BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Elvira (Stevens) Barney; state of Utah

Transcribed by W. David Samuelsen 
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EXPIRED COPYRIGHT (1884)

REPRESENTATIVE WOMEN OF DESERET

A BOOK OF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES TO ACCOMPANY THE PICTURE BEARING THE SAME
TITLE.

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY AUGUSTA JOYCE CROCHERON
DR. ELVIRA S. BARNEY

     Although in this book Dr. Barney is classed among the medical fraternity
her labors and history have been interwoven with those of the Latter Day
Saints from her childhood, in so many varied and useful fields of labor, that
I am compelled to pause at the very beginning of this sketch, (necessarily
brief) knowing I must omit so many particulars, both valuable and instructive.

     If Dr. Barney had, in her childhood, possessed the advantages of
obtaining a thorough education, and opportunities for the best development of
those many abilities which have manifested themselves under the most
dispiriting surroundings, it would be difficult at present to estimate what
she might have accomplished. She represents the practical, domestic,
experience of a Latter Day Saint; orphaned, and almost alone, but possessing
that indomitable spirit that rises above every obstacle, and turns to account
every available means no matter how humble, that cultivates every inherent
power to its best uses; an upbuilder in everything pertaining to the interests
of her people, ready to aid on the right and on the left, forgetful of self.

     Elvira S. Barney was born March 17, 1832, in Gerry, Chautauqua County,
New York, being the daughter of Samuel C. Stevens, a merchant, and his wife,
Minerva Althea Field, a school teacher. Her great grand-father, Joseph
Stevens, took an active part in the Revolutionary War; her grand-father, Simon
Stevens was a doctor; her uncles were doctors and lawyers. When twelve years
old Elvira heard the gospel preached by a Mormon Elder, and from that time
daily prayed in secret till the Lord gave her a testimony that satisfied her
heart. She was baptized in 1844, and went with her. parents to Nauvoo, where
her father died after a brief illness, on October 4th. In the January
following Elvira and her mother were preparing for the journey across the
wilderness, parching corn, etc.; but her mother, overcome by toil, grief and
exhaustion, died on the 6th of the month. Their farm, household goods, etc.,
were sold, and the five children received ten dollars each to fit them out for
a western journey. Elvira parted with her twin brother, fourteen years old,
with tears in his eyes, and she never saw him again. He died six years after.
Elvira was taken some twenty-five miles across the prairie among strangers,
and there spent the winter. There were no children for her to mate with, no
one to feel tenderly for the lonely, quiet aching heart of this orphan girl.
When spring approached she rejoined her married sister to wait upon her,
traveling west with her, sometimes living in a brush-house (while recruiting)
and sleeping under a wagon while traveling, and once awoke to find several
inches of snow covering them. Exposure brought her to death's door, but she
lived after long suffering. She witnessed the solemn separation of the "Mormon
Battallion" from their families and friends. During one winter she lived in a
dug-out in a side hill on the Missouri River, and was forced to live on corn
bread and water; their tallow candles they could not afford to burn, but used
them to grease their bake-kettles. Here, however, willing to be useful she
helped to teach school, studying nights by a chip-fire to keep in advance of
her pupils. Many of our public speakers of today, can date their first lessons
in elocution and arithmetic to her training.

     Elvira crossed the mountains in the first company in 1848, and arrived
in this valley by the side of two yoke of oxen, with a sick sister and a
brother-in-law with a broken arm, in her care. Her first lesson in surgery was
the helping to set this arm, and her first practice in medicine was the
breaking up of her sister's fever. Soon after this Elvira made herself a pair
of buck-skin moccasins. The first meeting she attended was in a bowery, and
her best calico dress had patches on the
elbows. Before the next winter she worked six weeks for a pair of leather
shoes. There was not much aristocracy here in those days. They held meetings
in tents, sang praises to God, and danced with as much sincerity and purity of
heart as even King David did before the Lord, for they knew God was with them.
Said her sister, who afterward turned from the faith: "If God had not been
with us when we were driven out at the battle of Nauvoo, we should have
perished, but when we were starving he sent quails, and they were so tame they
came into our tents where the sick were lying, and they even took them in
their hands." Thousands witnessed the miracle. After they arrived in the
valley, crickets large and numerous threatened their crops, (their only
recourse) but the Lord in answer to prayers sent sea-gulls in such flocks that
the air was darkened, and they destroyed the crickets. The heavens were not as
brass above their heads; they helped and loved each other, and God heard and
loved them. Their laws were few and simple; in a Bishop's court a brother
forgave his brother.

