Elijah Cutler Behunin was born 7 November 1847 at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He crossed the plains with his family. He was only three years old at the time. He has a faint recollection of crossing the Platt River. They arrived in Salt Lake City in 1850.

Milo Andrus Company

Captain: Milo Andrus

Departure: 3 June 1850

Arrival: 30 August 1850

Number In Company: 160

Behunin, Alma Moses 13-- 12 March 1837/6 February 1906

Behunin, Andrew Ira 14--14 August 1835/1869

*Behunin, Elijah Cutler 2-- 7 November 1847/8 November 1933

Behunin, Elmina Tyler 39-- 23 April 1811/29 September 1883

Behunin, Hyrum Smith 5 22-- April 1845/7 July 1901

Behunin, Isaac 46 20-- October 1803/ 15 May 1881

Behunin, Isaac Morton 18-- 9 September 1831/15 January 1910

Behunin, Mosiah Stephen 7-- 18 May 1843/6 April 1908

Behunin, Nancy Meribah 9-- 7 February 1841/18 October 1910

Behunin, Philo Marshall 22-- 4 February 1828/31 December 1891

Behunin, William Moronia 16-- 28 May 1833/September 1885

Isaac Behunin:

Souls 11; Wagons 3; Horses 1; Mules 0; Oxen 6; Cows 9; Sheep 2; Dogs 7; Swine 1.

This is a pretty well equipped family. It may have been that son Philo Marshall Behunin accompanied the Mormon Batalion to California. There is record of his contribution to buy cannon for the fort there after his discharge from the Battalion. And there is record of him exchanging gold for cash in the Salt Lake Territory, prior to crossing the plains in this company.

Though I have not found Philo in any Battalion records and he is not mentioned by his Uncle Daniel Tyler in his writing of the Battalion. Being so young he may have been an assistant to one of the Officers.

---------

Isaac and Elmina lived in Rockville, Utah. Elijah moved with his family to Provo, Utah in 1852. They were called to go and help settle Fort Ephraim, SanPete Co., Utah in 1852 (Church source document says 1853). From Ephraim they were called to go to Southern Utah, to settle Washington County.

He fought in the Black Hawk War in 1866-67 under James T. S. Allred.

Elijah married Tabitha Jane Earl, March 22, 1868, at Rockville, Utah.

Together they had the following 14 children; Elijah James, William Calvin, Hyrum (Hite) Smith, Mary Jane (Johnson, Cooper), Amanda Monettie (Noyes), Isaac Martin, Earl Farlan, Herbert Bertman, Leonard, Ira Mason (Behunin) Buchanan, Delilah May (Thompson, Hancock), Leon C, and Nellie Tabitha Behunin (Cannon).

Much of his time was spent in Dixie. His record may be found in Volume 19 of the Indian War Veterans, in the state office at Salt Lake City, Utah. He was killed in a car wreck while driving his car down Siguard Canyon, Sevier County, Utah on Nov 8, 1933. He was laid to rest at Torrey, Wayne Co., Utah.

Elijah C. Behunin and Jane Earl built many homes in different parts of southern Utah. They built 5 homes in Wayne Co., one near Zion National Park and one in St. George Utah.

In the fall of 1882, President Thurber called Elijah C. Behunin from Sevier Co. to go down into what is now called Caineville to open up the little valley for more settlers. They left Sevier Co. in the fall, 7th of Nov. 1882 with their family and all of their belongings in a wagon.

There were no roads from Torrey on down into this valley so therefore they were compelled to build a road as they traveled. They reached this small valley 12 days later. On Nov. 18th 1882, having traveled a hundred miles, they cleared a spot of ground and built a little log cabin that is still standing on the left hand side of the road as you enter this valley. Their little log cabin has stood there for over 75 years. The following spring they cleared the ground and planted and raised a crop. That same year a number of families came and settled there. A town was organized and was named Caineville in honor of Utah's representative to Congress, John T. Caine. They lived here for a few years, and then moved on up the country to a place called Notom. From here they moved to Emery Co. Utah. Sickness compelled them to leave there and they moved back to Caineville. But not being satisfied with their home they bought a place at Fruita, Wayne Co. and there they lived for several years farming and raising fruit. They were quite content and happy raising their family in Fruita, when misfortune overtook them and their home burned down.

From Fruita they moved to a place called Fish Creek. There they prospered real well until they decided it was a lonely life, so they bought a home in Torrey, Wayne Co. From 1913 to 1915 they spent in St. George, Utah working in the Latter-Day-Saint Temple.

(Information has been gathered from several sources, so some of it may not be correct)

________________________________

TWO WAYNE COUNTY MEN KILLED WHEN AUTO TURNS OVER

Aged Indian War Veteran and Son in Law Die in Wreak.

Elijah Cutler Behunin, age 86, his son in law, Angus M. Cannon, age 46, of Torrey were both killed shortly after noon Wednesday in Kings Meadow canyon about three miles southeast of Sigurd when their Ford roadster ran off the road and turned turtle at a curve. The older man was driving, it is reported.

Passing motorists, Mike Kane and L. L. Gledhill of Sigurd, discovered the accident at 2:15 p. m. and hastened to Sigurd for help. Dr. H. Asa Dewey and Deputy Sheriff A. O. Hopkins of Richfield hurried to the scene of the accident and found both men dead, although the younger man was still alive when first found. Mr. Behunin was pinned beneath the car but cannon had been thrown clear. Both suffered fractured skulls which resulted in death.

The bodies were brought to the Warner Mortuary in Richfield where they were prepared for burial. They were taken to Torrey early Thursday morning where funeral services will be held Friday afternoon.

Mr. Behunin and his aged wife attended the Black Hawk encampment here last summer and were honored as the oldest couple present. Mr. Behunin is an Indian war veteran, retired farmer and cattle rancher. He had just celebrated his 86th birthday the day before he was killed. He was born November 7, 1847, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Behunin. He had lived in Utah since he was three years of age. He was married March 22, 1868, and is survived by his widow, 11 sons and daughters, William C. Behunin, Bingham; Hyrum S. Behunin, Beaver; Isaac Martin Behunin, Fremont; Bert and Leon Behunin, Gunnison; Ira Behunin, Manti; Mrs. Nettie Noyes, Mrs. Lelia Thompson, Earl and Leonard Behunin, Torrey; 73 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

Abridgment of obituary, 

published in the Richfield Reaper 1933-11-09