he fought on the American side; that he was the tallest soldier at Valley Forge; that he went as “Pvt. Isaiah Curry Guymon” after the war. Many searches of existing Revolutionary War records have yielded only a clothing issuance number (#6901). There is no evidence that Isaiah applied for what is called a “bounty land warrant”—land in the west instead of dollars for his military service. At the time of his death, Isaiah, not being a poor man (one of the requirements), had not been eligible for a pension, and his wife, Elizabeth died before widows were eligible for veterans benefits.
By 1782, Isaiah had acquired 100 acres of land in Surry County, North Carolina, which he farmed to support his growing family. In 1786, he purchased another 100 acres with an old mill on it. In both 1791 and 1797, Isaiah bought 200 more acres bringing the total land which he owned to 600 acres, more or less (as the deeds themselves say.)
During the next few years, we find record of Isaiah giving service to the community. First he was overseer of the road, meaning that he was in charge of keeping a certain road clear of fallen trees, filling in deep holes, making stretches of new road etc. Between 1792 and 1795, he served several times as a juror and evidently took an active part in a local iron works project that was adjacent to his property.
A common practice at the time Isaiah Guymon lived, was to give or sell cheaply to their sonns, portions of the father’s property as they came “of age” or married. Isaiah follows this custom, deeding Thomas 100 acres in 1809; William 30 acres in 1815; and 200 acres to Richard in 1819. With the last land transaction in October of 1819, Isaiah disappears from the civil records of the State of North Carolina. Research has not discovered whether he died and was buried on his farm, or whether he went west to join Thomas and/or William. At age 70, Isaiah had lived to see the taming of frontier North Carolina, had lived through 2 wars, raised 10 children to maturity, and had been active in civil affairs. At the same time, he was a man of some education, being able to read and write which was unusual for a frontier farmer. To top it all off, tradition says he was read-headed!
Overall History of the Guymon Family
by Mary Y. Brown
There is a tradition in the Guymon family with which all sides of the family agree, that a man by
the name of Guymon and his wife Elizabeth Curry, sailed from Ireland to America. On the
her son was born. She named him Isaiah. We understand that he was raised by Elizabeth’s two
voyage across the ocean the man died and was buried at sea. His wife came to America where
name - Isaiah Guymon. When Isaiah was 17 years old, his mother married a Mr. Richard Goode,
brothers, Malcolm and Isaiah Curry, until he married Elizabeth Flynn, when he took his own
a very prominent and well to do man.
The first recorded history of the Guymon family is of Isaiah Guymon and Elizabeth Flynn
After the death of Isaiah Guymon, his wife Elizabeth Flynn married a Mr. Haun. Either Thomas
or William, related to the Haun’s of “Haun’s Mill Massacre.”
We know very little of the families of Isaiah Guymon and Elizabeth Flynn, only as Mrs. Charlotta
residing in Stokes County, North Carolina in 1755. They were the parents of ten children:
William, Francis, Nancy, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Margaret, Thomas, John, Annie and Richard.
Our ancestor was Thomas Guymon who married Sarah Gordon February 23, 1809 in Stokes
Anderson has placed them on family group sheets, in the library, with the names of their
husbands and wives. These husbands and wives are listed on the pedigree charts we sent out
to all of you.
Tennessee), Elizabeth, Polly Ann, Sarah Jane, Melissa Jane (were all born in Edgar, Illinois before
County, North Carolina. To them was born eleven children: Isaiah, John, William (who were
born in Stokes County, North Carolina), James, Noah, Thomas, Martin, Barzilla (Jackson County,
the birth of James Guymon and Sarh Davis’ children), Synthelia (was born in 1837) and
when he heard the gospel, for all the histories say he went back to where his parents were living
Alexander in 1838 when he and his mother, Sarah Davis, both died.
