Briant Stringham

This picture was recently discovered by Steven C. Nelson.  For years it was believed that there were no known photographs of him, so this is a real treasure.  The following note was shared with me from Aunt Donnette about the discovery:

Briant Stringham - [picture found in the LDS Church Historian's Library in the Brigham Young Collection by Steven C. Nelson.] Steven is a great-great-grandson of Briant Stringham through the daughter of Briant Stringham and Harriet Ashby, Maria who married Thomas Jordan Stevens.  He is doing a research project on a book entitled "Legacy Builders: The True Story of LeRay Decker, His Wife And Their Progenitors".  He is including portions of the Briant Stringham book and requested permission to copy quotes from that book.  He says: "My research has been thorough.  You may be interested in some of my findings.  I have the journal of Thomas Jordan Stevens while he was bishop in Ogden and some personal letters he wrote to his children while he and Rye were in California.  I have another picture of Briant Stringham not included in your book and I found that Susan Ashby was sealed to Lorenzo Dow Young before they left Nauvoo.  The research has been most rewarding."  D. Bryant Stringham Jr. wrote to Donnette Smith, "I am forwarding herewith the picture and Steve's response to my permission to quote. Love Bryant"  Please note: forwarded message from Steven Nelson attached "Dear Bryant Stringham,Thank you for your response.  I have read and reread the book on Briant Stringham and realize that it includes much valuable material.  Thanks for letting me use some selected items from it. Attached is the picture I found in the Church Archives in the "Brigham Young Collection".  It was clearly labeled as Briant Stringham so I have no reason to believe it is not him.

Here is a short history from www.findagrave.com

Briant Stringham was born March 23, 1823 in Colesville, New York, to George Stringham and Polly Hendrickson Stringham. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in June of 1841 and came to the Salt Lake valley with the first group of pioneers on 24 Jul 1847.

He married Susan Ann Ashby March 21, 1850 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born February 1, 1830 in Salem, Massachusetts, to Nathaniel Ashby and Susan Hammond. They were the parents of ten children, two died young. She died 28 Apr 1896 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He married Harriet Maria Ashby April 20, 1852 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born April 8, 1834 in Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Ashby and Susan Hammond.

They were the parents of eight children, one died young. She died April 15, 1921 in Pasadena, California. He married Martha Ellen Ashby Buckland, widow of Alandes D. Buckland, August 12, 1856 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born August 20, 1832 in Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Ashby and Susan Hammond. They were the parents of seven children, two died young. She died March 25, 1872 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He married Nancy Garr Badger, widow of Rodney Badger, December 14, 1858 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was born October 14, 1822 in Richmond, Indiana. They were the parents of two children. She died April 1, 1900 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He died August 4, 1871 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The orphaned Ashby children were left in the care of Briant Stringham when Susan Hammond Ashby died. Briant had married Nathaniel's older sister, Susan Ann Ashby Young, in 1850. Briant worked with the Church cattle on Antelope Island in the Salt Lake.

(History of Briant Stringham)

Briant Stringham became foreman of the Antelope Island ranch serving from 1855 to 1871. Born in Colesville, New York in 1823, Briant joined the Mormon Church and participated in the great western trek, entering the valley with the first pioneers in 1847. He was a butcher, an explorer, a builder, a soldier, and a stockman.

He had four wives and twenty-seven children. Stringham transported the stock to and from the island on a large flat-bottom boat. He grew grain and alfalfa, cultivated a large garden, and planted an orchard. During his tenure as a foreman, the church-owned livestock company invested in valuable stallions and brood mares which were turned loose to run and breed on the island.

The band of horses sometimes numbered over one thousand. Briant was known for his kindness to animals, and he enjoyed the time spent caring for the horses. During these years, the Stringhams maintained residence in Salt Lake City, but the family spent considerable time at their Island Home.

In July of 1871 Briant Stringham was caught in a storm on the lake and was soaked and exposed to the chilling wind. He became ill, developed congestion of the lungs, and died August 4. He had worked on the island for nearly sixteen years.