Person:Elizabeth Phillpot (1)

A short time after her marriage to Umpstead, they moved to Mississippi and then on to the southern part of Sumpter County, Alabama. This move to Alabama was to be near his mother, Stacy Rencher Beavers, who had previously moved there from North Carolina. It is said that a large portion of Umpstead Rencher's wealth was used to help his again widowed mother and her large family. This fits the pattern of living set by Umpstead, Jr., for he was a kind and generous man throughout his life. The Rencher family lived in Sumpter County for several years and it was here that their first child, Virginia Caroline, was born on December 2, 1846. On March 2, 1848 their eldest son, James Grandison was born and on November 28, 1849 Mary Ellen was born. It was while the Renchers were living in Alabama that an event occurred that was to have a lasting influence on their lives. They lived on a large plantation far from their nearest neighbors. Umpstead Rencher and his helpers often worked away from the house so they had a bell that Grandmother Rencher would ring if there was trouble. They also kept several very fierce dogs tied to a post near the house to protect Elizabeth and the children. One day Elizabeth was doing her housework and the dogs were laying in the shade of the house by the door. She turned around and an old man with a long white beard stood in the doorway. Grandma Rencher was so startled the first thing she said was, "How did you get by the dogs?" The old man replied that the dogs would not molest him. She gave him a drink of water and he told her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ that had been restored and that two young men would come to them and that they were to listen to their message and do what they told them to do. When the man turned to leave Grandmother thought she would have to go help him get past the dogs, but when she got to the door he was gone. She looked all around the house and could find no sign of him. The dogs were still asleep by the door and the man was nowhere to be seen. When Grandpa Rencher came from work she told him what had happened and about the mysterious man who had visited her and about the messages he had given her. For the remainder of her life, Grandmother Rencher believed the mysterious old man who had visited with her that day to be one of the Three Nephite Apostles. Soon after this incident, Umpstead Rencher, Jr., looking for new or greater opportunities or heeding the call of the pioneers, moved with his family to Texas. They traveled by ship from Mobile, Alabama to Galveston, Texas and settled in Liberty, Liberty County, Texas. Here on March 6, 1853 John Umpstead their second son and fourth child was born. A short time after moving to Texas the Mormon missionaries contacted them and told them of the Book of Mormon and of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These missionaries explained many of the Gospel principles. Upon finding that the missionaries taught the same principles as those that had been explained to Elizabeth by the mysterious stranger, Umpstead, Jr. and Elizabeth were converted and in November, 1853, were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Washington Jolley. Perhaps the hand of the Lord had guided them in their travels.