The records state that James and Noah T. were baptized on March 2, 1836, so they had
embraced the gospel before James married Sarah Davis. James was evidently away from home
to tell them about it. His father and brother were chopping wood in the forest when he told
and was with them in all their persecutions. The three sisters were: Barzilla, Polly Ann and
them. His father listened for a while, when he stood on a log and said, “Jim, this is the gospel
of Jesus Christ. It is what we have always been looking for...” His father and mother, one brother,
Noah T. and three sisters were converted and joined the church and soon joined with the saints
Melissa.
1. Isaiah, John and William remained in Illinois. Isaiah, the oldest son of Thomas,
Elizabeth, Prealy, Sarah Jane, Isaiah, Martha Ann, Thomas, Nancy, Polly, Melissa,
married Hanna Maria Martin. To them was born 12 children: Samuel, Martin,
Sarah Jane, Margaret, Elizabeth, John A., Mary Ann, Rachael, Moses W., James C.,
Rebecca, Isaiah, William Thomas, Rhoda Ellen. He died at age 91.
2. John Guymon, 2nd son of Thomas and Sarah Gordon, remained in Vermillion,
Illinois where he married Nancy Davis. They were the parents of 14 children:
horseback to Hancock County, Illinois, where he married Mary Ann Couch, a girl from Meigs
James, Sussana, John, Emmatine and Rhoda. (Rhoda is the mother of Mrs. James
C. Vance, who has been out to visit in Utah several times.) John died at the age
of 85.
3. William, the 3rd son, remained in the east and married Sally H. Ringo. We have no
record of his children or of his death.
4. Martin, Sarah Jane and Elizabeth died in childhood.
After the death of Sarah Davis, James took his little girl Synthelia and rode with her on
was born the night of the “Crooked River Battle” when David Patten was killed. Mary Dickerson
County, Ohio in 1839. To them were born five children: Lafayette, Martha, Armilda, Emily and
Emeline. Martha, Armilda and Emily died in childhood. Mary Ann Couch raised Sarah Davis’
daughter, Synthelia.
In 1837, Noah Thomas Guymon married Mary Dickerson Dudley. (See note A at the end of this
history.) They were blessed with three children: Mary Jane, Lucinda and Emma M. Mary Jane
Dudley died in 1845, leaving her three little girls. Ten months later, Noah T. married Margaret
seven children: William Albert, Clarissa Ellen, Noah Thomas, Sarah Ann, Amy Amelia and
Johnson, who became a mother to Mary Dickerson Dudley’s little girls. She was the mother of
seven children of her own: Margaret Elizabeth, Martin Lewis, Harriet, Moroni, Julia Luella,
Edward Wallace and Lillian Melinda. Margaret lived to tell her children how the Lord sent the
quail to save their lives while crossing the plains. She was in the meeting when Brigham Young
spoke in the voice of Joseph Smith.
In 1847, Noah T. Guymon married Elizabeth Ann Jones in Winter Quarters. To them was born
About the same time Noah T. married Elizabeth Ann Jones, James married Rhoda Leash Nease,
Elizabeth Ann. Elizabeth Ann Jones was born in Ohio. As a child she moved to Hancock
County, Illinois. She was married to Noah T. when she was 17 years old by Brigham Young. She
always befriended the Indians and fed them and talked to them in their own language. She
worked in the Relief Society all her life. She was a good cook and homemaker and was noted
for her wonderful biscuits. She lived in Spanish Fork and Springville. She died in Orangeville
March 2, 1908 at 78 years of age.
an orphan girl whose parents had perished in the persecutions of the saints. To them came
James Guymon was a personal friend of the prophet Joseph Smith and ate supper with him the
twelve children: Heber, Brigham, James, Alma, Rhoda Ellen, Peter Nease, Sarah Matilda, Melissa
Jane, Eveline, Noah Alonzo, Martha Ann, Eliza Adora and Arilla May Dora. Rhoda Leash Nease
was a great help to Mary Ann Couch as she was in ill health. They weathered through the
persecutions of the saints together, shared the trip across the plains and the struggles and
hardships of life here in Utah. Rhoda was a devoted church member and her children tell how
lovely she looked in her clothes and her pretty black bonnet. (See footnote B.)
night before the martyrdom and rode with him to Carthage. He was a member of the Nauvoo
camp of immigrant saints of the season of August 7, 1855. The heroic way his wives
Legion. At the time of the martyrdom, James and families lived on a farm in Hancock County,
Illinois. He came in the house and sat down with his head in his hands and cried like his heart
would break. The children asked why he was crying and he said, “They have murdered the
Prophet Joseph.”
