Eleanor Nightingale

Eleanor Nightingale was the daughter of Miles Nightingale, Jr. and Lucy Thornley. She was born July 4, 1816 in Heaton, Dean Parish, Lancashire, England (2 miles WNW of Bolton). She joined the LDS Church in approximately 1839 and married James Jepson June 7, 1840, in the Church at Cockey. Their marriage certificate indicates that they were both living in Astley Bridge at the time. James was a weaver and Eleanor was a crofter in the cotton industry. In August of 1842, they sailed from Liverpool on the Good Ship Sidney. After eight weeks on the ocean they arrived in New Orleans in October and headed immediately up the Mississippi River for Nauvoo, Illinois. Unfortunately the river froze early, but Eleanor was able to secure a position as a housekeeper and earned room and board for herself and James for the winter. As soon as the ice broke in the spring of 1843 they started up river once again, this time aboard a small steamboat called the Maid of Iowa. Upon arriving in Nauvoo, James purchased a small farm and also worked in a rock quarry getting rock for the Nauvoo Temple. The Jepsons were close friends with the Prophet Joseph Smith and were often guests at the mansion house. They were present at a party when Porter Rockwell arrived after having just broken out of prison. The Prophet told him not to cut his hair and to live faithfully and his enemies would have no power over him. After the martyrdom of the Prophet, Eleanor was present at the meeting in the Bowery where she witnessed the transformation of Brigham Young to look and sound like Joseph as the mantle of authority fell upon him. That sacred experience helped to preserve her faith and perseverance at a very difficult time and throughout her life. The Jepsons were with the first wagon train to leave Nauvoo and traveled only seven miles to Sugar Creek, Iowa, when James was called on a mission to preach the gospel in St. Louis, MO. They sold their wagon and oxen to the Saints going West and took a boat to St. Louis where they resided for the next four years. They had lost their first child, William, while still in England. In St. Louis they had two more children, Miles, and Alice, who both died during a Cholera epidemic. Before leaving St. Louis, Mary Ellen was born. They left St. Louis in the spring of 1852. James was the captain of a large company of wagons. They were well prepared, traveled during a good time of year, and arrived in Utah with no unusual experiences. James and John Parker built a water-powered sawmill in the Centerville Canyon in Davis County. It was in their home at the mill that James, Jr. was born October 13, 1854. In the fall of 1855, James and Eleanor purchased a farm in the Mill Creek Ward, Salt Lake County. September 1, 1859, their daughter Eleanor was born. The family lived in Spanish Fork for about three months during the “Mormon War.” October 6, 1862, during general conference, James was called to take his family and settle in Utah’s Dixie. He regretted very much leaving his home and thriving farm, but he did not hesitate. By November he had sold his property for two yoke of oxen, a team of mules, two good wagons and some merchandise. He took with him enough food and supplies to last the family one year. At this time the call was extended to Eleanor to be a midwife. Without any formal training she delivered approximately 100 babies. Eleanor lived to be nearly 100 years old. She was a very spiritual woman and participated in and was the recipient of many miraculous blessings. More details about her life can be found in the History of James Jepson, Sr. and His Wife Eleanor Nightingale by Lucy J. Isom.