Isaac John Wardle was son of John Wardle and Mary Kinston (Morton) Wardle of Ravenstone, Leicestershire, England. He had three brothers, Thomas Morton (half brother), William Wardle, James Wardle, and one sister Mary Wardle.

He had very little schooling, beginning work as a runner at the coal mines at the age of 7; at age 9 he began working inside the mines. Two years later he began to learn the rope-making trade but only stayed with that for a short time as the family moved to Coalville where he went back to work in the mines. Isaac told the story that he would come home after ten or twelve hours of work, would sit up to the table, too tired to wash up, and go to sleep while eating. His mother would wash and clean him up and put him to bed without him waking. At seven the next morning, he was at the mine for another long day.

While living in Coalville, the Elders from the LDS Church came to his parent's home. Isaac was baptized on September 23, 1853 by Elder Fredrick Smith. He was confirmed the following day. Isaac was the only member of his family to be baptized at that time though, later, the rest of his family (except his half brother Thomas) did join the church.

After being baptized, Isaac moved to Worcel, Staffordshire where he worked until he saved enough money to come to America. His parents and brothers came to Utah later; his sister was supposed to have emigrated to Australia though some accounts tell that she ended up in Pennsylvania.

Isaac went to Liverpool where, on May 25, 1856, he set sail for America on the S.S. Horizon. There were 840 passengers with John Reed as ship Captain. Isaac spent two days in Boston and then left by train for Iowa City, Iowa where the members of the Martin Handcart Company were delayed for some time before their handcarts were ready for them. Isaac tells many details of his journey with the handcart company and there are other accounts of those in the company that are well-documented. If you would like to know his account as told by him to his granddaughter, Mary Ann Wardle Thompson Rupp, please email me.

After arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Isaac went to West Jordan to work for, and to live with, the family of Alex Beckstead, Jr. While living there, he was called to go with others to meet Johnston's Army in Echo Canyon.

Isaac homesteaded in South Jordan and was also one of many that worked on the first road into Bingham Canyon so that wood could be acquired.

On April 17th, 1859, he married Martha Ann Egbert. For the ceremony Martha's father loaned him a white shirt. He was 24; Martha was 15. Isaac would study at night reading all books he could and practiced writing using a shovel for his slate and charcoal for a pencil. He was deeply wanting to gain knowledge and to better his life and his farm and home. They worked hard and developed the land and prospered. Martha and Isaac had ten children: Issac John, Samuel, Crella Marie, Araminta, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Silas DeRoy, Junius Forde, Edgar Ray, and Etna May (twins). Isaac and Martha were endowed and sealed on April 12, 1862.

On September 14 (or the 23rd...this is uncertain), 1867 he married Mary Ann Ashton in the Endowment House. Mary Ann also traveled in the Martin Handcart Company to the Salt Lake Valley being only 4 years old at that time. Her story is also well-documented. From this union there was one child, William Haston. It is said that Isaac wasn't sure what Mary Ann's maiden name was and misheard when it was told to him. William ended up with the middle name Haston, instead of Ashton, because his father thought that was his wife's maiden name. Mary Ann, sadly, died just four short hours after William's birth. William is my great, great grandfather.

On July 26, 1869, Isaac married Sophia Carlsen Myers and built another home on the farm for her. They had four children together: Charles Meyers, Hannah, Atheamer Harry, and Wilford Woodruff.

Isaac and his families moved to Parker, Idaho in 1900 where they lived until Martha died in 1916. Isaac's health failed quickly, and he followed her in under a year. Personal history says he died on December 17th, 1917. Other records indicate October 30th, 1917. Some records also indicate he died in Herman, not Parker. Sophia moved to Boise (Nampa, ID) following Isaac's death; she died there in 1938.

Isaac left an unnumbered posterity, beginning his journey in this life as a hard worker who loved his family. That love carried over to his church, home, communities, wives, children and grandchildren. I am honored to be numbered among his grandchildren.