James with his two families left this beautiful farm together with the migration of the saints. They
crossed the plains in the Willard Richards company in 1849.
In 1850, Noah T. Guymon arrived in Salt Lake City. He was called on a mission to Great Britain
from 1851 to 1855. In the church chronology is written this item: Noah T. Guymon was Capt.
Of the 2ndGreen and throughout his long life he ever worked in the service of his fellow men and thetook care of their families in his absence and had a home built and paid for when he came home was wonderful. He held many positions of trust and was President of the 51st Quorum of Seventy and councilor to Bishop Johnson. On the 2nd of March 1857, he married Louisa Rowley and they had twelve children: James W., John Wesley, David Rowley, Willard Richard, Owen, Winnie, Thomas Henry, Ann Louisa, Sarah Jane, Joseph Hyrum, Melissa Luelia and Franklin Noah. (See note C at the end of this history.) They lived first in Springville, then Fairview, Fountain Green and her last days in Huntington, Emery County. She died there at the age of 62. Noah T. spent most of his life in Fountain
and drove the cattle. They settled first in American Fork and built the first log cabin there. She
building up of the Kingdom of God and the community in which he lived. He was a merchant
and prominent stock raiser. In his latter life he lived in Emery County, Utah and died there at
the age of 82. He was the father of 27 children.
Barzilla was married to Mathew Caldwell October 17,1845. To them were born 10 children:
Thomas J., Almina, Curtis W., Melissa Jane, Matthew, William G., Sarah Elizabeth, John Edgar,
Barzilla and James Martin. She was convalescing with her first child the day the Prophet Joseph
was martyred. They lived in Warsaw, just a little way from Carthage. They crossed the plains in
1850 in the Aaron Johnson Company. She rode a horse side saddle all the way across the plains
President of the Relief Society for 30 years and was a good seamstress and kept a lovely home.
was the first white woman in American Fork. She wove cloth and made clothing for the families
of her husbands other wives. They moved from American Fork to Spanish Fork and then to
Springville, Ephraim and Fountain Green. She died there at the age of 46. Her husband lived
to be 90 years old.
Polly Ann married Robert Johnson April 30, 1846 in Nauvoo, Illinois. They were blessed with
nine children: Robert Hyrum, Charles Henry, Lewis Oliver, Edward Carlos, James Franklin, Edwin
Theodore, Julia Ann, Emma Jane and Sara Francis. They lived first in Springville for ten years
then they moved to Fountain Green where Robert Johnson was a Bishop. They established a
store and the first hotel in Fountain Green and entertained many church officials. Polly was
was when Gregory went on an expedition into Mexico and never returned. He was carrying quite
She died in Fountain Green October 3, 1912 at the age of 86 years. Her husband Robert
Johnson preceded her in death, 11 years. He died in Fountain Green at age 82.
Melissa, the youngest child of Thomas Guymon and Sarah Gordon, came with her parents in the
Aaron Johnson company in 1850. This trip across the plains was never considered a hardship
for Melissa or Gregory Metcalf, for they were sweethearts and were married soon after their arrival
in Salt Lake City. They lived first in North Salt Lake in what is now called Centerville. The
following year they were sent out to help settle Springville where their four children were born:
Mary Louise, Sarah Medona, Melissa Emeling and Levi Gregory. The great sorrow of their lives
a lot of money and they thought his life was taken for it. Melissa’s grandchildren have some
War. He lived in Parowan for 12 years. During this time he went to Salt Lake City to attend
beautiful letters which he wrote to her while on this trip. She spent most of her life in Springville
and died there at the age of 86.
James Guymon, Mary Ann Couch and Rhoda Leash Nease and families spent the first winter in
Salt Lake in a one room pole house with nine in the family and most of them sick all winter.