     In the summer of 1849, Elvira earned fifty dollars at different kinds of
work, and making straw hats for the emigrants going to California to get gold
the Battallion boys were the first to find. In the spring of 1849, Elvira had
been appointed to go on a mission to the Society Islands; this was postponed,
and in the spring of 1851, with her husband, she started in the company of
Apostle Parley P. Pratt on his mission to Chili. They were harassed by Indians
while crossing the deserts, and Elvira arrived in Los Angeles sick with a
fever, and laid sixteen days in a tent made of sheets. Her sister here buried
her babe; took steamer and landed in San Francisco, Elvira contracting
inflammatory rheumatism on the voyage, and was stiff and helpless four days.
Parley P. Pratt administered to her, and the next morning she helped to get
breakfast. Through some trouble between the Islanders and the French the
Mission was changed to the Sandwich Islands, Having been left behind to
recruit her health, Sister Elvira went to work in a hotel as waiter at one
hundred dollars a month, and soon was able to pay her passage to the Sandwich
Islands, besides having means to support her while there. On arriving at
Lahaiva, on the island of Mai, the captain gave her his arm and they walked
through the streets in quest of her husband followed by the natives, old and
young, they to admire and be friendly, the strangers feeling mortified with
such honors. Remained a month there then embarked on the ship Hulumann. The
previously mentioned captain came on board and treated them to a Christmas
dinner. After four days sail landed at Kawhow, Hawaii, in the fall of 1851.
Sister Elvira lived six months among the natives on their island food, mostly
of taro and sweet-potatoes made into a batter and soured, short rations at
that, yet attained the weight of one hundred and fifty pounds. Says she:
"Don't smile when I tell you I often thought of Alexander Selkirk who said he
was 'Monarch of all he surveyed.' Here months passed, living on the lava
strewn island, no ships came to bring tidings, I was left to view the rolling
billows that separated me from all I held dear, country and friends. Fancy the
loneliness of those long months, not a white woman to speak to in my own
tongue. Here I was studying a foreign language and teaching the natives to
speak my own." In the mean time sister Elvira acquired the art of swimming,
which means enabled her afterwards, to all appearances, to save one of the
ladies of this book from drowning in a bottomless spring in Utah. During
eleven months spent on four islands, Sister Elvira wrote a letter to a native
lawyer in his own tongue, and although over thirty years have elapsed she is
able to converse fluently with the natives who have gathered to this city.

     Leaving all her means but five dollars with her husband, she arrived
penniless at Honolulu en route for San Francisco, by counsel of Phillip B.
Lewis, President of the Sandwich Islands Mission. Here, in answer to prayer,
after all other efforts had failed to procure means, a stranger she never saw
before nor since, called upon her. In answer to his few questions he learned
her situation as a missionary's wife preaching the Gospel without purse or
scrip. He handed her the money, eighty dollars, to pay her passage to San
Francisco, and she gave him her note for it, and embarked. Three times she
escaped shipwreck, the last time, just outside the Golden Gate of the Bay of
San Francisco. On her arrival there she borrowed the money of a friend and
returned it to the stranger, and repaid this by making fine shirts at ten
dollars a piece. The wife of the gentleman for whom she made them presented
her with a complete set of clothing, the outer garment being a new silk dress.
Sister Elvira says: "The Lord knew I needed them and I thanked Him and the
giver also." Of the San Francisco Saints she says, "The welcome I received by
the remaining Saints there, and the heavenly influence we enjoyed together is
the one most marked oasis of my life, for truly they blessed me and God
blessed them." Sister Elvira wasted no time, but in various ways earned means,
part of which she sent to assist time Sandwich Islands Mission. In 1856 she
returned to Salt Lake City, riding seven hundred miles on horseback, and here
resumed school teaching. In 1859, she assisted in the amputation of a dear
friend's arm. In 1860, traveled east to visit kindred and rode sixteen days by
stage. in 1864, went to Wheaton College and returned home after nearly two
years absence. From 1859 to 1863 had taught school in ten different places,
generally four terms a year. Had during these previous years taken at
different times four homeless children into her care until other ways opened
for them. In 1873 adopted a boy whom she schooled and provided for fourteen
years. In this year also began writing up her genealogical record which she
has traced back to the year 1600. In 1876 wrote a pamphlet on seri-culture,
and suggested the appointment of a meeting on that subject.. Advanced as a
loan the first fifty dollars to establish the "home made straw hat industry."
Canvassed the Thirteenth Ward and traveled in the interest of time Woman's
Exponent. Was appointed agent for and canvassed the city for the Women if
Mormondom, and raised fifty shares ($25.00 each) in one day. Was appointed a
Committee for purchasing grain for the Grain Association (President. E. B.
Wells). In 1876 traveled south and held forty-five meetings in twenty-seven
days, in the interest of Women's Work in Utah. In 1878 attended the Deseret
University. Up to date of February, 1879, had earned over nine thousand
dollars by her own labors, and built a good commodious house, her home.
October, 1879, started East to continue her medical studies which she had
prosecuted at home for several years, and attended three complete courses;
returning home in the spring of 1883, prepared to pursue this her chosen
vocation after a long and eventful experience in many fields of usefulness.

     Realizing her own early desires for knowledge and the inconvenience of
limited privileges, Dr. Barney fitted up her large house to accommodate lady
boarders, thus affording them the convenience of home and college under one
roof, with the privilege of boarding themselves, and receiving gratuitous
medical instructions for one year.

     She has crossed the Pacific Ocean twice, the western deserts twice, the
eastern plains five times: has wrought at different humble occupations
belonging to a new country, learning later fine embroidery, pencil work,
draughting in architecture, delivering lectures, &c., one tenth cannot be told
in these pages. Sister Barney also has received the gifts of prophecy, tongues
and interpretation of tongues, as the writer can testify.

     Her step is as quick as ever, her carriage erect; she says; "My life has
been real, my life has been earnest, and now if any of my works praise me then
truly I am praised. If any one has done better I should be happy to read their
chapter; yet I realize many of our Mormon ladies lives have been similar, and
it is such women that will teach and train sons for the nation."