[Editor Note: Even though this is the life story of Elizabeth, it also tells of the journey to Salt Lake City of her father and mother]


Elizabeth Jane Stokes Myler was born February 5, 1857, at Smethwick, Staffordshire, England. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Jane Hale and Henry Stokes.

Being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, they came to America May 8, 1860 onboard the ship, William Tapscottan, an emigrant sailing vessel. They sailed from the port of Liverpool and landed at Castle Gardens, New York on June 20, 1860, being forty-three days on the voyage.

Their voyage was rough and stormy and winds were contrary. The small pox broke out on board the ship a few days after starting. The ship's doctor had the sick put in quarantine in the hole of the ship and ordered everyone to be vaccinated.

On June 21, 1860, Henry Stokes was taken by Brother Stone to the Emigration Agent in the town of Williamsburg, where they lived for a days. Henry Stokes obtained a position in a glass factory on Cliff Street in New York City. They attended Sunday services at Columbia Hall. Her father worked at several different factories for two years. The last place he worked before they left New York City was at an Aerated Bread factory (quite a novelty). It was called aerated bread because it was made without any yeast.

They left the City of New York June 17, 1862 in an emigrant train of cars bound for Saint Joseph, Missouri. They passed over the suspension bridge below the falls at Niagra, from which point they saw the famous falls. In passing through the states they saw several camps of soldiers but were not interrupted by them. On their way to Quincy, Illinois, their luggage car caught fire and a great deal of their luggage was burned.

From St. Joseph, Missouri they went to Florence on the Missouri River. They camped on the east side of the river under the supervision of Elder Joseph W. Young. Here they remained in camp for six weeks waiting for church teams to come from Utah. While waiting they witnessed several dreadful storms.

About the end of July, the emigrant teams from Utah arrived under the direction of Henry W. Miller of Farmington, Utah. They started on their journey on August the 5th, 1862. They arrived in Salt Lake City on October 17, 1862. She met and married Orrin Maine Myler November 8, 1874 in Clarkston, Utah. In 1883 they pioneered to the Snake River Valley and located at Lewisville, Idaho. She was active in the church all her life. They had twelve children - seven sons and five daughters.

She died May 21, 1922.

Compiled by the Orrin Monroe Myler Family