The next spring they moved to Little Cottonwood, from there to American Fork. Here, James was
a member of the bishopric and later when they moved to Springville in 1853, he was an
alderman in the city council. While in Springville, they were called by Brigham Young to go to
Parowan to help strengthen that place as the Indians were giving trouble. They were on rations
for the first winter. James was a major in the army and took a prominent part in the Black Hawk
General Conference. While there, he became acquainted with a lovely, English, dark-eyed girl
James was very prominent in church and civic affairs and trained soldiers in the army. In
who had left home and cast her lot with the saints. Her name was Mary Boden. She came
expecting to marry her English lover, but he proved untrue to her and she was working for a
family in Salt Lake. They were married October 8, 1857 by Brigham Young in his office. He
took her home to Parowan and they lived there six years. To them was born eight children:
John William, Mary Emily, Polly Ann, James, Cora Estella, Lilinda Rebecca, Robert Matthew and
Nellie Florence. After James had lived in Parowan for 12 years, he, together with Rhoda Leash
Nease and Mary Boden and families, moved to Fountain Green. In Fountain Green, Mary Boden
was a good seamstress and made clothes for the dead and was President of the Relief Society
for 20 years. She died in Fountain Green at the age of 92. His wife Mary Ann Couch remained
in Parowan with her daughter Emeline because of ill health and died there at the age of 51.
did much temple work. He was bedfast for twelve years and died in Fountain Green at the age
Fountain Green, James married Martha Jane Park November 24, 1866 in the Salt Lake Temple.
She was born in Missouri, crossed the plains with her parents and came to Provo where her
mother died when she was seven years old. Her father married again and moved to Fountain
Green. Here she went to live with Sarah Gordon Guymon, Thomas Guymon having died. When
she was 16 years old, she married their son, James. To them came six children: Martha Isabel,
Cordelia Matilda, Harieat Charlotta, James Monroe, Charles Edgar and Isaiah Martin. Martha
Jane Park was a woman who was always helping others and caring for the sick and was a good
mother and a devoted worker in the church. She died in Fountain Green at the age of 58.
In later years, James married Christaine Christensen, a Danish girl who taught school and clerked
in a store. She kept a little store and cared for him in his old age. James Guymon and his wives
information to get the record of Synthelia.
of 96, the father of 33 children. Christaine had no children and died at the age of 90 years.
Thomas Guymon died in Springville October 20, 1855 at the age of 86. Sarah Gordon spent
her declining years in Fountain Green and died there December 7, 1872 at the age of 81. She
was taken to Springville for burial beside her husband. Burton Adams, a grandson of Barzilla
Guymon Caldwell has in his possession a contract where Thomas Guymon agreed to teach
school for $6.00 a year. This gives us just a little insight into what kind of man he was.
Up until a few weeks ago we had no information of what became of Synthelia, the daughter of
James and Sarah Davis. We were in Parowan a few weeks ago and talked with an old gentleman
who knew Synthelia. He said that she married Lorenzo Martin and had six children: Lois,
Sarah, Levi, Henry, Mary Jane and Emmy Lou. He said her daughter Lois Whittaker lived at
Circleville, so we went over there and found a very lovely lady, 85 years old who gave us the
of Mrs. Mary Y. Brown who sent this history in.)
Footnotes: These items were handed in after the history was written.
A. Mary Dickerson Dudley (written by Noah Thomas Guymon)
Mary Dickerson Dudley was born in the state of Indiana August 13, 1814 daughter of
James Dudley and Celia Ross of Richmond, Virginia. Mary was baptized into the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and moved with her father’s family to Caldwell County,
Missouri in 1837 where she met and married Noah Thomas Guymon, the 24th
of December that same year by Elder Jefferson Hunt. On the 25th of October 1838, our first child was born. We named her Mary Jane Guymon (who married George Brinton Matson. She was the great grandmother of Collene Hutchings, “Miss America” for 1952.)
