By Hannah Deschamps 

Louis Deschamps was born at Valley Field, Montreal, Canada, 12 March 1838. He was the son of Francois Deschamps and Rosetta Pare, who as most French people were members of the Catholic church when he was born. 

His father was a woodsman and Louis and his brothers helped cut and float logs 30 miles down the St. Lawrence River. Here they met many travelers and trappers who came from the United States and told them wonderful stories of the easy way of picking up gold nuggets in California. This aroused Louis and at age 17 he and some of his friends left home to find easier pickings in California. They fell in with other travelers and they traveled down the Missouri River where they came to St. Louis, Missouri. Louis found employment cutting timber for a bridge, as he was a skilled wood cutter. Here he and his companions became separated as he fell in with other Frenchmen.  

While here he had an experience he never forgot; one of his companions seeing an Indian squaw sitting on the edge of the stream cleaning fish, thoughtlessly raised his gun, pointing it at her, pulled the trigger and she fell over dead. Immediately a crowd of Indians hurried around and asked who had committed the deed. No one answered and they greatly feared they would all be killed, but one of the Indians examined the guns and found the warm barrell in the hands of the one who had committed the crime. He admitted his guilt and was taken a few feet away, stripped of his clothing, and the others told to stand by while they proceeded to skin him alive. 

Louis was greatly alarmed at this and dissatisfied with these companions. He decided to move from that place and continue westward for California, not realizing how far he must travel. He traveled on as far as North Platte with emigrants traveling westward. Here he took very ill with fever. The company traveled on after leaving him at a ranch of a French couple. When his health improved, he worked for these people, feeding and herding mules and horses which were sold for use in the Civil War. He was well paid for his work but was advised to go to Pikes Peak where he might fully regain his health. 

He was now able, with his wages he had received, to travel with more comfort. Arriving there he met a man who persuaded him to accompany him to Montana where gold had been discovered, but upon arriving there he was disappointed at what he saw. Then hearing of gold around Boise, Idaho, he decided to travel on. Here he labored for some time and according to a history of Idaho, he built the first house in Boise. 

Soon Louis decided to retrace his steps, traveling south easterly, finally ending up in Willard, Utah. Here he stayed with the Isaac Zundel family. He became acquainted with the Mormon people of Willard and was converted to their faith. He became acquainted with Ann Stephens and were soon married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City by Wilford Woodruff, March 30, 1867. They lived at Willard until they moved to Malad in May 1869. Their first home in Malad was near the home of Jessie Ward Sr. Then when St. John was being settled they moved there in 1872 and made their first permanent home. 

Louis homesteaded and purchased more land. He became a prosperous farmer and also kept a store that served the community for many years, until his death. 

They reared a large family of 11 children, four of whom preceded them in death. He and his wife began to rear their family under very trying circumstances in pioneering Malad and St. John. Louis was well respected by all who knew him. He left this life when there was an accident with a load of grain. The load ran over his body. He lived nine days and passed from this existence, September 20, 1902, at the age of 64.