In the winter of 1838, we, with the rest of the saints, moved to the state of Illinois where
we helped to build the city of Nauvoo. On the 10th
of September 1840, our second child
was born. We called her Lucinda Harris (mother of Lillian Adelaide Hurst Young, mother
On the 8th of July, 1842, our third child was born. We called her Melissa Jane. (She
to visit in Orangeville, Utah and while there became ill. Her daughters, Dora Crandall and
married Henry Hamilton Kearns.) While in Nauvoo, my wife Mary Dickerson Dudley
became a member of the first Relief Society, that was formed by the Prophet Joseph
Smith.
Times were hard, we moved out into the country onto a small farm, and we were not in
Nauvoo when the Prophet Joseph Smith was killed. At this time, I, Noah Thomas
Guymon was sick with a fever.
On the last of March 1845, my wife Mary Dickerson Dudley died with complications of
child birth. She was taken to Nauvoo and buried in the Bimel Bryshire Cemetery, William
Hunting being Sexton.
B. Rhoda Leash Nease
Rhoda Leash Nease was a devoted church worker and held positions of trust. She was
President of the Primary while living in Fountain Green. Her children tell how she was
always in attendance at church and how lovely she looked in her clothes, especially her
pretty, black bonnet. She had a keen sense of humor, which helped her over many trying
situations.
In later life she went to San Louid Valley, Colorado to stay with her children. She came
Arilla Eyre, brought her to Springville, Utah, where she passed away at the age of 69 years
With the Saints of God, who westward came,
and was buried in Springville, Utah.
C. Louisa Rowley
Louisa Rowley was an English girl, who left her English sweetheart to join the church and
came to America with her widowed mother. They were in the ill-fated handcart company
which started too late in the season. She saw much tragedy and suffering and many laid
by the wayside. Louisa almost lost her own life on the way.
After they reached the Valley, her mother married again and Louisa went out to work for
other people. Her life was very hard as she had no permanent home. Noah T. Guymon
was a man who could offer her the comforts of home and after some hesitation, she
became his wife.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Dear Fathers and Mothers of long ago,
Some of your names we hardly know,
But our hearts are turning to you today
And we’re hoping and praying to find the way
To obtain your records and your children here
Are learning to love and to hold you dear.
As we read and learn and come to know
Of your struggles and trials in the long ago,
Page 6 of 7
How you left your homes in a distant land,
And came to these valleys and took your stand.
We honor and revere this Guymon name.
Flynn. He is a trained researcher. From the immediate families, we have been able to get the
And these wonderful wives who came with you,
And through all their trials remained faithful and true.
And how we love to hear and recount the tales
Of your early lives in these mountain vales
And how some of you went to the lonely south
And your fight against poverty, sickness and drought.
We, your children here today,
From the depths of our hearts do homage pay
And we hope we can live and worthy be,
To know you one day in Eternity.
By Mrs. Clara G. Boyer
Mrs. Carlotta Anderson, a granddaughter of Noah Thomas Guymon and Louisa Rowley, has
done much research and corresponded with many of the members of this family. She has many
group sheets of these families which she has filed in the archives of the Genealogical Library in
Salt Lake City. Also, Mrs. Mary Oliphant, now deceased, a granddaughter of Noah Thomas
Guymon and Elizabeth Ann Jones, who did considerable research and correspondence.
We have also obtained valuable information from a Mr. George Weatherald of Los Angeles who
is a great great grandson of Richard Guymon, the youngest of Isaiah Guymon and Elizabeth
records and histories of those who came west. We do thank all those who have sent in their group sheets and histories.
Aunt Dora Crandall, a daughter of James Guymon and Rhoda Leash Nease, and Mrs. Lottie
Bigler, a daughter of James Guymon and Martha Jane Park, have been very helpful in getting this
family in their proper places. It has been just like a “Jigsaw Puzzle” to learn who and where each
family belongs. In October, when this organization was formed, we scarcely knew one family from
another. Now we have a mailing list of over 300 and family group sheets from 420 families. Roughly speaking, the descendants of Isaiah Guymon and Elizabeth Flynn that we have sheets for is 1600.
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